Melbourne School of Engineering

Credit for studies already completed at tertiary level will be granted if any of your previous studies are:

• comparable in content;
• equivalent in standard; and
• suitable to be included as part of your University of Melbourne course.

Faculties specify the maximum credit allowance, but will always try to give eligible students maximum credit for previous relevant study. Each faculty publishes Faculty Credit Guidelines and will ensure that credit is awarded at the time of enrolment.

Application for Credit

Engineering Credit Guidelines

1. Introduction

The Melbourne School of Engineering reserves the right to offer credit as it deems fit.

Credit will not normally be granted for any complete or incomplete tertiary studies undertaken ten or more years prior to admission to the degree.

2. Definition of Terms and Merlin Entry

2.1 Specified Credit

Specified Credit should be recorded when a student has passed a specific Engineering subject/s which is considered equivalent to an Engineering subject. Where possible, specified credit should be used as the entry of the subject number/title on the student record to assist in the checking of prerequisites.

2.2 Unspecified Credit

Recognition of prior study or work that is not directly correlated to components of the Bachelor program. Unspecified Credit should be recorded where a student has not completed a full year of study at a particular level and where there are no exact equivalent Engineering subject/s.

2.3 Block Credit

Block credit should be recorded where a student has completed the equivalent of a full year/s or defined series of subjects from a Faculty at a recognised University or Institution which is deemed to be of equivalent standing to the University of Melbourne. An example would be a student who has completed first year Engineering at Monash receiving block credit for the first year of Engineering at Melbourne. Block credit may only be granted where there are direct equivalent subjects.

2.4 Exemption

A prerequisite or course requirement that can be waived on the basis of equivalent study without credit points being awarded towards the degree. Exemption should be recorded on the enrolment comments section of Merlin.

3. Credit (from University Statute 5.4: Courses And Subjects)

5.4.4 - Credit for Previous Courses

1. A student who has completed the whole or any part of the work in a course for a degree, diploma or certificate ('the first course') and proceeds to any other course ('the second course') having completed that work in the first course within the permitted time frame then set by the faculty, must receive credit for any subject completed in the first course which is common to both courses where -
   • the subject completed in the first course is a compulsory subject in the second course; or
   • the first and second courses together constitute an approved combined course; or
   • the student has elected not to complete or not to take out the award for the first course but to proceed instead with the second course; or
   • the Board had decided, in its discretion, that credit should be given for the subject or subjects in question completed in the first course;
     
     provided that the student must satisfactorily complete an additional year's work in the second course, or not less than half of that course, whichever is the lesser in order to be awarded a degree, diploma or certificate for the second course.
     
2. Where a student is entitled to receive credit for a subject in the second course, the appropriate faculty must define the student's status in the second course and determine the order in which the student may do the work and complete the subjects in the second course."

Credit may granted for complete or incomplete qualifications and the amount of credit will be determined by the nature and level of the qualification. A diploma, deemed to be equivalent to 200 points of an Engineering degree, may be awarded a maximum of 200 points only, although this will also be contingent upon the curriculum covered in the diploma.

3.1. Three hundred point degree courses

Students undertaking a degree course requiring the accumulation of 300 points will be offered a maximum of 200 points credit dependent upon their previous study. Students with incomplete qualifications will be awarded appropriate points as deemed by the Faculty.

Students who have a completed a 300 point degree will be offered a maximum of 100 points credit. This is to avoid the possibility of a student who has completed a 300 point degree receiving 200 points credit thereby undertaking only 100 points of Engineering and receiving two degrees with a total of 400 points.

3.2 Four hundred point degree courses

Students undertaking a degree course requiring the accumulation of 400 points will be offered a maximum of 300 points credit dependent upon their previous study. Students with incomplete qualifications will be awarded appropriate points as deemed by the Faculty.

A student who has completed a degree may be awarded a maximum of 200 credit points only. This is to avoid the possibility of a student who has completed a 300 point degree receiving 300 points credit thereby undertaking only 100 points of Engineering and receiving two degrees with a total of 400 points.

No credit can be given for the final year of a degree unless it is an agreement under an Exchange or Study Abroad program.

The Dean has the right to waive, on an individual basis, the credit limit that may be awarded to a student.

4. Students Engaged in Exchange Programs, Study Abroad or on Leave of Absence

4.1 Students who are engaged in exchange programs or who are studying abroad must negotiate with the Faculty and the relevant departments for prior authorisation of credit. Credit will only be granted upon the satisfactory completion of agreed subjects and on the production of official original transcripts.

4.2 Students who are on leave of absence from their degree program will not normally be granted credit for subjects taken at another institution unless approval has been received in writing from the Faculty.

5. Community Access Programs

Students who have undertaken studies relevant to their proposed degree through the Community Access Program may be granted credit for these subjects following successful admission into their degree program.

6. Melbourne University Program for High Achieving Students (MUPHAS)

Students who have successfully completed studies under the MUPHAS will receive specified credit towards their degree for those subjects.

7. Summer or Third Semester Studies

Students who have successfully completed studies, deemed to be equivalent to subjects required for their degree, through a summer or third semester may be granted specified or unspecified credit.