If you’re applying for a course and have previous study or professional work experience, you may be eligible for Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning (CRPL).
CRPL can allow you to reduce the number of units you need to study to be awarded your ECU qualification. It does this in one of two ways:
Credit can be granted in three ways:
Only Specified Credit can be applied to a designated unit. Where credit is given, no numerical mark from the prior learning will be transferred or awarded, nor will it be included when determining a Weighted Average Mark.
Non-formal or informal learning is often referred to as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Non-formal learning can be in-house professional development or training you’ve received through an employer.
Informal learning can relate to relevant life or work experience.
In either case, we’ll assess this prior learning using the supporting documents uploaded in your CRPL application.
To see if you’re eligible for a possible course credit you should search for your qualification in our credit and recognition of prior learning database.
If you can’t find your institution where you completed your qualification, it could be because we don’t have it on our system.
If your previous studies were completed within Australia, try selecting ‘Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas (Australian Training Packages) Inc TAFE’ in the institution field, or selecting ‘Country not Stated’ in the country field.
If these options don’t show anything, we’ll complete an individual assessment for credit, based on your prior learning and supporting evidence when you submit an online application for CRPL.
Examples of where credit will not be granted
If you’re applying for credit transfer based on successful completion of units, modules or qualifications achieved through formal learning, please provide the following documents with your application:
If you’re applying for credit towards a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) or Bachelor of Science (Nursing)/Bachelor of Science (Midwifery), you must use the school’s unit mapping template for your application.
If you’re applying for recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on work experience and informal or non-formal learning, e.g. professional development or in-house training, you’ll need to supply these documents with your application:
The letter must be on company letterhead, stating that they have read your RPL statement and can verify the content. The employer’s letter must be signed and contain contact details.
If you intend to apply for RPL for Social Work Field Placement units, there are specific supporting document requirements and application submission dates.
If you’re a new student, or starting a new course at ECU, we recommend you submit your application for CRPL as soon as you have accepted your offer.
If you leave it until closer to the start of the semester it’ll take us longer to process.
The next step after accepting your offer is to enrol in course units. It’s best to know if you’re going to be awarded a credit for a unit before you enrol.
However, if you have enrolled in a unit(s) and you’re now seeking CRPL, you must submit your CRPL application no later than 14 days after the unit commences.
Applications received outside of this timeframe will not be considered.
It can generally take around 10 business days to process your application and provide a final outcome.
However, during peak periods and for complex applications that require review by one or more academics, applications can take longer to process, and in some instances it can take up to 25 business days.
Therefore, applicants should submit their CRPL forms as soon as they accept their offer.
If we need further information, you’ll receive an email notification to your ECU student email account. This account will also be used to notify you of the outcome of your CRPL application.
If you’re having a technical issue, including accessing or completing the form, uploading or deleting documents, please contact the IT Services Desk via email at itservicedesk@ecu.edu.au or phone (08) 6304 6000.
If you believe your credit determination is incorrect you can request an informal review of the assessment and decision. This must be made within 14 days of the credit decision notification.
You can contact us to initiate an informal review. We’ll provide information on who will undertake the review and facilitate the referral to an appropriate reviewer on your behalf, if required.
If you’re not satisfied with the outcome, you can request a formal review.
You’ll need to write a statement presenting the grounds on which you’re seeking the review and provide any documents you’d like to be considered. Once you’ve prepared your formal review statement and documents, you can submit these through our online enquiry form.
A request for a formal review can only be made on one or more of the following grounds:
