Transfer Credits

Transfer credit is the transfer of previously completed coursework from another post-secondary institution or from IB, AP, or British-Patterned A-Level coursework completed at the high school level to UBC.


Applying transfer credits to your degree

In order to earn your degree, you must complete a minimum of 120 credits, 50% of which must be completed while registered as a student in the Faculty of Arts at UBC.

In certain circumstances, you can be granted permission to study outside of UBC with a Letter of Permission (LOP). Your LOP must be approved by Arts Academic Advising in order for transfer credits to count towards your degree. Learn more about LOP eligibility and considerations.

If you register in a course for which you have already received transfer credit, you will not receive credit twice.

Second degree students are not awarded transfer credit and must complete all requirements while registered as a student in the Faculty of Arts.


Transfer credits and program fulfillment

Once UBC assigns you transfer credits, you can see how they apply towards fulfillment of your Honours, major, or minor program by reviewing your Degree Navigator report. Log in to the Student Service Center (SSC) and choose “Degree Navigator Vancouver” from the “Registration” tab. Transfer credit courses are marked with “TR” in your report.


Post-secondary transfer students

When you are admitted to UBC, your transcripts from other post-secondary institutions will be reviewed and your transfer credits will be posted to the Student Service Centre (SSC). To view your summary, log into the SSC, select the “Grades & Records” tab, “Transfer Credit,” and “UBC Vancouver” as the campus location.

You can get an idea of how your transfer credits will be assessed in advance of their posting by searching for courses with the UBC Transfer Credit Search Tool.

Course registration and your major

If you are a third-year transfer student, you must declare or apply for a major before you can register for courses.

If you are undecided on your major, browse Arts programs or speak with an Arts Academic Advisor for guidance. If you miss a deadline for an application-based major, select a different major temporarily and then contact the application-based major about applying to the program.


First-year students with high school transfer credit

If you are entering UBC with Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or British-Patterned A Level transfer credit, and are eligible for transfer credit, the assignment of these credits will be posted to the Student Service Centre (SSC). To view your summary, log into the SSC, select the “Grades & Records” tab, “Transfer Credit,” and “UBC Vancouver” as the campus location.

If you do not see your official results before your registration date, you can use UBC’s First-Year Transfer Guide to help determine how your credits will transfer to UBC, or speak with an Arts Academic Advisor for guidance.

If you are eligible for transfer credit for a first-year course, consult with the course’s departmental advisor before registering for second-year courses. You can choose to retake a course at UBC if you’d like to reconnect with a subject, but you will not receive credit twice.


Transfer credit assignment

Specific Credit

Courses from recognized institutions will be assigned Specific Credit if matching a UBC course. Specific Credits can be used towards fulfillment of program (Honours, major, or minor) and degree requirements. Specific Credit courses will be listed with a specific UBC course code in the SSC or Degree Navigator (e.g. “WRDS 150″).

If you are assigned credit along with a preclusion (PR) or an exemption (EX), and you believe that you need to earn Specific Credit for the precluded or exempt course, speak with an Academic Advisor prior to registration.

General Credit

Courses are assigned General Credit if they do not directly match a UBC course. Usually General Credits are used towards electives, not program or degree requirements.

General credits do not have specific courses codes in the SSC or Degree Navigator (e.g. “ENG 1st” or “POLI 3rd”). General credits may have a notation about a preclusion (PR) or exemption (EX)  (e.g. “PSYC 3rd, precludes credit for PSYC 314 or PSYC 3rd, exempt PSYC 304”)

Program Requirements and General Credit

If UBC assigns a course General Credit, but you feel the course is similar enough to an existing UBC course that would apply towards your program requirements, take the syllabus from your completed course to the program’s department to inquire if you can use the credit in place of the UBC course.

Degree Requirements and General Credit

If UBC assigns a course General Credit, but you feel the course is similar enough to an existing UBC course that could apply towards a specific degree requirement, follow the instructions for appealing a degree requirement.

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