Higher Education Diploma in Arts

Course Information

Leap Year is a transformative and enriching program designed for students who have just finished schooling and are looking to embark on a meaningful journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and community impact. It's a year-long experience that offers participants the opportunity to explore their passions, set meaningful goals, and gain practical experience while making a positive difference in the world.

Through a combination of immersive experiences, mentorship, and academic coursework, Leap Year empowers students to craft their own paths, develop essential skills, and earn a Diploma of Arts qualification—all while preparing them for the next stage of their journey, whether it be full-time study, work, ministry or other pursuits. It’s an intentional year of investing in personal growth, exploration, and making a lasting impact.

Leap Year Diploma of Arts

The St Philip's Leap Year was developed and launched by St Philip's Christian Education Foundation for 2025. The Higher Education Diploma of Arts is 100% taught by St Philip’s while Alphacrucis University College (AC) provides third-party accreditation (PRV12006)*. Note: * Our current provider category is “University College”, based on https://www.teqsa.gov.au/national-register/condition-decision/provider-category-change-25-january-2022]

To achieve the Leap Year Diploma of Arts, participants complete 8 subjects: four core and four elective subjects. Leap Year participants complete all four core subjects. They select two out of three elective subjects each semester.

Two benefits of gaining a Leap Year Diploma of Arts are for participants to: 

• Gain a higher education qualification
• Gain access to a bachelor's degree course

Leap Year Diploma of Arts: A Pathway to a Bachelor's Degree

Several tertiary providers stated that a diploma qualification will allow access into their bachelor's degree including:

• Avondale Unversity: All Bachelor's degrees
• University of Newcastle: Bachelor's degrees with an ATAR equivalent of 75
• Alphacrucis: Bachelor's degrees
• Christian Heritage College: Bachelor's degrees

Level of Study

Leap Year participants can decide to study each of their 8 subjects at either AQF level 5 or AQF level 7. While these two levels are taught concurrently (at the same time), assessment requirements are different. The benefit of taking one or more subject at AQF level 7 is the possibility of attaining recognition for prior learning (RPL) to transfer credits a bachelor's degree in the future*. 

Bachelor's Degree Credit: Recognition for Prior Learning

Depending on Leap Year participants’ future pathways, universities may give credit for some of their first-year courses. Each university will review individual transcripts and give RPL for subjects that are either equivalent to their courses or that might be considered as an elective course within their bachelor’s degree. To be eligible for RPLs, Leap Year participants should choose to study subjects at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level 7 for any subject they would like to be eligible to transfer credit*. However, if Leap Year participants do not plan on seeking RPLs for a subject, they can simply sit the subject at AQF level 5. 

Note: * Credit recognition is not automatic. Each university and each degree program within the university decides what subjects they will and will not offer as RPL

Differentiating Leap Year AQF Levels

Each of Leap Year subject is worth ten credit hours. One credit hour is equivalent to hours of activity inclusive of input, reading, activities, research & assessment. This includes:

• face-to-face hours of engagement (on campus and during trips), and 
• personal active learning (PAL) Leap Year participants undertake outside of the scheduled hours

Table 1 differentiates the two AQF levels to help Leap Year participants decide on their level of challenge for each subject. Participants can choose their level within the first two weeks of semester.

Table 1 - Differentiating Between Leap Year Subjects AQF Levels 5 and 7

Core Subjects

• Purpose and Life Calling
• Effective Communication 
• Personal Leadership and Development
• Service Learning

Elective Subjects

• Professional Experience
• Teamwork and Leadership
• Creativity and Social Change
• Serving Cross-Culturally
• Independent Guided Study Project
• Academic Writing and Research

Key Dates