FAQ
- 1. Can I transfer between universities in BC?
- 2. How do I transfer In/Out of BC?
- 3. What is unassigned credit?
- 4. Is it better to attend a university or a college?
- 5. Why can’t I find my institution in the BC
Transfer Guide?
- 6. Can I transfer from a private institution?
- 7. What qualifies me for admission as a transfer student
to a BC university?
- 8. Can I transfer to any BC post-secondary institution?
- 9. I am taking university level courses at college, but
I have no idea where I want to transfer. What should I do?
- 10. Can I transfer courses from more than one BC institution?
- 11. If all my courses are listed in the BC Transfer Guide,
are there any reasons why I might NOT receive transfer credit?
- 12. Who should I talk to if I have questions about the transfer
process?
- 13. What is a BC associate degree?
- 14. What happens to my credits if I change my major or program?
- 15. I took some post-secondary courses years ago. Will they
still transfer?
- 16. Is there a minimum grade for course transfer?
- 17. What's a residency requirement?
- 18. When should I use the BC Transfer Guide?
- 19. How often is the BC Transfer Guide updated?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I transfer between universities in BC?
Yes. Each year many students transfer successfully from one BC university to another. University to university transfer credit is not listed in the BC Transfer Guide, but universities do maintain a record of these course equivalencies based on past evaluations. If you're thinking about transferring between universities, you should contact the receiving university for details on the transfer process. You may be required to provide additional course information in order to have your courses evaluated. For more details, see Transfer From Another University/Province.
2. How do I transfer In/Out of BC?
If the courses taken were similar to the courses in the program you are transferring to, then you will usually receive transfer credit. However, you may have to provide course outlines in order to receive the credit, and the evaluation process may take a while.
For more detail on transfer to and from BC, go to Transfer from Another University/Province.
When Institutions grant unassigned credit, it often means they don’t offer a course similar to the one you took and therefore can’t assign a specific course equivalency. Rather than denying credit, they often award unassigned credit, which generally takes the form of a subject and a year level. Unassigned credit can be used to meet elective requirements, and in some cases, degree requirements or pre-requisites. For example, if a course transfers to “ENGL 1st (3)”, this means you will be awarded 3 credits of 1st year English. If your degree program has a requirement of 3 credits of first year English, then this unassigned credit can be used to meet this requirement. Unassigned credit allows transfer students to receive credit for their courses, even if there isn’t a specific match at the institution they are transferring to. For more details, see Types of Transfer Credit.
4. Is it better to attend a university or a college?
This depends on a variety of factors. Colleges usually offer smaller class sizes, greater interaction and lower tuition fees. Universities usually offer a larger selection of programs, courses and resources. Regardless of the type of institution you choose to attend, the BC Transfer System allows students to transfer in and out of institutions easily without having to repeat work they have already completed.
5. Why can’t I find my institution in the BC Transfer Guide?
Click here for a list of the institutions listed in the BC Transfer Guide. If you are attending an institution that is not a part of the BC Transfer System, transfer credit is not guaranteed. While it is possible to receive transfer credit from institutions that are not part of the BC Transfer System, you should check with the institution you plan to transfer to regarding their policy on awarding transfer credit from the institution you are currently attending.
6. Can I transfer from a private institution?
There are several private institutions who are members of the BC Transfer System. You can find a complete list of institutions here. If your institution is not on this list, then transfer credit is not guaranteed and is at the sole discretion of the receiving institution.
7. What qualifies me for admission as a transfer student to a BC university?
To be admitted to a BC university as a transfer student, you must have taken the minimum number of transfer credits required. This varies from 15 credits (5 courses) at one university to 30 credits (10 courses) at others. If you have fewer courses than the number required you may still be admitted but your eligibility for admissions will be based on your secondary school results and possibly your post-secondary results as well. In this case, you should also get transfer credit for the post-secondary courses you have successfully completed.
Provincial
institutes, like BCIT, or colleges offering applied degrees
may have specific requirements because of the nature of their programs.
Admission to any post-secondary institution is not guaranteed and entry to
specific programs is often very competitive. Check out Before
You Transfer for
further details, and for comprehensive admissions information, go to EducationPlanner.ca.
8. Can I transfer to any BC post-secondary institution?
All institutions that are part of the BC Transfer System accept transfer students. Admission is competitive. You may meet all of the minimum admission requirements for a particular program or institution, yet you might not be accepted because your grades aren't as high as those of other applicants. Find out what standards (mainly what grades) are needed in order to be accepted at the institution of your choice. Be aware that grade requirements do vary each year, even each semester. See How to Transfer for more information.
9. I am taking university level courses at college, but I have no idea where I want to transfer. What should I do?
Check the BC Transfer Guide to find out how your college courses will transfer. This will help you to keep your program options open. Be sure to keep a copy of your college calendar and detailed course outlines. Also, check with your college about advisor appointments, career planning seminars, or browse EducationPlanner.ca
10. Can I transfer courses from more than one BC institution?
Yes. If all the courses you took are from institutions listed in BCTransferGuide.ca, the process should be straightforward. Remember, you must submit official transcripts from each institution you attended.
11. If all my courses are listed in the BC Transfer Guide, are there any reasons why I might NOT receive transfer credit?
Yes, there are a few reasons. For example, failing the course, taking the course too long ago, taking duplicate courses, or failing to get a "Letter of Permission," are all reasons why you might not get transfer credit. In addition, some institutions limit the amount of credit they award, so taking too much credit before you transfer can be counter-productive. See How to Transfer for more information.
12. Who should I talk to if I have questions about the transfer process?
An advisor at your current institution will be able to answer questions about your courses and how they'll fit into your academic goals. If your questions are about applying to a specific program at a receiving institution, it's probably best to contact that institution's Admissions or Recruitment Office directly.
The institutional calendar is also a very useful resource. It will outline the program requirements, the general faculty and/or graduation requirements, and all the other rules that students are responsible for knowing.
13. What is a BC associate degree?
An associate degree is a two-year credential in arts or science offered by select B.C. institutions. If you graduate with an associate degree and want to pursue further study you can receive priority admission at some BC universities, and a guarantee of 60 transfer credits. Be aware that you may still need to take extra courses to meet program requirements at the institution to which you transfer. Consult the calendar for more details. See Associate Degrees for more information.
14. What happens to my credits if I change my major or program?
If you decide to change your major or program, check the institutional calendar for the new requirements. You will still get all the transfer credit you are entitled to, but you may not be able to apply it in the same way to your new program. You will probably have to take more courses than originally planned to meet the requirements of your new program. You should discuss any changes to your major or program with an advisor.
15. I took some post-secondary courses years ago.
Will they still transfer?
That depends on how many years ago, and on the institution and program you want to enrol in. Many institutions consider that knowledge acquired more than ten or so years ago may no longer be current, and therefore may not grant credit for "stale-dated" courses. Courses in rapidly evolving fields such as information technology may have an even shorter shelf life. Check with your intended institution regarding their policy.
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16. Is there a minimum grade for course transfer?
In order to receive transfer credit, you must have passed the course (normally a “P” or “D”). See “Before you Transfer ” for details.
17. What's a residency requirement?
A residency requirement is the amount of their own course work that your home institution requires you to complete in order for them to award you a credential. Residency requirements vary so it's a good idea to check the calendar of the institution to which you plan to transfer. Many institutions require that you complete 50% of the program there (e.g. 60 credits in a degree that requires 120 credits). Others require that only 25% be completed at the institution.
18. When should I use the BC Transfer Guide?
You can (and should!) use it any time. It is a helpful tool before and after you register for your courses. Checking transferability before you register can help you decide which courses to take. Checking transferability after you register will help you understand how other institutions will accept your courses.
19. How often is the BC Transfer Guide updated?
The BC Transfer Guide is updated on a daily basis, as new agreements are created and updated. Therefore whenever you use the BC Transfer Guide, you are always seeing the most current transfer information available.