Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy

1. Purpose

1.1 The Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy (the policy) outlines the management of admissions, readmissions, enrolment and transfers for all courses. It is in addition to section 5, Student Rules.

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to all UTS staff and students (commencing and continuing) for all courses.

2.2 The admissions requirements outlined in this policy do not apply to short forms of learning (refer Short Forms of Learning Policy).

2.3 The recognition of prior learning requirements outlined in this policy apply for microcredentials (refer Short Forms of Learning Policy).

3. Principles

3.1 Admissions standards focus on merit and reflect the potential for a student’s academic success.

3.2 UTS students are expected to have appropriate knowledge and skills, including English language proficiency, to successfully engage with their studies and related work integrated learning.

3.3 UTS will, where appropriate, consider educational disadvantage and accessibility impacts when determining admissions requirements.

3.4 Staff and students must be aware of any published inherent requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course, and the potential impact of these on a student’s ability to access, progress through or complete a course at UTS.

3.5 Opportunities are provided for students to have prior learning assessed and recognised as part of the university’s support of lifelong learning. This may be managed via recognition of prior learning, course transfer or an articulation arrangement.

3.6 Admissions, recognition of prior learning and enrolment procedures must be fair, transparent and in line with this policy, the Student Rules and the UTS Delegations.

3.7 Staff involved in the admissions process must also be aware of the Privacy Policy, the Records Management Policy and the Code of Conduct.

4. Policy statements

4.1 The statements outlined in this policy should be read in conjunction with the Student Rules, in particular section 3, section 5, section 6 and section 7.

4.2 UTS admissions standards are outlined in Rule 5.7 and Rule 5.8. The statements outlined in this policy are in addition to these rules.

4.3 Approved admissions standards are recorded in the Register of Admissions Standards (available at Admissions standards (SharePoint)) maintained and published by the University Academic Programs Office (UAPO).

Approving and reviewing admissions standards

4.4 Admissions standards are approved annually in line with Rule 3.2, Rule 5.7 and Rule 5.8. Academic Board and the Executive Committee of Academic Board have authority for approving admissions standards for all award courses and non-award study on the advice of faculty boards via the Courses Accreditation Committee (CAC) and the Higher Degree Research Committee (HDRC), in line with the Delegations.

4.5 The relevant faculty board is responsible for developing and reviewing admissions standards for award courses and non-award study.

4.6 The Provost is responsible for approving changes to admissions standards outside the Academic Board annual review process in line with the Delegations. These changes are reported to Academic Board as part of the annual approval process.

General admissions requirements for award courses

4.7 Table 4.7 sets out general admissions requirements for UTS award courses by award type. (Note: An addendum has been published to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) to add a new qualification type, the undergraduate certificate, from 2021 until 2025. The AQF level of university certificates depends on the existing higher education qualification to which it aligns and into which students have the option to transition.)

Table 4.7: General admissions requirements for UTS award courses by award type

Award course type	AQF level	Admissions requirements
Diploma	Level 5	Course-specific admissions standards
Associate degree	Level 6	Course-specific admissions standards
Undergraduate certificate	Level 5, 6 or 7	Course-specific admissions standards
Undergraduate bachelor degree	Level 7	Apply through UAC (or relevant direct entry scheme where applicable) Minimum selection rank Stated matriculation requirements Course-specific English language requirements Course-specific admissions selection criteria
Bachelor honours degree	Level 8	Bachelor degree Course-specific English language requirements Course-specific admissions selection criteria Specific faculty approval
Graduate certificate and graduate diploma	Level 8	Bachelor degree or recognised equivalent qualification and/or relevant work experience where recognised Course-specific English language requirements Course-specific admissions selection criteria including professional qualifications or appropriate experience
Masters degree (coursework and research)	Level 9	Bachelor degree or recognised equivalent qualification, and/or a graduate certificate or diploma to demonstrate the capacity to pursue graduate studies at this level Course-specific English language requirements Course-specific admissions selection criteria including professional qualifications or appropriate experience
Doctoral degree	Level 10	Bachelor honours degree with first class or second class / division 1 honours, or masters degree by research, or recognised equivalent qualification, and course-specific English language requirements course-specific admissions selection criteria including professional qualifications or appropriate experience

4.8 Domestic postgraduate coursework students normally apply directly to UTS. International postgraduate coursework students apply via UTS International. The Provost, in consultation with the Director, Student Administration in the Lifetime Learner Experience Unit (LLEU), may determine exceptions to this requirement. The admissions selection criteria for direct entry courses are published annually in the Register of Admissions Selection Criteria (available at Admissions selection criteria (SharePoint)).

4.9 The Graduate Research School coordinates applications for admission to graduate research courses from domestic and international students, including the verification of documentation and coordination with faculties in line with this policy.

4.10 Admissions selection criteria for award courses are reviewed annually by faculty boards as part of the annual review process initiated by UAPO. Criteria for special admissions schemes should also be reviewed annually (refer Special admissions schemes).

4.11 Award coursework courses reviewed by faculty boards are approved (reaccredited) by Academic Board in line with the Award Course Approval Policy.

General admissions requirements for non-award study

4.12 Admission may be sought to non-award study (as defined in Schedule 1, Student Rules) either for individual subjects or a collection of subjects. Admissions requirements for non-award study subjects are outlined in section 7, Student Rules.

4.13 Applicants wishing to undertake non-award study must meet any academic prerequisites outlined in the UTS Handbook.

4.14 Cross-institutional domestic students are coordinated by LLEU. Cross-institutional international applications are coordinated by UTS International. All applications are subject to the availability of class places and the approval of the relevant faculty responsible academic officer (RAO) in line with section 7, Student Rules.

4.15 Table 4.15 sets out the admissions requirements for non-award study.

Table 4.15: Admissions requirements for non-award study

Non-award study	AQF level	Admissions requirements
Non-award single subject study	various	Subject specific admissions standards As outlined in Rule 7.4
Professional registration courses	various	Subject-specific admissions standards
Cross institutional study	various	As outlined in Rule 7.3
Study abroad program (undergraduate)	Level 7	International applicant, and course-specific English language requirements, and course-specific admissions selection criteria, and equivalent of Australian high school qualification, and/or have completed one or more years of undergraduate study with at least the equivalent credit average
Exchange program (undergraduate)	Level 7	International applicant, and course-specific English language requirements, and course-specific admissions selection criteria, and equivalent of Australian high school qualification, and/or have completed one or more years of undergraduate study with at least the equivalent credit average
Study abroad program (graduate)	Level 8/9	International applicant, and course-specific English language requirements, and course-specific admissions selection criteria, and equivalent of Australian bachelors degree qualification
Exchange program (graduate)	Level 8/9	International applicant, and course-specific admissions standards, and equivalent of Australian bachelors degree qualification
Study abroad (visiting research student program)	Level 10	All admissions requirements for the relevant graduate research course

English language proficiency requirements

4.16 All applicants to UTS must satisfy the course-specific English language proficiency requirements for admission (refer English language requirements) approved by Academic Board and recorded in the Register of English Language Proficiency Requirements (available at English language requirements (SharePoint)).

4.17 English language admissions standards must be set at a level that allows commencing students to participate effectively in their course.

Inherent requirements

4.18 Faculty boards are responsible for developing and approving inherent requirements, essential for course progression and completion. In doing so, faculty boards should be provided with any resulting accessibility impacts or barriers arising from an inherent requirement and how they may be mitigated or resolved (refer Accessibility and Inclusion Policy).

4.19 Inherent requirements are developed, reviewed and approved at least every 5 years, in line with the Award Course Approval Policy and the Award Course Approval and Publication Procedure. Where inherent requirements apply to more than one course, faculty boards may apply an alternative review and reapproval process for all courses, so long as the process meets the minimum five-year review requirement.

Applying to UTS

4.20 Applicants must apply to UTS via the relevant approved application process as outlined in section 5, Student Rules and the Admissions Procedure (the procedure).

