How your previous experience can help your HE Application

1

• How your previous experience can help your HE
  Application -
• Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning
• Karen Bernstein
• 6th November 2008

2
Contents

• Introduction
• What is APEL
• How does APEL work
• How to value your learning
• How to Apply for APEL

3
What is Accreditation of Prior Experiential
Learning (APEL)?

• APEL is an academic process that recognises and
• values your previous experiences and/or study.

4
What is Accreditation of Prior Experiential
Learning (APEL)?

• This process acknowledges learning outside of
  formal education
• You can use it to
• - Enter Higher Education
• - Count towards your course requirements

5
Benefits of APEL

• Previous learning may not have to be repeated,
  including partly completed courses
• It takes less time to complete a course
• Self-funding students save money
• Workloads may be reduced.

6
How does APEL Work?

• APEL is awarded for the learning that results
  from the experience or skills you have gained,
  not the experience itself
• You must demonstrate what you have learnt,
  through proving evidence
• To apply for APEL you must submit an assessment,
  which can take different forms e.g. portfolios
• Need to prove the evidence is at the correct
  level, amount and relevant to your course

7
Portfolio
8
How to measure your learning - Credit

• Most Higher Education (degree level) courses are
  credit based which means they are made up of
  smaller units or modules
• On completion of a module you accumulate credit
  points towards a qualification
• Each module has credit points that reflect how
  much learning is required to pass
• Modules also have a level to indicate how
  difficult or advanced the learning is. The first
  three years of a degree are known as levels 4, 5
  and 6

9
Credit

• Specific Credit
• Assessment that meets a specific set of outcomes
  towards a unit,
• module or qualification. Based on qualification
  descriptors.
• General Credit
• General credits awarded without regard to a
  particular programme of
• Study. Awarded on the quantity of learning and
  level demonstrated
• May be awarded for prior learning

10
Credit

• Q How does a university or college decide if you
  can receive credit for prior learning?
• The university or college will make an academic
  judgement based on
• whether your previous study or learning is
• Relevant
• Sufficient
• Of the correct level
• Current.

11
Credit

• Q. How much credit can be awarded?
• Universities and colleges differ on whether they
  award
• credit for prior study or learning (credit
  transfer). They also
• have a maximum amount which can be awarded to a
• course using credit transfer.

12
Credit

• Q. How to apply for credit for experiential
  learning
• Some universities and colleges do not award
  experiential learning
• credit. Those that do have different procedures
  and vary in the
• amount of support offered for APEL assessments.

13
Credit

• To receive APEL credit, contact the university
  or college and ask
• Do you award credit for prior experiential
  learning (APEL)?
• How is APEL assessed?
• Is APEL assessed before starting the course or
  once I have enrolled?
• How do I proceed with an APEL application?
• How much does it cost (it will range from free to
  the full cost fee)?
• Will my learning receive APEL credit award
  recognition towards my chosen course?
• Will I receive any support in completing an APEL
  assessment?

14
APEL Universities

• The following London institutions welcome APEL
  enquiries
• Birkbeck, University of London
• London Metropolitan University
• Middlesex University
• Open University
• South Bank University
• Thames Valley University
• University of East London
• University of Greenwich
• University of Westminster

15

• Questions?

16

• Karen Bernstein
• karen.bernstein_at_westlondonlln.org
• 0208 231 2425