AP(E)L Information and Guidance
Important Information
Please note, from 1st October 2012 a charging structure has been implemented for APEL claims. The actual charge will be at the discretion of the Director of Studies and Chair of the Accreditation Panel.
The student is seeking accreditation for a module studied at the University of Surrey where information clearly exists and the student can offer firm evidence – no charge.
This is the usual credit transfer (CATS) form undertaken when University of Surrey credits are transferred, such as recognising previous pre-registration study for BSc students in order to demonstrate the required 120 Level 4 and 120 Level 5 credits.
APEL from modules or other evidence from elsewhere which requires review and comparison - £50
Submission and review of Extended CV’s or other complex time consuming APEL - £100
To accommodate the complexities of the market demand arising in the fields of health and social care, the structure of the framework sits within the University of Surrey Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme.
For the awards offered within this framework, the following are relevant:
Undergraduate Programmes
360 credits, of which a minimum of 120 must be at Level 3, and 120 at Level 2.
Postgraduate Programmes
Accumulated credits are dependant on the exit award: PGCert 60 credits, PGDip 120 credits, MSc 180 credits.
The framework comprises modules at Level 2, Level 3 and Level M. Applicants wishing to gain an award within this framework must already have achieved 120 credits at Level 1 which may be acknowledged by evidence of a professional qualification or an equivalent.
Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (AP(E)L)
Evidence of prior learning may be used to gain entry to programmes, or exemption from modules. For students who wish to undertake an undergraduate degree programme, it is essential that 120 credits at Level 2 or the equivalent are demonstrated. Students who have completed their education and exited with a Diploma will be able to demonstrate this. Students whose previous professional training or experience does not meet this requirement have several options they may wish to consider.
Completion of sufficient Level 2 credits
Students are able to study Level 2 modules to make up the total required. Some students may already have some level 2 credit, and credits attained anywhere can be used. There is not a time limit for credits used to meet this requirement.
Completion of an extended CV (APEL)
Students who have extensive experience and who may have been qualified for some time may wish to choose to submit an extended CV, where experience is mapped against the CPD Level 2 outcomes. A maximum of 120 Level 2 credits can be awarded by this route.
Accreditation related to students already registered for an award/Postgraduate students (APL)
It is possible to apply for exemption from modules in circumstances where similar modules have been studied elsewhere (such as Mentorship), or where previously accredited study clearly demonstrates that the module outcomes have been met. For undergraduate awards, up to 240 credits from the 360 required may be brought in. For Postgraduate students, up to 30 credits for a PG Cert or 60 credits for a PG Dip/MSc may be brought in. Only the marks obtained from modules studied at this University can be used in award classification calculation. Students may be required to submit evidence to prove currency and contemporary knowledge should the module for which they are submitting an APL claim be over five years old.
Credit Recognition Process for Programmes under the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority
The University of Surrey has established an agreement with the other three universities contracted with the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority for credit recognition and transfer. The universities included under this agreement are the University of Brighton, Canterbury Christchurch University and the University of Greenwich. The arrangement would allow up to 50 credits at HE3 level from the named institutions to be imported along with the marks attached to these credits.
For further information on the AP(E)L process for:
If you wish to discuss AP(E)L or credit recognition further, please contact the Director of Studies for the programme you are interested in.