4.21 Refusal of admission and appeals against these decisions are outlined in Rule 5.6.

4.22 Excluded students (from UTS or another tertiary institution) must abide by the admission, readmission and disclosure statements outlined in section 5, Student Rules.

Offers of admissions

4.23 Offers of admissions must be made in line with section 5, Student Rules and the Delegations.

4.24 The Dean, Graduate Research School is responsible for the approval of applications for admissions to graduate research courses. The Graduate Research School must identify to the Provost any person or body authorised to make an offer of admission to graduate research courses in place of the dean.

Special admissions schemes

4.25 Academic Board is responsible for approving the conditions for special admissions schemes (listed in the procedure). Special admissions schemes should be reported to Academic Board annually by the responsible owners. Any changes must be formally approved by Academic Board. This annual report is noted to the Governance Support Unit, with changes and new approvals listed in the procedure.

4.26 The Provost is responsible for approving any changes or alterations to approved special admissions scheme conditions outside the Academic Board annual review process in line with the Delegations. These changes are reported to the next meeting of Academic Board by the responsible owner in line with the procedure.

4.27 The Provost will recommend to Academic Board any variation to the minimum ATAR (or lowest selection rank) required for admission to specific award courses.

Admissions of minors

4.28 Students under the age of 18 (minors) may be admitted to UTS courses where the normal admissions requirements have been met, including any age restrictions imposed by third parties (for example, for placement or accreditation purposes).

4.29 The RAO should provide advice to the Director, Student Administration regarding whether an applicant who is a minor meets the admissions standards for their chosen course and complies with any age restrictions.

4.30 UTS does not seek additional parental consent for the admissions of minors.

4.31 International students who are minors must also comply with the regulations as set out in Standard 5 of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (Cwlth) (the National Code).

Course transfers

4.32 Students transferring between UTS courses must meet the admissions requirements for the course into which they are transferring, in line with the rules, this policy and the procedure (refer also Course transfer).

4.33 Faculty boards are responsible for approving the transfer criteria for all courses, including graduate research programs, together with the assessment criteria and nomination of an RAO.

4.34 Where applicable, the student’s grade and relevant marks will be carried forward as part of the course transfer and included in any grade point average (GPA) and weighted average mark (WAM) calculations (refer Coursework Assessments Policy: Appendix 1).

4.35 Credit will automatically be recognised where the subject numbers are identical in each course. The subject grade will be recorded for the course into which the student is transferred. In all other cases, recognition of credit is not automatic and an application for recognition of prior learning must be made. This process is managed by LLEU.

Articulation arrangements

4.36 All proposals for articulation arrangements must be covered by a written agreement, developed in conjunction with the Office of General Counsel, processed through the online curriculum approval process (OCAP) system (refer Online curriculum approval process system (SharePoint)) and approved by an authorised delegate (refer Delegations).

4.37 Admissions standards for articulation arrangements combined with the establishment of a new UTS award course are approved in line with the Award Course Approval Policy and the Award Course Approval and Publication Procedure.

4.38 Admissions standards for articulation arrangements combined with an existing UTS award course are approved as follows:

by faculty deans, where the articulation arrangement is in line with the provisions of the rules and this policy, applied unilaterally by UTS with no formal agreement or memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an external provider and no UTS resources are used outside the university
by the Provost, where the articulation arrangement is under an agreement or MoU with an external provider and no UTS resources are used outside the university
by the Provost, via the Courses Planning Committee and CAC, where the articulation arrangement is under an agreement or MoU with an external provider and UTS resources are used outside UTS.

4.39 Admissions standards for formal articulation arrangements set below UTS admissions standards are approved by Academic Board, via CAC or HDRC.

4.40 Requests for RPL that are in addition to the credit outlined as part of the articulation arrangement will be managed as a separate request for RPL in line with this policy.

Admission to courses conducted with other institutions (domestic and international)

4.41 UTS may run courses in conjunction with another institution (Rule 1.2.3). Students wishing to transfer from these courses to UTS may do so where this is included as part of the formal arrangement.

