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Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL)

RPEL is the process where credit is sought for learning which has not previously been awarded academic credit by an academic institution or professional organisation.

It is learning which has taken place from a range of experiences and is often unstructured, personal and unconsciously gained. Skills, knowledge and abilities that come with this type of learning however can be equal to those gained by students following traditional courses through formal educational institutions.

If you feel you have covered the content of a module/ modules via your work/ life experience, RPEL is a way to provide the evidence to show this and to gain credit for it. You will need to establish what the learning experience was and identify what learning you gained from the experience.  

Examples of experiential learning include:

The experience you have must be relevant to your intended programme of study. For example, it would not be appropriate for someone to apply for RPEL based on their experience of working as a conservation volunteer, when they are undertaking a degree in History.

You will need to understand and identify:

It is important to identify the level of your learning. This can be done using appropriate terminology and by giving specific examples of what you can do/have done. Advice on academic writing can be obtained from the Library and Student Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applying for RPEL

All enquiries should be directed in the first instance to the RPL team who will arrange for you to have a discussion with the relevant course tutor.

In this discussion you will look together at the experience you have and the evidence you can gather. You will either be matching a taught module’s learning outcomes or writing your own. The evidence should therefore be equivalent to a certain academic level and amount of credit.

If it is decided that you have insufficient experience/ evidence, your RPEL application can be abandoned at this point, without charge.

If your application is deemed viable you will complete an RPEL Proposal Form. Once you have both signed this document you have committed yourself to this process and cannot choose subsequently to undertake module(s) in its place. You will be charged a fee for the support you gain and the assessment of your RPEL application, whether or not it is successful. 

The 2025/26 fee is a £90 administration charge and £410 per 30 credits for which you are seeking RPL (e.g. the charge for applying for 20 credits is the same as that for 30), regardless of academic level. Annual increments apply.

The following points will also be decided and noted in your RPEL Proposal form:

  • Learning Outcomes
    If you are seeking to match a taught module(s) via your RPEL application, the learning outcomes for this module(s) should be attached to your RPL Proposal form.

    Alternatively, you may wish to write your own learning outcomes because your experience is relevant to the course subject area and can therefore be claimed against an optional module on the course. Further guidance can be given on this at enquiry stage/ tutorial.

  • Method of presenting your evidence
    There are several ways of demonstrating and presenting your prior learning:

    • Portfolio - online or hard copy
    • Interview
    • Viva
    • Audition
    • Artefact
    • Diagnostic Assessment

    The subject area of your claim will dictate which is the most appropriate.

  • Supervisor/assessors
    You will be allocated a supervisor for support whilst you prepare your evidence for assessment. You will also be notified of the first and second assessors of your claim. Two assessors are required to maintain parity with standard taught module assessment. Your work may also be subject to scrutiny by an External Examiner.

  • Assessment date/Deadline for submission
    Your date of assessment or the deadline for submission of an RPEL portfolio will be decided by negotiation. If you are matching a taught module on a course, this date should be consistent with the assessment deadline for that module if it is running at the same time.

Assessment

The evidence you provide to support your claim will be evaluated in respect of its:

  • Authenticity- that you have actually completed what is claimed
  • Relevance- that the learning matches completed what is claimed 
  • Sufficiency- that the learning is judged to be at the appropriate academic level and of sufficient quality to reflect the amount of credit sought 
  • Currency- that the learning is sufficiently recent for you to benefit from the proposed or current programme; that you have kept up to date with recent developments. 

RPEL credit is ungraded. You will be given a provisional pass/fail outcome which will be reported to the next appropriate Assessment Board. In the case of a fail outcome, feedback will be given. You will be given reassessment opportunities in line with the regulations for that academic level of study.

The final outcome is approved via a module confirmation process and RPEL applications for level 5, 6 or 7 credit are also assessed by an External Examiner.

Your RPEL portfolio

Your RPEL portfolio should comprise both evidence to demonstrate your learning and achievement and your reflection on your experiences.

Portfolio evidence may be direct or indirect. Direct evidence is anything that you have produced personally or been responsible for or involved in. It might include:

  • Documents – reports/plans/handbooks/publicity/article.
  • Presentation materials.
  • Budgets/forecasts.
  • Emails/correspondence
  • Photographs
  • Minutes from meetings with actions assigned to you.

Indirect evidence is information gathered from others about you such as:

  • Statements/letters from employers/colleagues/clients.
  • Certificates of attendance from courses.
  • Letters of employment.
  • Newspaper reports.

For each piece of evidence, some degree of explanation and/or comment will be useful to explain why you are including it in your portfolio.

Your reflective piece should:

  • Demonstrate your ability to reflect on your own experience and extract appropriate learning from it
  • Be relevant to and refer where appropriate to your set of learning outcomes
  • Refer directly to your supporting evidence where possible
  • Above all, show clearly how you came to achieve your learning

Other methods

All other methods of assessing your RPEL application will be discussed with your supervisor.

Confidentiality or anonymity

You may wish to refer to your employment/ professional area within your evidence. It is essential in these circumstances that issues of confidentiality are considered and that true names of any clients/ co-workers etc are not mentioned.

If documentation to be submitted does include such names, then these should be blanked out and/ or replaced by aliases.

What is the cost of applying for RPL?

RPCL

There is no charge for RPCL applications.

RPEL

Unless you are an apprentice, you will be charged a fee for the support you gain and the assessment of your RPEL application, whether or not your application is successful. The RPEL fee does not apply to apprenticeship students.

The 2025/26 fee is a £90 administration charge and £410 per 30 credits for which you are seeking RPL (e.g. the charge for applying for 20 credits is the same as that for 30), regardless of academic level. Annual increments apply.

What happens if I fail my RPEL assessment?

As with any of our taught modules at undergraduate level, you will be given one reassessment opportunity. You can choose to undertake the taught module’s assessment as your reassessment opportunity or resubmit your portfolio.

At postgraduate level, you will be given one reassessment opportunity. You can choose to undertake the taught module’s assessment or resubmit your portfolio.

If I have RPL for a module, can I also enrol for and study the same module?

No. If you have received RPL which has been applied to your record as a specific module, you cannot also study that module.

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