University of Canberra to give TAFE diploma holders up to a year of credit toward bachelor’s degrees, cutting costs and time.

The University of Canberra is launching a program to grant up to a year of credit to students with TAFE diplomas in nursing, project management, and early childhood education, shortening bachelor’s degrees and saving up to $12,000. The initiative, led by Vice Chancellor Bill Shorten, aims to streamline pathways between vocational and higher education, addressing longstanding credit transfer issues highlighted in government reviews. Unlike other institutions, it will process credit recognition automatically and at scale. Education Minister Jason Clare and Jobs and Skills Australia’s Barney Glover, who leads a new advisory council, praised the move as a step toward reducing artificial barriers and elevating vocational training. A national effort to improve credit systems is underway, with a report due in December and a final roadmap expected mid-2026.