4.42 Admissions to dual programs of study for coursework courses are managed by UTS International. Collaborative research degree programs are managed through an agreement between the university and its partners with a reciprocal tuition fee scholarship arrangement coordinated by the Graduate Research School. Dual and collaborative programs are approved in line with the relevant approval framework and outlined in the agreement between the university and its partner(s).

4.43 UTS International is responsible for the admission of offshore students to UTS award courses offered in conjunction with an overseas tertiary education partner. These are offered in accordance with a formal agreement between UTS and the overseas partner. Admissions standards are approved by Academic Board.

Recognition of prior learning

4.44 Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is determined and managed by the relevant faculty board in line with section 6, Student Rules, this policy and the Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure.

4.45 The faculty identified as the designated subject owner is responsible for all RPL matters in relation to that subject.

4.46 Course-specific RPL limits may be set by the relevant faculty board. Students are generally expected to complete a minimum period of study at UTS of one-half (50%) of the total credit point requirements of the course. This limit does not apply to the following, which are not forms of RPL:

an articulation arrangement is in place
nested and stackable courses
the applicant is enrolling in a new version of a previously attempted UTS course or its equivalent, or
as part of an existing course transfer precedent (refer Short Forms of Learning Policy).

4.47 Faculty boards, in assessing and determining prior learning, may also set additional requirements (for example, testing or portfolio submission) for a particular course or subject.

4.48 Rule 7.2 outlines RPL as part of a concurrent enrolment at another tertiary educational institution.

4.49 All RPL decisions are made in accordance with Rule 6.2. All RPL decisions are final. Students may not make personal requests for review of RPL decisions or make multiple applications for RPL.

Admissions and RPL standards and management

4.50 Admissions standards for each course of study are monitored annually through the Course Performance Report prepared by Performance Evaluation in the Data Analytics and Insights Unit, for review by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) and provided to Academic Board.

4.51 UAPO is responsible for preparing and submitting to Academic Board, via CAC (for coursework courses) and HDRC (for research programs/courses), an annual report on the changes to admissions standards approved by the Provost in line with this policy and the Delegations.

4.52 The Manager, Student Equity provides reports on the processes used for admissions. Reports should include the processes used to assess applications for admission to undergraduate courses via UTS special admissions schemes.

4.53 Faculty deans, in consultation with the Provost, will determine the intake loads each year for each undergraduate award course offered by their faculties.

4.54 Faculty boards are responsible for ensuring the quality and transparency of RPL processes and decisions and for monitoring board decision trends.

Enrolment

4.55 Guidance on enrolment and variations to enrolment at UTS is published in the Student Rules (section 7 and section 11).

Policy breaches and exceptions

4.56 Policy breaches are managed in line with the Code of Conduct or the Student Rules and the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy as appropriate.

4.57 In exceptional circumstances, faculty boards or Graduate Research School Board (GRSB) may submit a request to Academic Board to vary the admissions requirements outlined in this policy via the Teaching and Learning Committee. Academic Board must maintain a register of policy variations to track precedence.

4.58 In exceptional circumstances, faculty boards or GRSB may submit a request to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) to vary the RPL requirements outlined in this policy. The office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) must maintain a register of policy variations to track precedence.

4.59 Any approved exceptions or variations from this policy will be considered as part of the policy review process.

5. Roles and responsibilities

5.1 Policy owners: The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) is responsible for:

enforcement and compliance of this policy, ensuring that its principles and statements are observed
the approval of any associated university-level procedures to support this policy
undertaking all necessary management, monitoring and reporting to Academic Board in line with the statements of this policy.

The Provost is responsible for:

enforcement and compliance of this policy, ensuring that its principles and statements are observed
the approval of any associated university-level procedures to support this policy
making determinations and recommendations and providing reports as outlined in the Student Rules (section 5 and section 7), the Delegations and this policy.

