Accreditation of Prior Learning

Introduction

Learning is a lifelong process. When you enrol at the University you may already have learned a great deal, and some of this prior learning may be of a comparable standard to our courses. You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards your chosen course. This can be achieved in two ways:

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) this is the process through which you can claim academic credit for your prior learning achieved from an accredited course.

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL): this involves claiming academic credit for prior learning gained through experience and not from an accredited course.

Undertaking a claim for your prior learning is not necessarily a ‘fast track’ to gaining a qualification, as it is sometimes easier to study the whole course rather than to make an APL claim.

The University only accepts claims for APL, which combined with your chosen course of study will not exceed six years.

What is an APL claim?

If you wish to make an APL claim you will be asked to complete the APL claim form and provide accompanying evidence. This may include:

Your relevant course certificates
Copies of course materials, handbooks, timetables or other related documents
Marking schemes and feedback sheets for assessments
Transcripts of training
Letters of support from current and/or previous managers
Letters confirming grades and courses completed

Coursework and other assessed work will not be accepted as evidence.

Once you have submitted your claim and the relevant evidence, this will be assessed by two members of academic staff. The assessors will make a decision on the suitability of your APL claim and allocate the appropriate academic credit points.

What is an APEL claim?

If you wish to make an APEL claim you must complete the APL claim form and produce an APEL portfolio, which comprises of a collection of evidence which will support your claim for academic credit. The evidence for your APEL claim may include any or all of the following:

Your relevant course certificates
Copies of course materials, handbooks, timetables or other related documents
Marking schemes and feedback sheets for assessments
Transcripts of training
Letters of support from current and/or previous managers
Letters confirming grades and courses completed
A personal statement outlining your experience and why it is relevant. This will demonstrate your learning, knowledge and skills appropriate to the academic credit that you are claiming.

How do I make a claim for my prior learning?

If you think you have relevant qualifications or experience which may justify an APL or APEL claim your first step will be to talk to either the course leader or admissions tutor. They will be able to help you identify the level and amount of academic credit you may be able to claim and identify what evidence you will need to provide. You will then have to decide if you wish to:

Make an APL and/or APEL claim
Gather the evidence required
Meet the stipulated deadline (your claim must be approved before the end of your first term of study, normally within 12 weeks of enrolment)

What does my APEL portfolio entail?

Reflecting on experience

All courses and modules have a series of statements, containing learning outcomes. These specify the learning you will have achieved when you complete your module or course. By reflecting on your previous experiences you can identify the learning you have gained and specify which learning outcomes you have achieved. You will be required to demonstrate how these match the learning outcomes for your chosen course.

This will involve identifying your appropriate skills, knowledge and understanding acquired from your prior experience and the ability to express your learning in a way which can be assessed for academic credit.

Relating learning to academic courses/modules

You then need to collect appropriate evidence of your learning.

Completing your APEL portfolio

You are required to organise, present and submit your portfolio for assessment to your admissions tutor or course leader.

Assessment of your APEL portfolio

Your APEL portfolio will be assessed by two academic members of staff. The assessors will make a decision regarding the suitability of your claim. Your claim may be either accepted in full or you may be asked to attend an interview with the assessors to further substantiate your claim.

Decision

If your APEL claim is successful the award of academic credit is recommended for approval by the Academic Validation Panel and ultimately the Course Assessment Board.

How many academic credit points is my course worth?

The University’s levels of study include:

Foundation level or FHEQ level 4
This level of study is equal to a certificate or the first year of a degree. An example of APL academic credit may include a Higher National Certificate.
Intermediate level or FHEQ level 5
This level of study is equal to a diploma or the second year of a degree. An example of APL academic credit may include a Higher National Diploma or a Diploma in Higher Education.
Honours level or FHEQ level 6
This level of study is equal to the third and final year of an Honours or ordinary degree.
Master’s level or FHEQ level 7
This level of study is equal to a masters degree.

The table below shows the academic credit points awarded for each level of study.

Level of study	Academic credit points awarded
Foundation level or FHEQ level 4	120 academic credit points
Intermediate level or FHEQ level 5	Plus 120 academic credit points = 240 academic credit points
Undergraduate ordinary degree or FHEQ level 6	Plus 60 academic credit points = 300 academic credit points
Undergraduate Honours degree or FHEQ level 6	Plus 60 academic credit points = 360 academic credit points
Postgraduate Master’s degree or FHEQ level 7	180 academic credit points

{{subitem.title}}