Use your previous HE study to help you gain an OU qualification.
The information contained on this website is for continuing students who have already completed study towards a qualification or are registered to study a module that starts before 31st August 2012. If you are a new student planning to start your studies in October 2012 or later please revisit this site in March 2012 when information about credit transfer for qualifications beginning in October will be available.
Successful completion of higher education modules may count towards an OU qualification. If we can make you an award of transferred credit for your previous study this will reduce the number of modules you need to study with the OU to gain an OU qualification.
This website shows the maximum amount of credit transfer possible for the particular qualification. We will award you the full amount of credit transfer to which your previous study entitles you, but please note that this may be less than the maximum amount of credit transfer that is shown on this website.
In order to be awarded Credit Transfer, you will need an OU Personal Identifier (PI). If you do not already have a PI, please contact the Student Registration and Enquiry Service (telephone: 0845 300 60 90) and they will allocate you one. You will need to provide some personal details (your name, address, and date of birth) to enable them to create a PI for you.
To learn more about The Open University, visit Study explained. If you have general questions about the University, please send an email or contact 0845 300 60 90.
If you have a query about getting onto an OU programme, please contact the Student Registration and Enquiry Service (SRS) on 0845 300 60 90. They, not the Credit Transfer Centre, deal with entry requirements.
Study leading to programmes validated by the Open University (through OUVS) may be eligible for credit transfer. For more details, please see the OUVS website
Includes undergraduate and postgraduate study from the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Includes qualifications offered by professional bodies and the armed services and vocational study such as S/NVQ's.
This section is for all qualifications from outside the UK or Republic of Ireland.
In addition to the qualifications eligible for credit transfer as shown on this website, the University now recognises qualifications at Level 4 or above listed on the QCF Register.
For those qualifications, your credit transfer award will be based on the credit values and levels shown on your documentation. Please be aware that this award may be different from that for qualifications of a similar title listed on this website (eg: an NVQ 4 Management is not the same as a Level 4 Diploma (NVQ) Management).
If your qualification documentation shows credit values and levels and carries an 8-digit Qualification Accreditation Number (QAN), we would advise you to make an application as we may be able to award you credit for this study. more information
Credit Transfer terminology update (August 2010)
Please read about our terminology.
We will email you when you can view the outcome of your application on your "StudentHome" page, so please ensure you provide your email address when making an application for Credit Transfer.
You can now check online to see if we have received your credit transfer application. Simply go to your Student Home page: the date that we received your application will be shown in "your qualifications" section.
Certain OU qualifications have time-based rules. Further information is contained in the Essential information about each OU qualification: these documents can be found in the How to applysection of this website.
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.
