What are the different types of credit available at RMIT?

Learn the ways you can finish your course sooner.

What is credit?

Credit is a reduction in the number of subjects or units you’re required to complete for a course, in recognition of your previous experience – whether that be for subjects or courses successfully completed at RMIT or another university, industry experience, professional development or even life experience.

Why apply for credit?

Cut costs

Pay less in tuition fees by removing units, subjects and learnings you've already completed.

Save time

Free up your schedule, creating more time for work and lifestyle, or simply giving yourself some breathing room.

Stay focused

Skip the repetition and focus on learning new content that advances your skills and knowledge.

There are a few different types of credit available to RMIT students, and the differences between them can be a bit confusing.

Types of credit offered at RMIT

Credit types available at all levels of study

Credit for Prior Study

Credit for Prior Study is for previous acccredited studies at RMIT or other tertiary institutions, either in Australia or overseas.

It’s either for new RMIT students who have completed studied a similar/equivalent course (or course units/subjects) at another institution where the prior subjects are deemed to be sufficiently similar to the RMIT subjects being enrolled in that credit can be granted, or for RMIT students who have completed one RMIT course and are enrolling into another RMIT course that features the same units.

For more detailed information on how much credit you can receive, read our credit procedure.

Find out more about Credit for Prior Study

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is for non-study-based learning formats, as well as skills and knowledge gained during employment, professional development or life experience.

Through RPL, students can receive credit if it can be demonstrated that they have relevant experience, such as skills and knowledge gained during employment, professional development or life experience.

It’s a process of assessing whether a person has met the learning outcomes of the subjects that they are enroling in, and can therefore receive credit for them.

Find out more about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Postgraduate-specific credit

Masters Advanced Standing

Masters Advanced Standing is a specific form of Credit for Prior Study, only for masters by coursework students. It’s based on prior study completed at AQF level 7 (Bachelor degree) or above, combined with relevant and may also consider current industry/career experience particularly if the prior qualification was not within the same discipline as the Masters degree being enrolled in, or if the prior study was completed more than 10 years ago.

The purpose of advanced standing is to reduce the course duration for students whose previous experience contributes towards the volume of learning required to complete that course.

Find out more about Masters Advanced Standing

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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