Recognition of Formal and Informal Prior Learning
Massey University recognises prior learning achieved within both formal and informal settings. Credit is awarded for completed tertiary qualifications, for incomplete tertiary qualifications, and for informal learning, as detailed below.
Types of Massey University Credit That May Be Awarded
1. Credit will be awarded at an appropriate level for the content of the qualifying paper. Credit may be:
(a) For a specified Massey University paper, identified by paper number.
(b) In a specified subject at a specified level, but not specifying a paper number. The credits can count towards majoring requirements, where relevant.
(c) Specified by level, but not by subject (unspecified credits). Unspecified credits count towards the qualification, but not to any major. They may be designated as part of a particular Degree Schedule or outside a particular Degree Schedule.
Minimum Credits to be Completed Through Massey University
2. A student shall be required to complete at least the following through Massey University to be awarded a Massey University qualification:
(a) For a three-year degree, 105 credits including 60 300-level credits, which must be part of the majoring requirements unless a major is not required by the degree Regulations.
(b) For a four-year degree, all of the fourth year of the course.
(c) For a postgraduate or graduate qualification, three-quarters of the credits required.
(d) For a sub-degree or degree-level diploma or certificate, half of the credits required.
Cross-credits
3. The term 'cross-credit' refers to credit granted on the basis of a completed qualification at Massey University or another approved tertiary institution. Cross-crediting also applies where a candidate completes the courses of study for two qualifications at the same time and wishes to credit one or more papers to both qualifications. Except as provided by these Cross-credit Regulations, a candidate shall receive credit only once for each paper and shall not credit to separate degrees two papers with substantially the same content.
4. Credit shall not be granted for the same paper in more than two courses of study.
5. Unless otherwise specified in the Regulations for a particular qualification, candidates may cross-credit 100- or 200-level papers that are common to both courses up to the following maximum values:
(a) Where one course is a one-year undergraduate qualification and the other is a three-year or longer degree, 45 credits, which shall normally be at 100-level.
(b) Where one course is a two-year undergraduate diploma and the other is a three-year or longer degree, 75 credits, which shall normally be at 100-level.
(c) Where both courses are three-year degrees, 120 credits at 100-level or 200-level, of which a maximum of 45 shall normally be at 200-level.
(d) Where one course is a three-year degree and the other is a Massey University four- or five-year degree, 180 credits at 100-level or 200-level, of which a maximum of 90 shall normally be at 200-level.
6. No paper at 300-level or above shall be cross-credited to another qualification.
7. Papers may not be cross-credited to or from a postgraduate diploma or a graduate diploma unless specifically stated otherwise in the Regulations for that diploma.
8. Where, because of these Regulations, candidates are unable to cross-credit a paper that is compulsory in the second course of study, they may substitute such other paper as the Academic Board may approve.
9. The maximum number of credits that can be cross-credited from completed qualifications is 120, irrespective of the number of qualifications completed, unless Regulation 5(d) above applies or a higher maximum is specified in the Regulations for the destination qualification.
Transfer of Credit
10. Credit may be transferred from an incomplete qualification, at Massey University or another approved tertiary institution. Application for transfer of credit is a statement from the candidate that they do not intend to complete the original qualification at a later date.
11. Candidates may be assessed under the Transfer of Credit Regulations, rather than the Cross-credit Regulations, if
(a) they have been awarded a Massey University certificate or diploma, or a Wellington Polytechnic equivalent, and they surrender the certificate or diploma
or
(b) they have completed a diploma or certificate from an overseas tertiary institution or a New Zealand non-university tertiary institution in the same general area as the degree to which they have requested credit, such that the previous qualification will be largely superseded by the Massey University qualification. The maximum credit for such qualifications will be the first 50% of a degree.
12. The Massey credit value for papers passed at other New Zealand institutions will be obtained by multiplying the Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS) value of the papers by 120.
13. Transfer credit will be awarded up to the maximum compatible with the requirements of the destination qualification, except as specified by Regulation 2 above for transfers from other institutions.
Informal Learning
14. (a) Credit for informal learning acknowledges relevant and appropriate skills and knowledge obtained through training, work experience and life experience.
(b) The principles by which these relevant and appropriate skills and knowledge may be given credit include:
(i) credit should be awarded for learning, and not solely for experience itself
(ii) credit should be awarded only for learning that is at the level of the qualification towards which credit is requested
(iii) credit should be awarded only for learning that has a balance, appropriate to the subject, between theory and practical application
(iv) credit should be appropriate to the academic context in which it is accepted
(v) credit can only be awarded for specified papers (that is regulation 1(b) and 1(c) do not apply to credit for informal learning).
15. Applications for credit for informal learning will be rigorously assessed using normal university procedures, for example
(a) assessment of a portfolio of supporting materials,
(b) use of a challenge examination.
Students who are granted credit under this regulation will have had to demonstrate their capability at the same level as students who enrol in and pass the specified paper.
Notice of intention to submit a portfolio or to be examined must be given before the end of the first year of enrolment at Massey University.
16. The maximum credit towards an undergraduate degree from informal learning is 120 credits at 100- or 200-level. The maximum credit towards a sub-degree or degree-level certificate or diploma from informal learning is one-third of the credits required for the qualification. No credit from informal learning towards a graduate or post-graduate qualification is permitted.
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