Informal learning refers to specific employment experience, volunteering or internship for which there is documentary evidence of attainment of the learning outcomes of the Award for which credit is sought. Typically, informal learning is not organised or externally structured in terms of objectives, time or learning support. Informal learning is only recognised where it has taken place prior to the commencement of an Award.

Informal learning (or other types of learning) are not eligible for both credit for admission and course credit. So if work experience has been used to meet the admission requirements of the program no further consideration of informal learning should take place.

This document should be read in conjunction with the Recognition of Prior and External Learning Policy. The assessment of credit and the amount of credit granted is in accordance with Coursework Award Rules.

Process

Students should

• Clearly identify which courses they are seeking credit (or exemption¹) from.
• Provide a 500 word statement explaining how the informal learning addresses the learning outcomes for the course, major, minor, or academic Award.
• Provide evidence supporting the statement, this may include a sample of work (with authorship verified by an independent party), or a detailed employer reference.
• Additional information may be required for an application for credit for informal learning, including completion of an assigned task that demonstrates attainment of learning outcomes.
• The application for credit for informal learning should be submitted to science.enquiries@anu.edu.au and will be considered by the Sub-Dean and or Associate Dean Education.

¹ Course credit is the process by which a student receives status for a number of units in a degree program. It can be either specified credit (credit for a defined course), or unspecified.

Exemption does not provide status for any units, but exempts a student from taking a specific course, and an alternative course is undertaken.