Recognition of Prior Studies

UNDER BOTH 5-CREDIT & 3-CREDIT-UNIT SYSTEMS

Recognition of Prior Studies

The University recognizes students' prior study attainments for credit transfer. Credits/Credit-units may be transferred to the University in the following manner:

Admission through Entry Pathways
Applying for Advanced Standing

What is Advanced Standing?

Advanced Standing (also known as credit transfer) deals with the recognition of prior learning achievements.

Credit transfer opportunities are available for students who have completed tertiary-level studies elsewhere. Successful advanced standing applicants will be awarded transfer credits/credit-units for their previous academic attainments. These transfer credits/credit-units may be counted towards the requirements for an award. In this way, the time required for the completion of a programme may be shortened.

Advanced standing is available for some taught postgraduate programmes. Please refer to the Appendix 1 of the Guide to Application for Advanced Standing (For 5-credit system / For 3-credit-unit system) for details.

Types of Credit Transfer

There are two types of credit transfer available for taught postgraduate programmes, namely, Specific Credit Transfer (SCT) and Block Credit Transfer (BCT). Each type of transfer credits/credit-units has its specific use in counting towards programme requirements.

Specific Credit Transfer (SCT)

Transfer credits/credit-units awarded by means of Specific Credit Transfer are known as SCT credits/credit-units.
SCT deals with course exemption. SCT credits/credit-units are awarded towards a particular course specified in the requirements of a programme. Students awarded SCT credits/credit-units towards a course are exempted from taking that particular course. In short, this is course-to-course exemption.
Applicants are required to nominate one or more course(s) from (a) previous qualification(s) in applying for SCT towards a course.
Award for SCT credits/credit-units is primarily based on syllabus match. The course(s) nominated by an applicant in the application must exhibit a very high degree of syllabus match (at least two-thirds match is required) with the course in respect of which SCT is sought in contents and level. Moreover, each SCT application is considered case by case. All related factors such as course results will be taken into account in considering an application.

COURSE CHOICE ADVICE:

You should not register for a course in respect of which SCT application is made.
SCT application will not be accepted if an applicant has already enrolled in that particular course.

Block Credit Transfer (BCT)

Transfer credits/credit-units awarded by means of Block Credit Transfer are known as BCT credits/credit-units.
BCT credits/credit-units are unspecified credits/credit-units which may be counted towards the credit/credit-unit requirements of a programme. In an award of BCT credits/credit-units, the successful applicant is also assigned a list of top-up courses. The applicant must complete all top-up courses assigned in the top-up list in order to use the awarded BCT credits/credit-units for graduation.
The number of top-up credits/credit-units required to study is fewer than the normal requirements of a programme.
An applicant is required to nominate one complete qualification in applying for BCT.
The number of BCT credits/credit-units awarded depends on the TCV of the qualification used in a BCT application.
The number of top-up credits/credit-units assigned depends on the relevancy between the applicant’s prior qualification used in the BCT application and the University programme to be pursued. The more relevance between the two, the fewer top-up credits/credit-units will be assigned, and vice-versa. Hence, an award of BCT credits/credit-units does not imply an automatic reduction by that number in the number of credits/credit-units required for completion of the respective programme.

Top-up Courses

Normally, compulsory courses are included in the top-up list.
Successful cases may serve as precedents. Applicants are advised to consult the BCT precedents before submitting an application.

COURSE CHOICE ADVICE:

Enrol in a course which is in the top-up list if a precedent is available.
If no precedent or no application result is available, you may consider registering in compulsory courses.