Use your previous HE study to help you gain an OU qualification.
If you are a continuing student who has already studied towards your qualification or you are registered to study a module that starts before 31st August 2012 the information below explains how to make your application.
If you are a new student who is planning to study towards a postgraduate qualification beginning in October 2012 or later the information below explains how to make your application.
If you are a new student who is planning to study an undergraduate qualification and will study with us for the first time in October 2012 or later please revisit this website in March 2012. The application period for credit transfer towards undergraduate qualifications beginning in October 2012 opens in mid February.
These essential information notes, for undergraduate qualifications, only apply to those students who are already studying or who will begin studying towards their qualification before 31st August 2012. Any applications, for credit towards an undergraduate qualification, received on the basis of the information below from a student who is not registered to begin studying before 31st August 2012 will be returned to the student unprocessed.
Please note you cannot actually apply for credit transfer via this website. You can however download the application form which you can print and complete by hand.
Step 1 - Check that your previous study is listed on the 'Your Previous Study' pages as being eligible for credit.
Step 2 - Choose which OU qualification you wish to apply for credit towards. If you are unsure which qualification you wish to apply for credit towards, and want further information, please refer to the 'Study' website. Some OU qualifications allow credit towards the subject-specific elements of the qualification, others only allow credit towards the 'free-choice' component.
Please note, not all OU qualifications have credit transfer schemes.
Step 3 - Please read carefully the relevant essential information sheets for the OU qualification that you are interested in applying for credit towards. Select the OU qualification from the drop-down menu below and click on the go button to read the notes in Adobe Acrobat format (the file will not be larger than 100Kb):
Step 4 - Once you have read the relevant essential information sheets and wish to make an application you can use the credit transfer application form provided below. Please note that you will not be able to type onto this form directly and will need to print it out and complete it by hand. Because of our requirements to see original documentation, we cannot accept applications sent electronically.
Download the application form in Adobe Acrobat (238kb)
Alternatively, you can obtain an application form from the Credit Transfer Centre. See 'Contact Credit Transfer'.
Please note: There is no longer a requirement to pay a fee for the assessment of your credit transfer application.
Our policy towards individual courses may change from time to time. Your study will be assessed under the policy in force at the time that you submit your application.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Please note:
Although we recognise certain qualifications as containing credit at level 3, any award of transferred credit will be made at level 1 and/or 2 only, as the level 3 study requirements for OU awards must be met by OU study or collaborative course credit.
Credit cannot be awarded for study undertaken before January 1971. Towards some OU qualifications, there are further time restrictions - please check the How to apply section.