5.2 Policy contacts:

Responsible academic officers (RAOs) are responsible for providing advice within faculties on implementing the provisions of this policy and for making determinations and recommendations as outlined in the Student Rules (section 5 and section 7), the Delegations and this policy.

The Dean, Graduate Research School is responsible for providing advice on the admission of graduate research students in line with section 11, Student Rules, the Delegations and this policy.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International), or nominee (as appropriate), is responsible for making recommendations to Academic Board, via the Courses Accreditation Committee and with formal advice from the Associate Deans (Teaching and Learning) Network, on all foundation studies courses, and for making determinations in line with the Delegations.

The Director, Student Administration is responsible for making recommendations and determinations as outlined in the Student Rules (section 5 and section 7), the Delegations and this policy.

5.3 Implementation and governance roles:

Academic Board is responsible for making determinations as outlined in the Student Rules (section 5 and section 7), the Delegations and this policy.

The University Academic Programs Office (UAPO) is responsible for maintaining admissions registers as outlined in this policy and its associated procedures.

The Courses Accreditation Committee (CAC), a committee of Academic Board, is responsible for reviewing this policy in advance of submission to Academic Board, reviewing any associated procedures in advance of approval, and making recommendations in line with the Courses Accreditation Committee: Terms of reference.

The Manager, Student Equity is responsible for coordinating admissions, monitoring and reporting in line with this policy and its associated procedures.

Faculty boards are responsible for making recommendations and determinations as outlined in the Student Rules (section 5 and section 7), the Delegations and this policy. Faculty boards are also responsible for setting specific RPL requirements and procedures, and ensuring a fair, transparent and systematic approach is established and monitored for quality control purposes.

The Graduate Research School is responsible for the management and coordination of admissions to graduate research courses, and for graduate research courses generally, in line with the Student Rules (section 5, section 7 and section 11), the Delegations and this policy.

UTS International is responsible for coordinating a number of international applications in line with this policy and its procedures.

6. Definitions

These definitions apply for this policy and all associated procedures. These are in addition to the definitions outlined in Schedule 1, Student Rules. Definitions in the singular include the plural meaning of the word.

Admissions standard means the specific and published requirements for a course that applicants must satisfy to be considered for admission, as approved by Academic Board. These include selection algorithms, AQF levels, minimum ATAR, lowest selection rank, professional requirements, prerequisites and subject specific requirements.

Articulation arrangement means a formal recognition of equivalencies and prerequisites between courses that enable admission to, or transfer between, a course taught by (or cooperatively delivered with) an external provider (domestic or international). The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) state that these arrangements ‘enable students to progress from a completed qualification to another with admission and/or credit in a defined qualification pathway’. This may include a requirement to achieve specific grades or marks. These arrangements may involve exemptions for specific subjects or block credit transfer and/or guaranteed admission to a specific UTS award course.

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) means a number (not a mark) that indicates a student’s position in relation to their Year 12 cohort, including students who did not complete Year 12. It is a rank that allows the comparison of students who have completed different combinations of HSC courses (refer Universities Admissions Centre: ATAR).

Award course is defined in Schedule 1, Student Rules.

Course is defined in Schedule 1, Student Rules.

Course transfer is defined in Schedule 1, Student Rules.

Cross-institutional study is defined in Schedule 1, Student Rules.

Domestic student is defined in Schedule 1, Student Rules.

Dual programs of study (including collaborative research degree programs) are those that lead to 2 awards for a student, one from UTS and one from another higher education provider, provided in tandem through a formal arrangement.

English language proficiency is defined in the English Language Policy.

Inherent requirement is defined in Schedule 1, Student Rules.

Lowest selection rank means the combination of ATAR and any points received from adjustment factors. This is the lowest possible selection rank that can result in an offer of a place.

