Woolf's mission is to increase access to world-class higher education. To further its mission, Woolf has full regulatory approval for both standard and some non-standard pathways of admission to study in accredited degrees. Our goal is to support prospective students that can succeed in a degree but do not meet the typical eligibility requirements for admission.

This document highlights different pathways under which the a secures admission.

Three Pathways for Eligibility and Admission

All applicants must be both eligible and admitted in order to study for a degree. Woolf’s central administration must approve the eligibility of every student, and all eligible students must be admitted by their college’s Academic Board. 

Pathway 1: Standard Admission

The applicant is eligible because they provide valid evidence of completing their prior degree, and that degree qualifies them for admission and the college approves the admission.

More technically, the prior degree must be one EQF level prior to the new target degree. For instance, a student is admitted to a Master’s degree (at EQF7 level) based on evidence of having completed a Bachelor's degree (EQF6 level). Other entry requirements (such as language, or specific fields of prior education) will be publicly listed by the college on the degree application.

Pathway 2: Performance-Based Admission (PBA)

The applicant does not have valid evidence of completing the required prior degree, or the prior degree is not sufficient for eligibility. The applicant will be directly moved to the track for Performance-Based Admissions (PBA), and Woolf will issue the student a letter of conditional admission to the degree. All PBA students convert automatically into regular students as soon as they meet the admissions conditions.

For example, if you apply for a master's degree (EQF7 level) without having completed a bachelor's degree  (EQF6), then you will be enrolled as a PBA student while seeking admission to the master's program. Completing a Diploma (EQF5) will also result in PBA Student status.

Read more about PBA Student status here

Pathway 3: Admission by Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The applicant may be exempted from admission requirements if their life experiences provide equivalent learning through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). For example, if you've partially completed a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and have worked as a software engineer for five years, you might be admitted directly into a master's program.

At any point during your PBA journey, you can request a manual review of your life experiences for RPL-based admission by using this link. The application fee for this manual review is $200.

RPL officers will evaluate evidence of your career, informal education, and life experiences that might exempt you from the regular admissions criteria, allowing for immediate enrollment. If your work experience and highest education together meet the RPL-based admission criteria, Woolf will either fully enroll you, request additional evidence, or reject your application—with the option to continue on the PBA pathway if rejected.

Read more about RPL admissions here

Summary

Most students are admitted through the Standard Admissions pathway, but if you do not meet the eligibility criteria for Standard Admissions, you will be enrolled as a PBA Student. At any time, prospective applicants and PBA students may apply for RPL and be fully matriculated into their desired degree program.

FAQs About Admission Pathways at Woolf

1. What are the three admission pathways at Woolf?

1. 1. Standard Admission

   2. Performance-Based Admission (PBA)
   3. Admission by Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Each pathway allows students to access higher education based on their academic qualifications, demonstrated academic performance, or life experiences.

2. What is the Standard Admission pathway?

Under Standard Admission, applicants provide evidence of completing a degree one EQF level below the degree they are applying for. Upon verification of evidences submitted by the applicant, Woolf will issue an unconditional full admission letter.

3. What qualifies an applicant for Performance-Based Admission (PBA)?

PBA is for students who cannot meet the standard admission requirements (such as providing evidence of a degree one EQF level below the desired program). These students receive conditional admission and can matriculate into the degree by completing the greater of either 250 hours or 25% of the program with a GPA of 90% or above.

4. What happens if I do not meet the standard admission criteria?

If you cannot meet the standard admission criteria, you will automatically be placed on the Performance-Based Admission (PBA) pathway, allowing you to demonstrate your academic potential for the degree through coursework.

5. What is Woolf’s Performance-Based Admission (PBA) pathway?

The PBA pathway allows learners to enroll as a student prior to joining their degree. To gain full admission to the degree, students must complete higher of either 250 hours or 25% of their degree coursework with a GPA of 90% or higher.

6. Do PBA students have official status at Woolf?

Yes, PBA students have an official status at Woolf as non-matriculated students. However, they do not earn formal enrollment into the degree program until they meet the performance criteria.

7. Will I receive an official student ID card or transcripts as a PBA student?

Yes, you will receive a letter confirming your enrollment at Woolf and your college, along with your courses. Starting in November 2024, all PBA students will receive a special ID card, transcripts, and access to a customized dashboard that tracks their academic progress.

8. Is there any flexibility for retaking exams if I don’t meet the GPA requirement for PBA?

Colleges may offer retakes for exams, but it is recommended that the student work closely with their academic advisors to have the best chance of meeting the required GPA before the 25% completion threshold.

9. Can I switch from PBA to full enrollment without completing the 250 hours or 25% of the degree?

Yes, you can request a manual review of your prior learning and work experience through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway. If your qualifications meet the criteria, you may gain full enrollment immediately post the review.

10. What is the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway?

The RPL pathway allows learners to apply for full enrollment based on their prior work and life experiences. A manual review by Woolf’s admissions team will determine if the student's background meets the RPL criteria.

11. Where can I apply for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) based admissions?

You can apply for manual review of evidences related to your life experiences for RPL based admissions here.

12. How much is the fee for RPL based admissions application?

The application fees for manual review of eligibility for RPL based admissions is $200 per application.

13. When can I apply for RPL?

You can apply for RPL at any time during your performance-based admission journey.

14. What happens if my RPL application is rejected?

If your RPL application is rejected, you can continue on the PBA pathway and matriculate into the degree once you meet the PBA success criteria.

15. Are there refunds if I fail to meet the PBA criteria?

No, Woolf does not offer refunds to students who fail to meet the PBA criteria, as students are in meaningful control of their academic outcomes through their performance.