Prospective Students - Transfer

Students Transferring from International Institutions

International Institutions

Credit Transfer Guidelines

After you've been admitted and confirmed your intent to enroll, the Office of Admissions will perform an initial evaluation of transfer credit. At orientation, the dean's office of the college or school to which you've been admitted will make the final determination of how your transfer credits apply toward degree requirements at CU-Boulder. To assess the credits that are likely to transfer to CU-Boulder, use the guidelines below and in the University of Colorado at Boulder Catalog.

Transfer Credit From International Schools

• Transfer credit is generally only considered from international tertiary institutions that are recognized by the ministry of education, or a similar accrediting body, in the home country.
  


• In order to qualify for transfer credit, courses completed at recognized international tertiary institutions must be applicable to the student's degree and comparable to the nature and quality of CU-Boulder courses.
  


• International courses with the same or similar course titles as University of Colorado at Boulder courses may satisfy those course requirements here. Prospective students may initially self assess the applicability of their transfer courses using the University of Colorado at Boulder Catalog. This catalog lists the course requirements for all of our degree programs.
  


• An official or certified copy of the transcript must be presented to the Office of Admissions for work to be officially evaluated for transfer credit. A certified translation must accompany transcripts not issued in English. The translation should be literal and not interpretive.
  


• If course content is not evident from course titles on the transcript, students should be prepared to provide official catalog course descriptions from their schools or faculties.
  


• Rarely is international secondary level work considered for transfer credit. The completion of rigorous secondary school subjects is expected of all admission candidates-international and domestic alike. Transfer credit is not awarded for secondary school subjects unless an additional 13th year of secondary school was completed and/or a standardized examination was administered. Examples might include the British Advanced Level (A-Level) examinations, German Abitur examinations, or Italian Maturita examinations.
  


• For information on how Advanced Placement (AP) examinations and International Baccalaureate (IB) examination credit transfers, refer to the AP credit chart and IB credit chart.
  


• In many cases, international credits will have to be converted into the U.S. semester system. In these cases, no more than 30-36 semester hours may transfer in any academic year.
  


• All courses considered for transfer must be completed with a "C-" or better grade. The Office of Admissions will determine the international grade equivalencies. (See Course Work That Will Not Transfer)
  


• Each college and school at CU-Boulder determines the maximum number of semester hours that may transfer from a two-year postsecondary institution. Limits vary in each college and school.
  


• There is no maximum number of credit hours that may transfer from a four-year institution, but the dean's office of each college or school determines how transfer credits apply to specific degree programs. In addition, each college and school at CU-Boulder has a minimum number of final semester hours that must be completed as a degree student in residence on the Boulder campus in order to receive an undergraduate degree (see Individual College and School Transfer Sections.)
  


• Credit hours should have been earned no more than 10 years prior to transferring into an undergraduate degree program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Any determination of acceptance of credit toward the degree based on the content and the age of the credit is made in the college or school dean's office or by the student’s major department.
  


• Each college or school at CU-Boulder determines the maximum number of hours earned through correspondence programs that are accepted toward a baccalaureate degree.
  

  Transfer Credit through Examination

• Credit for Advanced Placement examinations cannot be evaluated from college or high school transcripts; score reports from the College Board must be submitted directly to the university for evaluation. For a specific equivalency, refer to the AP credit chart.
  


• Credit for College Board subject examinations of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) in general biology, general chemistry, general psychology, introductory macroeconomics, introductory microeconomics, introductory sociology, and calculus may be granted for a score of at or above the 67th percentile. This credit is applied toward degree requirements at the discretion of the student's dean. Refer to the appropriate dean's office for the policy of that college or school. Credit for CLEP subject examinations cannot be evaluated from college or high school transcripts; score reports must be submitted directly from the College Board. CLEP general examinations are not accepted for credit at CU-Boulder.
  


• In general, credit is granted for approved International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations at the higher level with a score of 4 or better. An IB certificate or diploma must be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions by the International Baccalaureate Organization for evaluation. For specific equivalencies, see the IB credit chart.
  


• Credit by Examination provides limited opportunities for students to take an examination and earn credit for a course without registering for or taking the course. Specific courses must be approved for credit by examination. Students may want to exercise this option if they do not receive transfer credit for a course they have taken at a previous college. Information on participating colleges and schools, requirements, and an application for credit by examination are available at the Office of the Registrar, University of Colorado at Boulder, Regent Administrative Center 105, 20 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0020, 303-492-6970. Permission of the instructor, the department chair, the dean of the college or school in which the course is offered, and the student's dean (if different) is required for approval. An examination fee is charged.

Course Work That Will Not Transfer

The following course work will not transfer and will not count toward a degree at Boulder:

• any courses in which the grade earned is below a C-,
  
  
• courses identified by CU-Boulder as remedial, i.e., necessary to correct academic deficiencies, such as remedial English, mathematics, science, and developmental reading,
  


• vocational-technical courses that are offered at two-year and proprietary institutions (exceptions may be granted only by the CU-Boulder dean responsible for the student's curriculum--when exceptions appear to be warranted, appropriate department heads make recommendations to their respective deans regarding credit for such courses),
  


• courses in religion that constitute specialized religious training or that are doctrinal in nature,
  


• credits earned for work experience or through a cooperative education program,



• outdoor leadership education course work,



• credits earned in physical education activity courses,
  


• courses or programs identified as college orientation, and
  


• any courses taken at a college or university that is not recognized by CU-Boulder.

How Transfer Credit Applies to a Degree Program

When the Office of Admissions performs the initial credit evaluation, it will use official transcripts sent directly to the university from each one of the previous colleges you have attended. Official transcripts exhibit the official seal and signature of the registrar. Transcripts that are marked "student copy," "issued to student," or "unofficial" are not accepted as official.

The initial evaluation may list course work in progress at the time of confirmation as "pending." In order to complete the admission and transfer of credit process, all transcripts of attempted work must be received by the Office of Admissions as soon as possible. Arrange to have your final official transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions after you complete your last term and before you enroll at CU-Boulder. Students who do not complete this requirement will not be able to register for classes.

After an evaluation of transfer credit has been completed, the Office of Admissions will mail you an evaluation report. At orientation, the dean's office of the college or school to which you've been admitted will make the final determination of how your transfer credits apply toward degree requirements at CU-Boulder.

There is no guarantee that all transfer credit will apply to a specific degree program. The dean's office of each college and school has ultimate responsibility for supervising your degree program and makes the final determination on applicability of transfer credits toward degree requirements. Since graduation requirements at CU-Boulder vary from college to college, a reevaluation of transfer credit is required if you change colleges or schools after enrolling.

Refer to the transfer of credit and individual college sections in the University of Colorado at

College of Architecture and Planning >>
College of Arts and Sciences >>
Leeds School of Business >>
School of Education >>
College of Engineering and Applied Science >>
School of Journalism and Mass Communication >>
College of Music >>

When you are ready to apply, go to the International Prospective Student Web Site for an application and instructions.