ASSESSMENT OF PRIOR LEARNING AND CREDIT TRANSFER AT LAPLAND UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
Confirmed by the Director of Education Development on 13 March 2015
- Credit transfer
According to the decision of the University of Applied Sciences, you can have studies you have completed at another educational institution in Finland or abroad recognised and accredited for other similar studies in the process of completing your degree. In addition,you can also have competence that is demonstrated in other ways recognised and accredited (932/2014, Section 37(9)). The process is called credit transfer.
Credit transfer is possible through three primary ways: substitution, inclusion and recognition of prior learning (RPL) acquired before or during your studies. Substitution refers to replacing your degree studies by content-wise similar studies of a university level completed elsewhere. Inclusionrefers to transferring university-level studies completed elsewhere and incorporating them into the degree. Identification of prior learning means that you understand the learning you have acquired and analyse it in the context of the learning objectives of the course or the competence area so that you can describe and demonstrate your competence. Recognition of prior learning means giving official justification to the learning you have acquired.
You have a right to apply for credit transfer but no obligation to do so. Youcan apply for credit transfer for studies completed elsewhere at the university level (such as the Open University of Applied Sciences, Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences or another institution of higher education) or competence acquired in another way (such as work experience, working in an organisation/association etc.). You can also apply for a credit transfer of 5–10 ECTS for leadership and instructor training acquired in the military service. However, studies that are required for entrance eligibility cannot be transferred as a part of the degree. It is not possible to get credit transfer for the whole degree.
Credits can also be transferred for a thesis if you have a prior thesis completed at an institution of higher education and which is connected or relevant to your field of education. The thesis is evaluated according to the thesis evaluation criteria of Lapland University of Applied Sciences.
Credit transfer is based on the regulations on degree completion, assessment and certificates as laid down in the Degree Regulations of Lapland University of Applied Sciences. Credit transfer, regardless of whether it involves the substitution of studies or the inclusion for studies completed elsewhere or the recognition of prior learning, requires an online written application (please find the application for credit transfer for studies completed elsewhere here and/or RPL application here, credit transfer for international studies here) and the decision is archived.
- Starting points and purpose of the operating model
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a set of practices through which competence that corresponds with the learning objectives of your studies can be accepted as part of the degree. It enables a faster study progress as well as eliminates any overlapping themes of studies. The recognition of prior learning is closely connected to the education development, promotion of lifelong learning and increasing internationalisation. The starting point is the principle of lifelong learning, according to which your competence is formed by the learning acquired in a formal education system as well as the unofficial learning and everyday learning acquired outside of it. Prior learning is transferred into the degree through the recognition of prior learning process. As a result, an individual study plan(ISP) is compiled for you.
- Key concepts
Identification of learning refers to your self-assessment of your learning in relation to the learning objectives described in the curriculum. The goal is to highlight your competence so that it can be transferred as part of your studies and degree.
Recognition of learning refers to actions and practices through which the learning identified and presented by the student is made transparent, documented and assessed. Recognition gives an official status to the student’s learning.
Assessment is used to determine the equivalence of the prior learning with the knowledge and skills acquired in the degree programme.
Formal education refers to studies and degrees completed at another educational organisation which are verified with reliable documentation, a certificate.
Non-formal education refers to systematic and goal-oriented studies, for example organised by an employer or a liberal adult education organisation, but which are not included in a formal education system.
Informal learning takes place in everyday activities connected to work, family and recreation. It is not systematic in terms of learning outcomes, time spent on learning or support received for it; certificates are usually not awarded for it.
- Types of credit transfer of prior learning
Credit transfer refers to acceptance of studies, practical training, work experience or competence as part of your degree or a specific course. Forms of credit transfer include substitution, inclusion of studies and skills demonstration.
Substitutionrefers to replacing your degree studies by similar studies completed elsewhere. Such studies must be of the university level (on a case-by-case basis, old college-level and post-secondary level attainments can be interpreted as university level or NQF 6 level studies).
Inclusion refers to the transfer of prior studies completed elsewhere with relevant contents into the degree. Such studies must be of the university level.
