Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL)

Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL)

Applicants / Students wishing to make use of the Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) process at MCAST, are kindly asked to take note of the following preliminary information:

  1. It is important to note that any formal request for an RPCL is to be submitted only after that the applicant would have been found eligible for a programme of studies at MCAST and would have become an MCAST Registered student on that course.
  2. A Formal request to start off the RPCL process is to be submitted directly by the student through email address rpl@mcast.edu.mt. In reply to that formal request submission, the MCAST RPL section (within the Admissions and Records Department) will provide further information regarding the way forward on that request.
  3. It is only after that the necessary initial exchange of emails is cleared, that the student will be asked by the RPL section to submit a formal and complete RPCL Form – as will be guided through the exchange of emails, depending on the case in question.
  4. An RPCL aimed at Unit Exemptions, will possibly lead to a maximum of 30% exemption from the whole programme’s credits. Every student is entitled for one RPCL process to cover the whole programme of studies.
  5. Exemptions can be upheld only if the Learning Outcomes, Content, and Assessment of the units a student already possess - and which one wishes to present as basis for exemption from specific MCAST programme’s units – will be as close as possible to MCAST content. The Level of studies must be identical between the units being compared. Any qualification used to cover entry eligibility to a programme of studies, cannot also be used again for an RPCL process.
  6. There is a mapping process which unfolds after that the formal RPCL form would have been submitted complete with all the necessary information and any accompanying documentation which will be required for such a mapping exercise to take place. This mapping exercise may take up to three working weeks, depending on the nature and detail of information and documentation which would have bene presented.
  7. There is a Eur 200 fee (Eur 300 for Non-EU nationals) for the RPCL process to take off and get underway. An Invoice will be raised to this effect at the outset of the process. The RPL policy sets the fees involved.
  8. An MCAST student wanting to be considered for exemptions under the RPCL process, is to submit a formal request directly to rpl@mcast.edu.mt – and NOT through the Institute.
  9. It is to be noted that the RPCL process is not to be used in instances were an MCAST student embarking on a new programme of studies, would have already attained a successful grade in an MCAST unit form a previous MCAST programme of studies – which will be identical to the one placed in the new programme of studies the MCAST student will now be starting off. Such an action (depending on the necessary mapping) is referred to as a ‘Transfer of Grades’ and NOT part of the RPCL process. All MCAST students are reminded that they are always free to retake such a previous unit of study if they wish to better the grade which was achieved as part of the previous programme of studies.
  10. Obviously speaking, anyone wishing more information (even before one would have become an MCAST registered student) may send an email with queries to rpl@mcast.edu.mt.... the clearer the case is presented in the email sent, the more direct and fruitful will be the reply which we can provide.

MCAST will keep in touch with students, all along the different steps within the RPCL process.. from the initial formal request submitted by student right through the final outcome of the RPCL process as will be communicated by MCAST RPL Section to the student submitting the request for RPL.

More information about the RPL policy can be obtained from the policy documents which can be reviewed as follows;