How "APEL" Works

APEL: route to post-graduate study

What is the APEL process, and why does it matter? APEL stands for "Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning", and is the formal recognition of prior learning by UK universities.

Why is it important? APEL is the means by which students who do not have an undergraduate degree can gain entry onto a masters' level course, such as our master's programme in 3D animation.

For example, an animator with ten years' experience in the industry might not realise they can apply for our MA course in animation, because they need a BA first.  In fact, this would not necessarily be true.

We can consider a student's body of work, and their professional career, as a route into post-graduate study, permitting them to meet the necessary qualifications for entry onto a masters' programme.

What is APEL?
APEL stands for "Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning", and is the formal recognition of prior learning by UK universities. It is also sometimes called Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).

Whatever the name, the process is the same.  Here in the UK, it is the means by which a student without an undergraduate degree, but with a significant body of professional work, can study at masters' level.

How do we assess APEL?
Methods of assessing prior learning include an evaluation of the student's prior work experience. The essential element of APEL is that it is an assessment of evidence provided by an individual to support their claim for competence against a given set of standards or learning outcomes.

Portfolio
Of course, for entry onto a masters' degree programme, we still need to see a portfolio of work showing an interest in - and an aptitude for - animation.  An applicant's portfolio might include drawings, sketches, 2d and 3d artwork, animation tests (2d or 3d), stop motion tests - work that shows an artistic eye. Nowadays animators need a blend of traditional and technical skills. To see some suggestions on what might go in a portfolio, see this blog post.

To find out more about Animation Apprentice, click here for a link to Frequently Asked Questions. To sign up for our next classroom at Animation Apprentice, follow this link.