Skills demonstration/ proof of competence refers to the demonstration of your competence. You demonstrateyour competence that meets the degree objectives or the learning objectives of a specific course regardless of where and how the competence was acquired. The competence can concern lower-level formal education, non-formal education or informal learning. Examples of ways to demonstrate your skills or competences include learning portfolios, work testimonials that specify the required competence, work demonstrations, learning journals, interviews and written or oral exams. The aim is to enable credit transfer for the whole course or part of it. If that cannot be done, you will complete an additional assignmentwhich is assessed as a partial completion of the course.
Prior learning can include university-level studies as well as competence acquired in other ways. In the assessment of the credit transfer potential of prior learning, it is essential that the learning objectives of the degree and curriculum are fulfilled.
In the credit transfer process, the entire curriculum must be reviewed with an eye for clear entities that are relevant to your study progress.
The main rule is that learning acquired in higher education is assessed based on certificates. Such learning is transferred into your degree through substitution or inclusion (Note: There is a case-by-case process for massive open online courses or MOOCs which takes into account restrictions set by the higher education institution that offered the course). For the substitutionand inclusion, you receive a credit transfer marking in your academic records. Credit transfer does not generate ECTS credits that are taken into accountwhen monitoring your study progress. It is not included in the amount of credits needed for your financial aid either.Learning acquired in other ways is demonstrated through skills demonstration or proof of competence.You also submit a self-assessment of your learning in relation to the learning objectives of the course with the application. Learning demonstrated in this way is assessed and marked in your academic records with a grade (completion marking RPL). The attainment does not generate credits that are noted in the monitoring of your study progress, nor entitlement to any study-based financial aid. If the RPL process is used to replace only part of a course or course section and an additional attainment is ordered for the remainder, it will accrue credits taken into account in the monitoring of your study progress.
Youcan also acquire learning and work experience relevant to the degree during your studies.
If you have completed studies at the Open University of Applied Sciencesand get accepted into a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme at the university of applied sciences, credit for your studies completed at the Open University of Applied Sciences can be transferred in accordance with the learning objectives of each degree programme.
Free-choice studies can include credit transfer for your studies completed at another university or other type of educational establishment in Finland or abroad.
To guarantee an equal process at Lapland University of Applied Sciences, there is a credit transfer of 10 credits for the training of reserve officers (RUK) and 5 credits for the training of non-commissioned officers (AUK) (excluding Master’s degreestudies).
Lapland University of Applied Sciences has a cooperation agreement with Lapland Sports Academy. It is aimed at ensuring that students of the sports academy have the opportunity to combine studies at the university of applied sciences and a top/competitive sports career. You can include participation in the coached training organised by the sports academy as part of your studies.
However, credit transfer for free-choice studies cannot exceed the amount specified in the curriculum.
It is not possible to transfer credits for the whole degree.
Master’s degrees can include a credit transfer of 20 or 30 credits depending on the scope of the degree programme. Transfer students are an exception; their credit transfers are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Inclusion of studies completed on study exchange must comply with the instructions given on study exchange.
Practical training can be accredited with work experience that meets the learning objectives. However, a specified work testimonial is always required.
Credit for a thesis can be transferred if you have a prior thesis completed at an institution of higher education that is connected or relevant to the degree programme. The Programme Coordinator/Head of Master’s Degree Programmes decides, based on your application, on the partial or full substitution potential on a case-by-case basis.
- Marking a credit transfer in the Winha study register
The study attainment completion date is always the attainment’s original completion date, such as the assessment date, and it is alwaysa compulsory piece of information required. If the original completion date is unknown, the signature date of the certificate is used.
The study attainment’s credit transfer date refers to the date when your study attainment was approved or recorded in the system of the higher education institution in question. This is the administrative date of the institution performing the credit transfer and an action of the institution granting a new attainment into its records as a result of the credit transfer. Credit transfers are distinguished from the normal study attainments completed during your studies based on the credit transfer date.
Exception: Credit transfer for prior studies from “a resigned role”
The completed studies of students who have lost their study entitlement to Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences, Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences and Lapland University of Applied Sciences will be transferred directly to the new role if they restart their studies.
