BC Transfer Guide

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.

All institutions that are part of the BC Transfer System accept transfer students.  Click here for a list of the institutions listed in the BC Transfer Guide. 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 Transfer Works for more information.

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 Transfer Works for more information.

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.

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.

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.

In order to receive transfer credit, you must have passed the course (normally a “P” or “D”). See “Before you Transfer ” for details.