Course credits for past study and experience

Have you already studied at another institution, completed a training course or does your work experience appear equivalent to one or more modules on your chosen course?  If so, you may be able to translate this prior learning into credits towards your course modules so that you don’t have to study them again.  This is called Accredited Prior Learning or APL. 

There are two types of APL:

Accredited Prior Certificated Learning or APCL: Recognises learning for which you have been formally assessed and awarded a certificate

Accredited Prior Experiential Learning or APEL: Recognises your knowledge and skills developed experience, including your work and voluntary activities.

Applying for APL exemptions

You can apply for credits up to 50% of the total number of credits required for your course.  We will need appropriate evidence that your prior learning matches the course content/module you wish to be exempt from. 

Reduce your fees

There is no fee to apply for APL.  However, if your application is successful, you’ll pay just 30% of the fee for any module(s) for which you are claiming credits.  We’ll usually ask you to pay these reduced fees when you enrol on your course or, if after enrolment, as soon as we’ve approved your APL application.

Applying for APL can take up to 2 months.  If you believe you might be eligible, please email us or call us on +44 (0)1332 593701 as soon as possible for guidance and to request an APL handbook.