Advanced Standing

Applicants may be admitted with Advanced Standing in recognition of the applicants’ recognised prior learning (RPL) within and/ or outside the Institute. Applicants do not need to apply for Advanced Standing and the process is initiated by the Programme Team concerned before admission to the Institute by assessing the applicant’s prior learning against the relevant modules taken in the junior year(s) of the programme to which the applicant is applying. In general, applicants with a VTC HD or equivalent sub-degree qualifications/ studies recognised by the Institute and attaining certain AGPA or above, if applicable, in the relevant streams may be admitted into Year 2 or Year 3 of the 4-year Bachelor’s degree programme. Advanced Standing is considered and granted, on a case-by-case basis, based on the applicant’s overall academic qualifications and/or relevant experience with documented evidence of attainment of the required learning outcomes, and must be defined in the Programme Document, provided that there is substantial similarity in the contents of the programme and the programme requirements can be met.

Module Exemption

Students may apply for Module Exemption in recognition of the students’ prior learning within and/ or outside the Institute. An individual application is normally granted on a module-by-module basis, based on formal academic achievements, RPL qualifications and/ or relevant experience with documented evidence of attainment of the required learning outcomes, and must be defined in the Programme Document. Where required, assessments on the attainment may be conducted. A student may also be granted, on other justifiable grounds such as disabilities, Module Exemption from studying a module which forms a requirement of the award concerned. Upon approval, corresponding Module Exemption will be recorded without inclusion in the GPA calculation, and no grade will be given but credits will be granted. Application for Module Exemption should normally be made with the prescribed form together with supporting documents, including relevant academic qualification(s), curriculum(s) and module outline/ syllabus, before admission to the programme concerned or the latest before the end of the “add/ drop period” of the first semester after the student has been admitted to the programme of the Institute.

Credit Transfer

The Institute encourages students to take part in recognised outbound exchange programmes during their study period. Credit Transfer is made on an individual module basis and may be granted for modules completed successfully by the students in a partner/ recognised institution of THEi, including institutions which have signed a memorandum of understanding or agreement with THEi. Credit Transfer is normally based on formal academic achievements obtained from the other recognised institutions, on the condition that the module concerned is similar in terms of, including but not limited to, the number of credit points, intended learning outcomes, QF Level and assessment standards. Upon approval, corresponding module will be recorded without inclusion in GPA calculation, and no grade will be given but credits will be granted. A student is not allowed to meet the credit requirements of a programme through 100% Credit Transfer. Under this principle, the Programme Board should set the maximum percentage of Credit Transfer allowed for their programmes.

Assessment, Eligibility and Other Requirements

1. 1. In assessing Advanced Standing or applications for Module Exemption or Credit Transfer, a module mapping should be conducted by the Programme Leader to ensure that there is at least 70% similarity between the two modules in terms of curriculum contents and module learning outcomes. The institution that offered the programme/ modules used for claiming exemption should also be a recognised post-secondary institution. The applicant should normally have obtained a grade equivalent to B- (or a Grade Point of 2.7) or above in the module before the Advanced Standing or application for Module Exemption is considered.
   2. Normally, the study used for claiming Advanced Standing or Module Exemption should not be more than eight years from the year in which it was completed but Programme Board may impose a shorter maximum period for individual programmes. Claims for Advanced Standing or Module Exemption on the basis of work experience must be supported by documented evidence of attainment and will be assessed and approved by the Vice President (Academic).
   3. The maximum amount of Advanced Standing and Module Exemption which may be granted is 50% of the total number of credit points for the programme.
   4. For students who are admitted to the Bachelor’s degree programme with Advanced Standing, the GPA will be based on the grades achieved during the remainder of the programme.