The available material does not state a universal rule that converts an Australian course grade for either a credit or progression review. For credit based on external study, the University of Sydney requires a certified copy of the official academic transcript; previous-study transcripts should also explain the grading system used by the issuing institution. These requirements identify the documentary evidence needed for review, but they do not establish a converted grade, credit amount or progression result.
What the guidance establishes
| Document | What the University of Sydney guidance says | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Official academic transcript | A certified copy must be attached to a credit application based on external study. | Automatic acceptance of the transcript or an automatic credit outcome. |
| Grading-system explanation | Previous-study transcripts should explain the grading system used by the issuing institution. | Equivalence between the source grade and an Australian grade, or a mark-by-mark conversion formula. |
The distinction matters because a grade recorded on a transcript is only interpretable alongside the grading system that produced it. A letter, percentage or pass designation cannot be treated as equivalent solely because it uses the same label.
How to check a credit conversion
The documented checking process begins with the source records:
- Obtain a certified copy of the official academic transcript.
- Check whether it includes an explanation of the issuing institution’s grading system. If it does not, the reader may need to request that explanation from the issuing institution.
- Do not calculate a converted Australian grade from the transcript alone. The available material provides no formula, equivalence table or target-grade rule.
- Obtain the applicable written assessment from the institution conducting the credit review. The final conversion and any credit decision must remain separate from assumptions based on the original mark.
This process prepares the evidence needed for assessment; it does not guarantee that the transcript will be accepted or that credit will be granted.
Why progression requires separate confirmation
The cited guidance concerns applications for credit based on external study. It does not set out how grades are converted for progression review, provide a progression scale or explain how a course result affects progression.
A reader therefore cannot use the transcript requirements alone to determine a progression outcome. Any progression result must be checked against the written rules and decision applicable to that review.
What the reader must still confirm
Before relying on a converted grade or review result, the reader still needs to confirm:
- whether the transcript is an official document and a certified copy;
- whether the grading system used by the issuing institution is explained;
- which credit or progression rules apply;
- whether an Australian grade or other equivalence is assigned;
- what that conversion means for the requested credit or progression decision.
Until the applicable rule and result are confirmed in writing, no converted grade, credit entitlement or progression outcome should be assumed.