Credit transfer

What you need to know about credit

Eligibility for credit does not guarantee entry to a course at Flinders. If you would like more information about the entry requirements for a particular course, refer to Courses and programs.

When you apply for credit, we will assess your previous study or experience against the Flinders topic(s) you are seeking credit for. For specified credit your previous study must align with the learning outcomes of the Flinders topics.

If your previous area of study is not related to your Flinders studies, some degrees allow for unspecified credit to be awarded.  Please refer to the Credit Policy for more information.

Types of credit

There are three types of credit:

• Specified credit: This is awarded when the prior learning or study aligns with the equivalent Flinders topic.

• Unspecified credit: This is awarded on the basis of study or work which is deemed to be equivalent in amount and academic value to a body of work at Flinders for which there is no direct topic equivalent.

• Block credit: This is awarded for work of a similar standard in a program of studies (e.g. major/minor) which is equivalent to one offered at Flinders.

Are you eligible?

You may be eligible for credit if you have undertaken study at a registered training organisation or recognised tertiary institution, either in Australia or overseas, including TAFE and or VET qualifications.

 If you apply for credit for studies previously completed at Flinders, the credit may  be automatically applied to your new Flinders course, but not always. If your credit is not automatically granted, you will need to apply for a credit transfer.

You may also be eligible for recognition of prior learning based on your previous employment/life experiences.

Students from TAFE/VET

In most cases, you need to have completed a qualification at Certificate IV level or higher to be considered for a credit transfer. Credit may be given to a maximum of 54 units (towards a 3-year degree) for holders of a completed TAFE diploma, associate diploma, advanced diploma, degree or equivalent.

If your qualification is related to the degree you wish to undertake at Flinders, you may receive credit based on a comparison of the subjects already completed to the topics that are required in your chosen degree.

If your qualification is not related to the degree you wish to undertake at Flinders, you may be entitled to the minimum amount of credit.

* Minimum credit: There may be instances where minimum credit may not be granted because the undergraduate program needs to meet the requirements of professional or registration bodies.

Students from overseas institutions

Credit for studies at overseas tertiary institutions will be awarded on the same basis as that for studies within Australian institutions, subject to those studies being assessed by the Department of Education, or an equivalent body, as comparable to tertiary level studies in Australia.

When to apply

You should lodge your application no later than two (2) weeks prior to the start of the relevant semester/teaching period. If you do not lodge your application by then, it may not be processed in time for your enrolment.

How to apply

Current Flinders students can apply for credit using the Ask Flinders webform.

Prospective students can enquire about their credit eligibility by emailing askflinders@flinders.edu.au

If the credit you are seeking is based on non-Flinders topics, please attach or include the following documents:

1. complete Official Academic Transcripts* and an explanation of the grading system
2. detailed descriptions/learning outcomes for the topics/subjects completed (syllabus) at the time when the study occurred
3. course outline explaining the structure of the program including topics covered, contact hours, duration of the program, and methods of assessment. This is not required if a credit agreement is in place (search the credit transfer database)
4. any prior correspondence you may have received from Flinders regarding this credit application.

* Documents must be originals, certified true copies or digital documents shared directly through the My eQuals platform. Certified copies must bear an original signature and certification that the document is a true copy of the original. This can be obtained from a University Registrar or a Justice of the Peace.

What happens next?

Current students

You will receive an acknowledgement email confirming your application has been received. You can monitor the progress of your request using the 'My Support' tab in Ask Flinders.

Once your credit has been assessed, your College will contact you with the outcome and provide you with advice on what this means for your studies.

Prospective students

The relevant College will contact you with information on potential credit you may be eligible to if you apply and are accepted into a Flinders course. Please note, potential credit eligibility is not grounds for being made an offer at Flinders University. You will still need to apply and be assessed against the course admission requirements.

When to apply

International students should declare any potential eligible credit with their application to Flinders. This is so we can assess your credit eligibility at the time of offer and you can be provided with an accurate study planner and Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) length.

Please note

Credit may reduce the total duration of your course. If this is the case, Flinders International will issue you a shorter CoE.  You are responsible for ensuring the reduced study duration meets the Australian Study Requirement for any future Australian visa you may wish to apply for. Please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website for further details.

Students who have been offered a Flinders Go Beyond Academic Scholarship, Alumni Scholarship or International High School Scholarship Australia, please be advised the conditions of your scholarship do not allow you to receive credit after you have been made an offer at Flinders. If you apply for and accept credit after you have been admitted, your scholarship will be revoked.

How to apply

If you wish to be considered for credit transfer, you need to indicate this when submitting your application for admission into your preferred course.

Please ensure you provide in your application:

• an official transcript or results from previous studies
•  a copy of the subject description for each subject at the time studies were taken (including course description, number of contact hours, assessment method, language of instruction and final academic score
•  translations, if subject descriptions are in a language other than English.

When we receive your application, we will compare the level and content of topics you have already completed with the syllabus and learning outcomes of topics in the Flinders’ course you wish to undertake. You will be assessed for the maximum credit you are eligible for. You will be advised of the amount of credit you are eligible for in your Offer Letter.

Admitted students

Students who have been admitted to a course can apply for credit via the Ask Flinders webform. Choose “Enrolments” as the area.

If you are applying for credit for study completed outside of Flinders University, you will need to attach transcripts, subject descriptions and translations as described above.

If you are applying for credit for study completed outside of Flinders University you will need to attach transcripts, subject descriptions and translations as described above.