Operational guidelines
- Studies completed in formal education before the beginning of studies
- Competence is verified from the transcript of records or similar record, for example Open UAS studies.
This is an administrative procedure where study attainments completed before your studies are accepted as part of your degree. They are recorded as attainments through substitution or inclusion of prior studies, not as attainments completed during your studies. They are not included in the credit data collection (55 credits), nor will they accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies.
- The completed studies alone are not enough and you have to complete supplementary demonstrations or partial attainments, such as an exam or an essay.
They are recorded as execution assessments in accordance with the scope of the skills demonstrations or partial completions. The rest are recorded as attainments through substitution, not as attainments completed during your studies. The credits from skills demonstrations and partial completions are included in the credit data collection and, for their part, accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies. The partial completion is recorded as an execution assessment (= study attainment). The credits from the partial completion are included in the credit data collection (55 credits) and accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies.
For example, you mustcomplete a 10-credit course on Exploratory and Development-oriented Area Use Planning. You have attainments through substitution from the University of Lapland, resulting in a credit transfer of 7 credits. They are not included in the credit data collection (55 credits), nor will they accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies. You will have to complete 3 credits as a supplementary additional attainment. They are included in the credit data collection (55 credits) and accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies.
- Learning acquired outside formal education prior to the beginning of studies
- The learning can be verified with, for example, a properly specified work testimonial.
The learning is verified with a work testimonial and if the learning acquired through work experience corresponds with the learning objectives of the course, the credit transfer is an administrative procedure. It is recorded as an attainment through substitution, not as an attainment completed during the studies. It is not included in the credit data collection (55 credits), nor will it accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies.
- In case competence cannot be verified with an unspecified work certificate, you have to write a more detailed report on your learning.
The learning is verified with a work certificate and a supplementary report on the learning acquired. Credit transfer is an administrative procedure. It is recorded as an attainment through accreditation, not as an attainment completed during the studies. It is not included in the credit data collection (55 credits), nor will itaccrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies.
- You complete a partial completion included in the course when the recognition of prior learning requires supplementary attainments, such as an exam.
The partial completion is an attainment organised by the university of applied sciences and it is a defined part of your studies.
The partial completion is recorded as an execution assessment (= study attainment). The credits from the partial completion are included in the credit data collection (55 credits) and accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies. The credit transfer section is recorded as an attainment through substitution, not as an attainment completed during the studies. It is not included in the credit data collection (55 credits), nor will it accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies.
- Learning acquired outside formal education during your studies
Other learning acquired elsewhere during your studies and the credits accrued on its basis accrue credits towards the 55 credits and credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies. It is marked in the academic records as other attainments.
Otherwise, the credit transfer process follows the one described in Section 2.
- Learning acquired in formal education during the studies
A. Competence is verified from the transcript of records or a similar record, for example Open UAS studies
An administrative procedure where completed study attainments are accepted as part of the degree. They are recorded as attainments through accreditation or inclusion of prior studies. They are not included in the credit data collection (55 credits). They accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies.
B. The completed studies alone are not enough and youcomplete supplementary demonstrations or partial attainments, such as an exam or an essay.
They are recorded as execution assessments in accordance with the scope of the skills demonstrations or partial completions. The rest are recorded as attainments through substitution. The credits from skills demonstration and partial completions are included in the credit data collection. The partial completion is recorded as an execution assessment (= study attainment). The credits from partial completions are included in the credit data collection (55 credits). The entire attainment accrues credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies.
For example, you mustcomplete a 10-credit course of Exploratory and Development-oriented Area Use Planning. You complete attainments during your studies at the University of Lapland through substitution, resulting in a credit transfer of 7 credits. They are not included in the credit data collection (55 credits), but they accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies. You will have to complete 3 credits as an additional attainment, which will be included in the credit data collection (55 credits) and will accrue credits that entitle you to obtain financial aid for your studies.
More detailed programme-specific instructions and recommendations are available on the website of the RPL at universities of applied sciences project
See also Lapland UAS forms and guidelines on the Intranet and Internet:
RPL instructions and RPL application
Credit transfer for studies completed elsewhere
Credit transfer for international studies