Accreditation of Prior Learning

If you have relevant qualifications at higher education level or relevant work experience, you may be eligible for advanced entry (for example year 2 entry to one of our undergraduate programmes) via our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) scheme.

Examples of the most common forms of APL include use of:
  • Recognised credit-rated modules/units at a college or university,
  • Professionally-recognised qualifications,
  • Relevant work experience.

Entry criteria

All applicants must meet our standard and specific entry criteria for your level of entry. Suitability for APL (both certificated and experiential) is assessed on an individual basis and you will be measured against the following:
  1. Compatibility of content, learning outcomes and level of your previous studies with that of the Anglia Ruskin course.
  2. Your academic achievement, as evidenced by the grades on your transcript.
  3. Reference and personal statement describing the ways in which you have kept up-to-date with information and current practices in your chosen subject area.
  4. The credit equivalence of your previous studies: Please note that the majority of our full-time undergraduate courses consist of 120 Anglia Ruskin University credits per academic year or 60 ECTS credits under the European credit transfer and accumulation system. Our Masters programmes consist of 180 Anglia Ruskin University credits.

Application process for the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL)

Before you apply

Please ensure that you can provide the following, without which we cannot consider your application for APCL.
  • Full official transcript of your previous study detailing the module breakdown and achieved grades.
  • For complete qualifications: certificate confirming the award.
  • For qualifications still to be completed: a list of pending modules with associated credit weightings.
  • Certified translations must also be provided for documentation produced in a language other than English.
  • In addition, we may request a syllabus outlining the content, learning outcomes and level of your previous studies.
  • It is expected that your previous accredited learning will have been completed within the last 5 years. If this is not the case you will be asked to produce the following to evidence how you have kept your knowledge up-to-date:
    • CV: covering your employment history since qualifying, detailing how you have maintained learning and a list of activities completed for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
    • Reflective statement: explaining how learning has been maintained in the subject area you wish to progress at Anglia Ruskin University. We generally expect between 750 and 1000 words.
    • Employer reference (on letter headed paper): from your most recent employer detailing how your job (and associated CPD) have enabled you to keep up-to-date with information and current practices in your chosen subject area.
    • Evidence of successful completion of relevant CPD training (eg certificates), if available.
Please note that as per standard applications you will be required to provide the following:
  • References: Please provide one reference, from a course tutor if you've been in education within the last two years or your current or most recent employer. Referees should not be a friend or family member. References must be provided on letter headed paper, signed and dated.
  • Certificates for each qualification listed in your application.
  • Proof of name change (if applicable).
  • International applicants should provide photocopies of passport to include photograph and personal detail pages and, if currently residing in UK, photocopies of your visa and immigration stamps.
  • All international applicants and EU applicants who do not have English as their first language must also provide evidence of English language ability at the appropriate level eg IELTS.
  • Portfolio (if specified as a requirement in the programme entry criteria).

Programme of study

  • Details of courses offered by Anglia Ruskin University can be found in our online prospectus.
  • Most of our courses will consider applicants for advanced entry. However, you are advised to view the faculty information for limitations of offerings.
  • As stated in the overview your suitability for advanced entry will be determined by numerous factors. With this in mind, before submitting your application we advise you to compare your previous study with the modules contained within the Anglia Ruskin qualification to check relevance.

Making your application

  • Full-time undergraduate: You should apply for your chosen course through UCAS. We will contact you shortly after receipt of your application to request the documentation outlined above.
  • All other courses: You should apply via our online application form which can be accessed from the course details in our online prospectus. Please indicate on your application that you wish to apply for APL credits and give details of your study at higher education level and relevant experience. When submitting your application you should attach documents listed above.
If you would like assistance regarding your application, please contact us by email at: admissions@anglia.ac.uk (for UK/EU applicants) or internationaladmissions@anglia.ac.uk (for international applicants).

What next

All APL applications are considered on an individual basis. For complex applications this review process can take a little time. We thank you in advance for your patience.

Employers and APL

To find out how APL could benefit your employees and provide recognition for your in-house training programmes contact our Higher Skills @ Work Team.
If you're applying for advanced entry into courses run by our Faculty of Arts, Law & Social Sciences please check the information below for details of available courses, or those with exceptions or limitations to entry.

September 2012 entry
Applications for year 2 and 3 entry welcome to all undergraduate programmes.

January 2013 entry
Applications for year 2 and 3 entry welcome to all undergraduate programmes.
  • The following are not available for year 3 semester 1 entry:
    • BA (Hons) Computer Games and Visual Effects
    • BA (Hons) Fashion Design
    • BA (Hons) Film and Television Production
    • BA (Hons) Film Television and Theatre Design
    • BA (Hons) Fine Art
    • BA (Hons) Graphic and Web Design
    • BA (Hons) Graphic Design
    • BA (Hons) Illustration
    • BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation
    • BA (Hons) Interior Design
    • BA (Hons) Photography
    • FdA Professional Photography
  • The following are not available for year 2 semester 1 entry:
    • BA (Hons) English Language and English Language Teaching
    • BA (Hons) English Language Studies and English Language Teaching
If you're applying for advanced entry into courses run by our Lord Ashcroft International Business School please check the information below for details of available courses, or those with exceptions or limitations to entry.

September 2012 entry
Applications for year 2 and 3 entry welcome to all undergraduate programmes.

January 2013 entry
Applications for year 2 and 3 entry welcome to all undergraduate programmes.

Exceptions/ limitations:
  • BSc Accounting and Finance: available for year 1 semester 2 (with 60 credits APL) and year 2 semester 2 entry (with 180 credits APL), 2 semester 1 in Chelmsford (with 120 credits APL) but not year 3 semester 1 entry.
  • BA International Business Strategy Accelerated: available for year 1 semester 2 (with 60 credits APL), year 2 semester 1 (with 120 credits APL) or year 3 semester 1 (with 240 credits APL).
If you're applying for advanced entry into courses run by our Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education please check the information below for details of available courses, or those with exceptions or limitations to entry.

January 2013 entry
Applications for the following study options are welcome.

  • Level 2 entry
    • BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care
    • BSc (Hons) International Nursing Studies
    • BSc (Hons) Public Health
  • Level 3 entry
    • BSc (Hons) Acute Care
    • BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care
    • BSc (Hons) International Nursing Studies
    • BSc (Hons) Management and Leadership in Health and Social
    • BSc (Hons) Public Health
If you're applying for advanced entry into courses run by our Faculty of Science & Technology please check the information below for details of available courses, or those with exceptions or limitations to entry.

September 2012 entry
Applications for year 2 and 3 entry welcome to all undergraduate programmes.

Exceptions/limitations:
  • BOptom (Hons) Optometry: Not permitted due to General Optical Council restrictions.
  • BSc Psychology and BSc Abnormal & Clinical Psychology: Only possible where previous studies have been accredited by the British Psychological Society.
  • BSc Psychology & Criminology, BSc Building Surveying, BSc Quantity Surveying and BSc Real Estate Management: Maximum credit transfer of 120 credits (permitting year 2 semester 1 entry).

January 2013 entry
Applications for year 1 semester 2 (with 60 credits of APL) and year 2 semester 2 (with 180 credits of APL) welcome to all undergraduate programmes.

Exceptions/limitations:
  • BEng (Hons) Electronics: also available for year 2 semester 1 entry (with 120 credits APL).
Bookmark this page with: