Types of Transfer Credit
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There are many different ways in which transfer credit can be awarded. Each institution has its own policy regarding the type of transfer credit they award. Here are some of the different ways in which transfer credit can be awarded.
TRANSFER CREDIT
Transfer credit is the most common form of transfer offered. When you apply and are admitted to another institution, your transcript will be evaluated for transfer credit. Depending on the courses you took, transfer credit can be awarded in several different ways:
Assigned Credit - Credit is granted for a specific course.
For example:
- CAPU ENGL 100 = UVIC ENGL 115 (3)
- SELK CHEM 110 = UFV CHEM 110 (3)
Unassigned Credit – Credit is granted for a specific subject and year level. If the institution you are transferring to does not offer an equivalent for the courses you have taken, you will often be awarded unassigned credit. This credit may be used as an elective towards your credential.
For example:
- UBC ENGL 1st (3) - 3 credits of first year English at UBC
- UVIC COMP 200 lev (3) - 3 credits of 200 level Computer Science at UVIC
- UNBC FREN 1XX (3) - 3 credits of 100 level French at UNBC
Cluster Credit – Two or more courses must be completed to receive transfer credit. Because institutions differ in the way courses are instructed, direct equivalencies cannot always be established. In some cases, institutions will create transfer agreements that involve multiple courses. This is known as cluster credit. Both courses must be taken in order to receive transfer credit, unless otherwise specified.
For example:
- LANG HIST 1115 & 1130 = UBC HIST 125
- DOUG HIST 1103 & DOUG HIST 1104 = UVIC HIST 105
To see how your courses transfer, use the Course Search.
SFU WRITING, QUANTITATIVE & BREADTH (WQB) REQUIREMENTS
All students who wish to complete a degree at SFU will be required to complete a number of courses meeting SFU's Writing (W), Quantitative (Q) and Breadth (B) requirements. Listings for SFU in the BC Transfer Guide include notations with regard to these requirements. For example:
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For more information on SFU's WQB requirements, please visit http://www.sfu.ca/ugcr/.
BLOCK TRANSFER
Block Transfer occurs when a group of courses, often in the form of a certificate or diploma, is recognized for transfer credit. You should be able to transfer directly into the second or third year of the degree program depending on the agreement.
Block transfer works well if you complete the entire diploma at your college. If you don’t complete the entire diploma, you’ll probably still receive some transfer credit if the individual courses are listed in the Course Search.
To see which institutions have block transfer agreements, use the Block Transfer Guide.
PRIOR LEARNING ASSESMENT AND RECOGNITION (PLAR)
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a process whereby students receive credit for learning that’s occurred in a non-standard or non-traditional environment. This is different from transfer credit. Check the PLAR policy of the institution for more information.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)
The International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) programs are enriched secondary school program that provides students with the opportunity to earn advanced credit towards their undergraduate degrees. If you have completed IB or AP courses, you may be eligible for advanced credit. See the IB/AP Transfer Guides for more information.
PROGRAM TRANSFER
Faculty members in many institutions often collaborate to arrange special transfer agreements for their discipline.
To find information on a variety of transfer guides, brochures and career options, check out the Program Specific Guides.