Using the Credit Matrix in course development

All courses submitted to the VRQA for re/accreditation should include Credit Matrix levels and points in the accreditation submission.

Step by Step: Using the Credit Matrix in Course Development

Use the Credit Matrix to confirm that your course has the right amount of volume, and complexity, for its proposed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) title, and to develop links between courses/qualifications:

1. Allocate points and a level to a unit

The first step is to determine the points and the level of each unit in your course/qualification.

Use the guidelines below to allocate levels and points to the new units you have developed for your course/qualification.

The VRQA has allocated points and levels to over 20,000 senior secondary and VET units which you can use for existing units you are importing into your course/qualification. To obtain a copy of credit-rated units (Excel format), contact Enri Dalton or telephone (03) 9651 3806.

Credit Matrix: Guidelines for determining levels and points of units. (PDF - 118Kb)

2. Confirm the AQF title – course/qualification profile

Once all the units have been allocated points and a level, create a profile of the course/qualification – that is, a summary of the number of points at each level based on the qualification completion rules.

Example:

Let’s say a qualification has the following units:

Unit Name	Core/ Elective	Level	Points
Unit A	Core	2	2
Unit B	Core	3	4
Unit C	Core	3	2
Unit D	Core	4	5
Unit E	Core	4	2
Unit F	Core	4	8
Unit G	Core	4	5
Unit H	Core	4	5
Unit I	Core	4	10
Unit J	Core	5	2
Unit K	Elective	3	3
Unit L	Elective	3	3
Unit M	Elective	4	4
Unit N	Elective	4	4
Unit O	Elective	5	4
Unit P	Elective	4	5
Unit Q	Elective	5	4

To complete this qualification, all 10 core units are required, plus 4 elective units.

The next step is to choose the lowest level and smallest points combination of units to complete the qualification. Tally the points at each level.

The course/qualification profile

Credit Matrix Level	Core Units Points	Elective Units Points	Total Points
8
7
6
5	2		2
4	35	8	43
3	6	6	12
2	2		2
1
Enabling
		TOTAL	59

With most points in this qualification at level 4 (43 points), it would be reasonable that this qualification be accredited as a Certificate IV. Its total volume is 59 points. This represents about half a year of full-time study. Of course, to be accredited as a Certificate IV, the relevant accrediting authority must also be satisfied the qualification meets industry needs and aligns with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

3. Develop links between courses/qualifications

With a common currency to compare courses/qualifications, opportunities for giving credit can be more easily found.

Example:

A provider of the above Certificate IV and a university agree to develop a credit arrangement between the Certificate IV and a bachelor degree. The university allocates points and levels to its bachelor degree units and develops a qualification profile. Comparing the two qualifications shows that 45 points (43 at level 4 and 2 at level 5) from the Certificate IV are at the same level as units in the bachelor degree.

Therefore, it might be appropriate to develop a credit arrangement between this bachelor degree and this Certificate IV of up to 45 points of unspecified credit. If the university and the provider want to develop specified credit – i.e. match the content of university units to the content in the Certificate IV, then a more detailed discussion between the provider and university will need to occur.

For an example of how a university used the Credit Matrix to validate credit arrangements, read Deakin University Trial Project (PDF - 1.1Mb).