BCS offers two routes to exemption from the Higher Education Qualifications:

• Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
• Individual Exemption

BCS recommends that you apply for your exemption at the beginning of your studies as delays in applying may affect your eligibility to receive the award and to attend a graduation ceremony once you have completed your studies.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

BCS Higher Education Qualifications maintains a list of qualifications approved under the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) scheme. The qualifications included in the APL List have been subject to a detailed review by HEQ Moderators and approval by the Board to ensure that the qualifications are at a suitable level and contain suitable content for exemption to be granted.

Exemption will only be granted on the basis of the qualifications listed, providing that the qualification has been completed and passed.

Important to note:

Please check the APL List for any conditions which might apply to your qualification, for example, BCS may require you to have completed specific modules to gain exemption. If you have not completed the qualification in full or if you have not met any specified conditions, the exemption will not be granted to you.

How to apply

If your qualification is included on the APL list and you have met the specified conditions (where applicable), you can apply as follows:

1. Complete the application for exemption form
2. Submit certified* copies of your certificate and results transcript: Important: BCS cannot proceed without both of these documents.
3. Submit your application form and certified documents by email to heq@hq.bcs.org.uk (no fees are payable for exemptions included on the APL list).

*documents can be certified by a member of staff at the college you are currently studying at or by your employer.

Important:

• You may not enter for any Higher Education Qualifications module(s) from which you are seeking credit under our APL scheme
  
  The HEQ Office will record the exemption against your Exam record and the exemption will appear on any subsequent results transcript issued to you. 

• You will not receive a results transcript until you have attempted the BCS Higher Education Qualifications.

• If you require an exemption to be eligible to attend the graduation ceremony, APL applications (and all relevant/certified documents must be received by 15th June. If you do not submit your exemption application by this deadline, you will not be eligible to attend the graduation ceremony until the following year.

If your qualification is not included on the APL list, you may be eligible to apply for an Individual Exemption.