Matriculation means overall eligibility for admission to a course. All applicants who meet course matriculation requirements are not automatically guaranteed to receive an offer; applicants must still compete for a place with other eligible applicants for the same course. To be eligible to apply for a course (or matriculate) at UTS, applicants must:

have attained a full New South Wales Higher School Certificate or equivalent with an ATAR of 69 (excluding adjustment points), or
have successfully completed a UTS Foundation Studies course, a recognised tertiary preparation course, associate diploma, AQF diploma or advanced diploma
have successfully completed one year of full-time tertiary study in a single institution, or
be at least 20 years of age as of 1 March on the year of admission.

Nested course means a set of UTS courses offered sequentially and may lead to qualifications at different AQF levels. Courses at the lower AQF levels are described as ‘nested’ within the higher level courses.

Selection criteria means specific requirements, including English language proficiency requirements, within the approved admission standards of each program, designed to establish eligibility and to enable ranking of applicants (where necessary) for admission into the course.

Special admissions scheme means a type of admissions arrangement (sometimes titled an access scheme) that recognises either:

excellence or achievement with early entry or early offers, and/or
the impact different life circumstances may have on an applicant’s ability to meet admissions requirements by providing pathways to enter a UTS course of study with a lower entry score than is normally required (refer also the Admissions Procedure).

Stackable course means courses that are made up of a number of award courses, microcredentials or subjects.

Student is defined in Schedule 1, Student Rules. For the purposes of this policy, a student also includes a person who has:

recently completed the requirements of the course
withdrawn from the course
withdrawn temporarily from the course for a period of at least one semester through approved leave of absence
no active enrolment in subjects or in time-based study in a particular semester, or
been excluded from the course or from the university, in accordance with the UTS Rules, in the last semester.

Study abroad student and exchange student are full-time, non-award study students who are enrolled for one or two semesters and satisfy the admissions requirements for the relevant course (including English language requirements).

Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) means the organisation established by New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory universities to coordinate admissions to their award courses.

Approval information

Policy contact	Provost Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students)
Approval authority	Academic Board
Review date	2024
File number	UR19/1200
Superseded documents	Admissions Policy (UR11/1356) Credit Recognition Policy (UR10/990)

Version history

Version	Approved by	Approval date	Effective date	Sections modified
1.0	Academic Board (AB/19-1/13)	27/03/2019	16/05/2019	New policy.
1.1	Acting Director, Governance Support Unit (Delegation 3.14.1)	08/07/2019	25/07/2019	Amendment to the internal course transfers section in relation to the transfer of GPA and WAM.
1.2	Academic Board (AB/21-1/13)	31/03/2021	05/05/2021	Changes to the general admissions requirements for UTS award courses by award type to include associate degree and the temporary inclusion (for 2021) of the undergraduate certificate.
1.3	Director, Governance Support Unit (Delegation 3.14.1)	24/08/2021	13/09/2021	Amendments to align with Short Forms of Learning Policy and Student Rule definitions. Changes made to reflect name change of Graduate Research School Board to Higher Degree Research Board.
1.4	Academic Board (AB/21-4/68)	29/09/2021	27/10/2021	Updates and corrections to the RPL process, course transfer and articulation arrangements. New inherent requirements section and statements. New policy breaches and exceptions section. Updates to definitions.
1.5	Director, Governance Support Unit (Delegation 3.14.1)	01/12/2021	21/01/2022	Changes to the general admissions requirements for UTS award courses by award type to include the undergraduate certificate until 2025.
1.6	Academic Board (AB/22-1/16)	30/03/2022	14/04/2022	Updates to clarify process for approving and making changes to special admissions schemes. Minor changes under Fit for 2027.
1.7	Director, Governance Support Unit (Delegation 3.14.1)	01/02/2022	15/12/2022	Minor updates to reflect requirements of the new Accessibility and Inclusion Policy.
1.8	Deputy Director, Corporate Governance (Delegation 3.14.2)	05/04/2023	19/04/2023	Amendments to reflect new position of Director, Student Administration in the Lifetime Learner Experience Unit.
1.9	Deputy Director, Corporate Governance (Delegation 3.14.2)	22/09/2023	06/10/2023	Amendments to reflect name change of Higher Degree Research Board to Higher Degree Research Committee and new Graduate Research School Board.