• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Principles
• Initiation, Assessment and Approval of Articulation Pathways Agreements
• Entry and Credit for Prior Learning
• Review of Articulation Pathways Agreements
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) Articulation Pathways Agreements between the University and other education providers ensure that pathways into programs are available and easily accessible to students to support their lifelong learning. The agreements establish the Credit for Prior Learning (Credit) that automatically applies to students entering a program with the designated qualification.

(2) This Policy sets out the University's principles for developing academic pathways agreements with other education providers.

(3) The Policy applies to Articulation Pathways Agreements with higher education providers and vocational education and training providers, whether in Australia or overseas, and whether public or private.

(4) The Policy should be read in conjunction with the Credit for Prior Learning Policy which establishes limits on the amount of Credit that can be applied to programs and sets out the processes for dealing with applications from students for Credit for Prior Learning, and the Delegations of Authority Policy.

Section 2 - Definitions

(5) The following definitions apply for the purposes of this policy.

1. Articulation Pathway - a formally agreed and approved admission route, for a graduate or enrolled student of another educational provider, into a program of study at the University, or, for a graduate or enrolled student of the University, into a program of study at another educational provider, with pre-determined Credit and/or guaranteed entry.
2. Articulation Pathway Agreement - a formal agreement, between the University and an approved external education partner covering details of the pathway arrangement.
3. Articulation Pathway Proposal - the Credit and/or guaranteed entry a student will receive if they have successfully completed all, or a specified part, of a program offered by another education provider.
4. Credit assessment - assessment of the Credit to be given to students and any guarantee of entry to a program of the University, or awarded to graduates or enrolled students of the University into a program of another education provider, which is to be included in an Articulation Pathway Agreement.
5. Credit for Prior Learning (Credit) - Credit, expressed in the form of a specified number of credit points, towards an award program, granted on the basis of previous, successfully completed studies or prior learning. For definitions of types of Credit for Prior Learning, refer to the Credit for Prior Learning Policy.
6. Education providers - Australian universities and other Australian higher education providers (recognised as such by law), Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector providers and recognised overseas education providers, whose academic programs and subjects the University considers are of a high quality.
7. Guaranteed Entry - a guarantee of admission to a University program referred to in the relevant Articulation Pathway Agreement, provided the student meets any other published requirements for admission current at the time of application, such as a required level of English proficiency.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

Principles

(6) The University is committed to providing and expanding pathways to assist students, who have previously successfully completed studies elsewhere and who otherwise qualify for admission and have no known limitations that would be expected to impede their progression and completion, to enter an appropriate program of the University. These pathways include Credit as warranted by their previous studies and/or guaranteed entry to a program.

(7) The University is also committed, where practicable and by means of similar pathways, to assisting its own graduates and enrolled students to enrol in a program of another educational provider.

(8) The University will enter into articulation pathways agreements with approved education partners which set out the pathways arrangements. These arrangements will conform with the University's strategic objectives and result in clear benefits to the University and its enrolled students and graduates.

(9) Credit in an articulation pathway is determined in accordance with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Qualifications Pathways Policy, taking into account the comparability and equivalence of the learning outcomes; volume of learning; program of study, including content; and learning and assessment approaches. The amount of Credit will also be in accordance with the Credit for Prior Learning Policy.

(10) For international articulation pathways agreements a rationale must be provided for the award of Credit.

(11) To assure the quality of the articulation pathways covered by agreements, the University will periodically monitor and evaluate their effectiveness and review their currency.

(12) The University will provide to students awarded Credit under this Policy towards a program of the University an appropriate schedule of study to be completed in the University.

Initiation, Assessment and Approval of Articulation Pathways Agreements

(13) An Articulation Pathways Agreement can only be established with an approved external education partner.

(14) Approval of pathways agreements must be obtained through the programs approvals process.

Entry and Credit for Prior Learning

(15) As set out in the Credit for Prior Learning Policy and in accordance with the AQF Qualifications Pathway Policy, the normal amounts of Credit for articulation to a University award are:

1. 50% credit for an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree linked to a 3 year Bachelor Degree;
2. 37.5% credit for an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree linked to a 4 year Bachelor Degree; 
3. 33% credit for a Diploma linked to a 3 year Bachelor Degree;
4. 25% credit for a Diploma linked to a 4 year Bachelor Degree.

(16) The terms of entry and the amount of Credit to be given to students entering under a pathways agreement will be determined by the relevant School academic staff member and approved by the appropriate academic committee as specified in the Articulation Pathways Approval Authorities and Delegations.

(17) The time limits for currency of previous studies contained within the Credit for Prior Learning Policy will apply.

Review of Articulation Pathways Agreements

(18) Articulation Pathways Agreements will normally be reviewed every three years.

Section 4 - Procedures

(19) Nil.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(20) Refer to Articulation Pathways Approval Authorities and Delegations under Associated Information.