The challenge for credit option allows you to demonstrate, through a predetermined process, that you are proficient in the subject matter of a specific Athabasca University course without having to complete the entire course. This option allows you to challenge courses based on your previous work, life experience, or community service, for example. There are specific regulations for each course that is available for challenge. Funding is not available through student financial aid for challenge courses.

Before You Register

Not all post-secondary institutions recognize the challenge for credit process. If you plan to use the challenge course for transfer credit elsewhere, find out before you register in the AU course, whether your home institution will accept the credit obtained through the challenge process.

Before you submit your Challenge for Credit request, please read about the course by accessing the online course syllabus. It will help you determine your subject-matter knowledge of the course.

While consultation with the Athabasca University professor responsible for the course is also recommended and normally required before registration for challenge is allowed, you will not have tutorial support throughout the challenge process. A process determined by the University's course professor—which may include the submission of assignments, reports, projects, or a written examination—is used to evaluate your knowledge and skills. To obtain the specific course professor's e-mail address and phone number, e-mail examunit@athabascau.ca.

The maximum number of credits that can be challenged is calculated from the total number of credits required for the program minus the number of credits required for residency. However, any course that is successfully completed through the challenge for credit process may count towards the Athabasca University residency requirements.

1. If you haven't done so already, complete and submit
    the Undergraduate General Application Form.

2. Determine whether the course is available for
    challenge by checking the list.

3. Consult with the course professor to obtain details
    about the method of evaluation. To obtain the specific
    course coordinator's e-mail address and phone
    number, e-mail examunit@athabascau.ca.

4. Complete and submit the Challenge for Credit Form to
    the Office of the Registrar.

You have one opportunity to challenge a course. You may not re-challenge it.

Learning Resources

You have the option of purchasing the course's learning resources when you register to challenge a course (refer to Section 5.5). Once you are registered, you may complete and submit the required assignments, reports, projects, or written examinations within a predetermined time period. Tutorial support is not available during the challenge for credit process. Depending on your geographic location, please allow approximately three weeks or more for the processing of your registration and delivery of your learning resources.

Course Available for Challenge

The challenge for credit option is available for currently active Athabasca University course offerings only. Some courses at Athabasca University are not available for challenge. Refer to Section 6.4.4 following. The online course syllabus will indicate whether this option is available.

Course Unavailable for Challenge

The following Athabasca University courses may not be challenged:

• courses for which the student has received transfer credit

• courses for which the student has received a “precluded” designation

• courses for which the student has received an exemption; courses that are unavailable at the time of registering; or courses in a category that is unavailable for challenge for credit

• all graduate-level courses

• reading courses

• some project-based courses

• 100-level courses

• laboratory or practicum courses.

The Office of the Registrar also maintains a list of courses that are unavailable for challenge.

Prerequisites must be satisfied unless the course professor waives them. After completing a course successfully, students may not challenge a prerequisite to that course.

Challenge for Credit Regulations

Challenge courses have specific regulations described below. Once you have registered in a challenge course, there are no provisions to withdraw (cancel). Course extensions or supplemental examination options do not apply to challenge courses. You are allowed only one registration in each challenge for credit course. Re-registrations, for any reason, are not permitted.

If you do not complete your challenge for credit course, you will be assigned a system grade of “F” three months after the course contract end date.

Should you register in an individualized study or grouped study course and discover that you are familiar enough with the material to challenge it, you must first withdraw from the course and then request to challenge it. You will be required to pay an additional challenge for credit fee.

Challenge Refunds

You will receive a refund of your learning resources package fee provided you return the entire package completely unmarked and undamaged within 30 calendar days of writing the challenge exam or completing the challenge project or evaluation. If these criteria are not met, you will not be entitled to a refund.

Site Map
Index
About Athabasca
   University
Courses
Programs
Admissions and
   Academic Regulations
Fees, Financial
   Assistance
Examinations and Grades
Student Services
Student Code of
   Conduct and Right
   to Appeal Regulations
Collaborative
   Partnerships
Academic Awards
Faculty
Glossary

Registration Services
Important Dates
Contact AU