What is RPL?

RPL refers to Recognition of Prior Learning. This means that if you gathered certain job related experience in for example crime investigation, being an investigating officer for 30 years and completing all the SAPS in-house training courses on crime investigation techniques, you are allowed to apply for recognition of prior learning in the field of crime investigation. Your knowledge will be tested and if your experience and in-house training covers or meets all the learning outcomes of the university module on crime investigation, the university might consider exempting you from registering for that module and will accredit you for that module.

Who will qualify for RPL?

The North-West University accepts the principle underlying outcome-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play an important role, and subscribes to the view that recognition of prior learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensible element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning programme of the North-West University.

RPL procedure

Non-formal and informal prior experiential learning:

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the recognition of prior learning for the achievement of the qualification in part. An applicant who, after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential but is in need of further academic development, will be directed to other suitable learning programmes prior to admission or to parallel programmes after admission.