Advanced Standing Policy
1 Definition of Advanced Standing
Advanced standing is recognition of prior studies taken at other institutions, which have equivalence to similar studies at UNE. This means that once advanced standing is given, students are not required to study those UNE units again.
2 Granting Advanced Standing
The following summarises the Faculty’s rules regarding advanced standing:
- previous studies are assessed as equivalent in level, content and rigour (they are as demanding as UNE units);
- previous studies are less than ten (10) years old (there are some exceptions to this in areas such as mathematics): and
- previous studies are assessed as equivalent to units approved for your
UNE degree.
3 Maximum amount of Advanced Standing
The Faculty will grant the maximum amounts of advanced standing as follows:
- for UNE Bachelor degrees -- Up to 96 credit points (cp).
- for UNE Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas --
For incomplete or completed awards from other institutions:
6 cp for CertAgr and CertSc;
18 cp for DipAgr and DipSc;
24 cp for AdvDipAgr and AdvDipSc.
For incomplete or completed awards from UNE:
No limit for all Cert, Dip and AdvDip programs.
- For Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas --
Nil (if previous studies have been used for another award).
For incomplete awards:
6 cp towards the GradCertRurSc;
up to 12 cp towards GradCertNatRes and GradCertGIS;
up to 24 cp towards Graduate Diplomas.
- For UNE coursework Master degrees --
Previous studies that have been counted towards another award:
up to 24 cp towards MAgr, MEnvMgt, MCompStud, MScAg,
MScStud and MGIS;
6 cp towards the MNatRes.
For incomplete awards:
up to 12 cp may be granted towards all Master programs except the MCompStud for which up to 24 cp may be granted.
4 Application Process
Applications for advanced standing are referred to the academic staff in the disciplines closest to the area of previous studies who advise Student Administration which units are equivalent to UNE units.
It is normal for Student Administration staff to sift the information sent to the academic staff to remove units that have no obvious UNE equivalence or are obviously not part of the UNE degree program. For example, a completed TAFE course in photography would not be relevant to enrolment in a UNE BSc (Biomedical Science) degree as UNE does not teach photography nor is it part of the BSc. Such an application would not be processed.
If your enrolment is dependent upon your advanced standing (seeking enrolment in higher level Zoology after completing first year Biology elsewhere, for example) then your enrolment form should be completed as if you will obtain your advanced standing but list alternative units on the registration form in case the advanced standing you expected is not granted.
5 Types of Advanced Standing
Advanced standing is of two basic types:
- Specified Advanced Standing --
This includes units which have a direct equivalence to UNE units. This advanced standing will be described in UNE unit terms (for example, “granted advanced standing for CHEM 110”).
- Unspecified Advanced Standing --
This includes units which are similar to UNE units in level and rigour but there is no direct equivalent at UNE. This advanced standing will be described in UNE degree terms (for example, “granted unspecified advanced standing in Group 1C”).
6 Advanced Standing and Period of Candidature
There are two significant points that you should bear in mind about reduced period of candidature:
Firstly, some full-time students will still take 3 years to complete a 3 year degree (or whatever the normal length of the course). This is because the advance standing may be unspecified and you are still required to progress through prerequisites etc and this will take a three-year cycle to complete. You cannot always assume that your advanced standing will reduce your physical time on campus.
Secondly, all students will have their maximum period of candidature reduced in proportion to the advanced standing granted. A student granted 72 cp of advanced standing would have his/her period of part-time candidature reduced from 10 to 5 years, for example.
7 Specific Degree Policies
Some degrees have specific policies about what you must do to complete your degree after the award of advanced standing. The most common policy is that of the BSc and BEnvSc which requires you to complete at least 36 cp at the third year level. This means that if your previous studies do not give you direct entry to third year units having been granted the maximum of 96 cp, you might have to forfeit some advanced standing as you go back and study the appropriate prerequisite second year units and then study your preferred third year units. This is not uncommon, especially among students switching from disciplines studied at another university which have equivalence at UNE but are now studying new disciplines (a geology major now studying zoology, for example).
8 Advanced Standing for Professional Experience
UNE does not generally accept applications for advanced standing for professional experience (recognition of prior learning). However, when permissible within degree rules, applications require demonstration of attainment of equivalent learning outcomes of a UNE student.
9 Articulated Courses (Transfer Agreements)
Some degrees are specifically designed for a graduate of specific programs. In these cases the advanced standing is automatic and unit information is not required. However, the automatic advanced standing is based upon the completed program. Incomplete programs are assessed unit-by-unit for which unit information is required. For some courses, no admission is possible unless the specific program has been completed.
Ratified by Faculty Teaching & Learning Committee: 12 November 2003
Revised following the establishment of the Student Centre: 15 June 2004