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Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

On this page, you will find information about what constitutes recognition of prior learning, how it is validated and how recognition of prior learning can be used for admission requirements/access or credit transfer.

What is recognition of prior learning?

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is the collective actual knowledge that a person has; it can be formal, non-formal and/or informal.

Formal knowledge is acquired via the formal education system and results in degree and/or educational certificates which are quality-assured by public authorities. Non-formal knowledge is acquired through deliberate learning, but not regulated by laws and provisions in the same way as formal knowledge. Informal knowledge is, in turn, unintended and unorganised learning. Informal learning happens for example in the home, in the workplace or in leisure time.

RPL may: 

  • meet general entry requirements
  • meet specific entry requirements for a particular course or programme
  • enable credit transfer of courses and course components (shorter period of study).

Lund University’s process for validation of recognition of prior learning

Lund University has a process for validation of recognition of prior learning for both entry requirements and credit transfer. The scope for getting prior learning validated for entry requirements or credit transfer is regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance.

  • Assessment of RPL for general entry requirements is managed by the Admissions Office and, in most cases, decisions are taken by the Admissions Board.
  • Assessment of RPL for specific entry requirements is decided by the Admissions Office in consultation with the department or faculty concerned. 
  • Assessment of RPL for credit transfer is done by the department offering the course or programme specified in the application for credit transfer of RPL. The case is managed by an officer tasked with RPL matters at the Degree Office and a decision is taken according to delegation rules. 

Below follows a more detailed description of how the University handles these matters.

Validation of recognition of prior learning

Validation is a process that entails a structured assessment, evaluation, documentation and recognition of knowledge and skills that a person possesses, regardless of how they have been acquired.

Validation coordinator – a university-wide resource

As of 2021, a position for a validation coordinator has been established at the Admissions Office. The validation coordinator is a university-wide resource for the validation of recognition of prior learning.

As part of the quality assurance of the work, all applications made in autumn and spring are followed up. It has emerged that many applicants had not obtained the correct information, were unable to understand the information or had not understood the difference between entry requirements and selection. Every applicant receives individual follow-up and help.

The validation coordinator has a dedicated email address to which prospective and currently enrolled students, as well as employees at departments and faculties, can turn with questions concerning recognition of prior learning. It is also possible to book a digital meeting in TimeCenter, before or during the application process. The validation coordinator is also an entry point for external agents and can refer questions concerning validation to other divisions within the University and to other higher education institutions.

You will find the contact details for the University’s validation coordinator under Contact.

Entry requirements (Admissions Office)

Entry requirements determine whether a person can be admitted to a course and/or programme which requires the person to have certain prior knowledge. In order to meet the entry requirements through recognition of prior learning, the applicant must submit an application no later than the regular application deadline. This applies for both general entry requirements and specific entry requirements. A new application must be sent in each time a person wishes to apply for a course or programme, even if they have applied previously.

All applications for validation of recognition of prior learning (referred to as ‟reko”, the Swedish abbreviation) for entry requirements are managed by a reko officer at the Admissions Office. The Faculty of Engineering (LTH) has its own officers who process LTH’s reko cases. In a first review of applications, those that are not valid for Lund University are discarded. For the remaining applications, the officer may request complementary information. 

The cases which are to be decided by the Presiding Committee of the Admissions Board are prepared by the reko officer before a presentation to the Presiding Committee. The cases regarding specific entry requirements are sent to the department concerned for a decision and justification (the employee responsible can view submitted documents/the case in NyA). The applicants are then notified via the admissions notification on universityadmissions.se.

Remember that those who meet the formal entry requirements cannot apply for recognition of prior learning – in other words it cannot be used to raise an applicant’s level of qualifications.

  1. University entrance qualification from upper secondary school or municipal adult education at upper secondary school level 
  2. Vocational diploma from upper secondary school or municipal adult education at upper secondary school level and at least an E grade in the courses in Swedish or Swedish as a second language and English required for a university entrance qualification from upper secondary school 
  3. Final grades from upper secondary school from 2010 and later 
  4. Final grades from upper secondary school before 2010 
  5. Final grades from municipal adult education from 2010 and later 
  6. Final grades from municipal adult education before 2010 
  7. Final school grades 
  8. Intermediate year grades 
  9. Waldorf school 
  10. Folk high school 
  11. Collective grade documents from municipal adult education before 2010 
  12. Resident in Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Norway and meeting the local entry requirements for higher education 
  13. In possession of an upper secondary school education from another country, if the education meets the entry requirements for higher education in that country 
  14. Pursuant to older provisions, meets the general entry requirements for higher education or education that starts on the foundation level (e.g. second cycle education, special courses, other forms of schooling) 
  15. A pass on the type of entry exam specified in the ordinance (2018:1510) on experimentation with a higher education admission exam. 

More information on the assessment process on uhr.se (in Swedish)

Applications for validation of prior learning for entry requirements are to consist of an application form from universityadmissions.se and an account of knowledge where the student carefully describes the knowledge and skills they wish to submit for assessment. Thus, it is not sufficient merely to send in the form and a certificate of employment. 

Qualification for supplementary teacher training

The project was completed. The project manager’s contact details are available under Contact.

More information about supplementary teacher training is available on the Department of Educational Sciences’ website

Credit transfer (Degree Office)

Students at Lund University can apply for credit transfer based on prior learning (reko) corresponding to a course or course component within their study programme. If the assessment shows that the student has knowledge equivalent to the learning outcomes on the course/course component, their period of study may be shortened. 

Students apply for credit transfer of prior learning within their study programme via a central organisation to the Degree Office. Exceptions are students from LTH and the Faculty of Medicine who are instead to apply at their own faculty.

Information on credit transfer on LTH’s external website

Information on credit transfer on the Faculty of Medicine’s external website

The application is to contain the form “Application for credit transfer of prior learning”, a self-evaluation and any certificates proving the prior learning. Sometimes, interviews and written tests may need to be conducted to assess the student’s knowledge.

For applications for credit transfer of prior learning that come in via the central organisation, a reko officer for credit transfer at the Degree Office provides administrative support throughout the application process. This means that the officer guides applicants through the process, compiles documentation for decisions, communicates decisions/rejections to applicants, transfers credits in Ladok in case of approval and registers each case. However, assessment of applicants’ prior learning is done by subject specialists at the department concerned and decisions are taken according to the delegation rules. The reko officer’s contact persons at the departments are the directors of first and second cycle studies. 

More about credit transfer during studies for students at lunduniversity.lu.se

Support material for assessors and decision-makers

Special Ladok manuals are available to support those assessing and taking decisions on matters of credit transfer of prior learning. There are also process charts showing how application cases are to be processed, as well as document templates for approval, partial approval and rejection that can be used in decision-making.

Remember that you need to log in with your username and password to access the material in LU Box.

Ladok manuals, process charts and decision templates in LU Box - in Swedish (external website)

Contact

For questions about validation of prior learning:

Christel Berg
Coordinator for Recognition of Prior Learning
Admissions Office 
validering [at] stu [dot] lu [dot] se

Address:  
Genetikhuset, 
Sölvegatan 29 B, Lund 

For questions about credit transfer of prior learning:
Degree Office
tillgodoraknande-reko [at] stu [dot] lu [dot] se  

Address: 
Genetikhuset, 
Sölvegatan 29 B, Lund

For questions about the supplementary teacher training (KPU) project:

Monica Wendel
Project manager
Educational Sciences
monica [dot] wendel [at] stu [dot] lu [dot] se