Students may receive transfer credits towards a music program at McGill through similar studies completed from a former college, music conservatory or university, or from an Exchange program, an Independent Study Away (ISA) program or Inter-University Transfer (IUT) approved by the Schulich School of Music.
- Official e-transcripts (electronic transcripts) and examination reports (e.g. Advanced Placement [AP], Royal Conservatory of Music [RCM] Level 10 History) must be sent to officialschooldocs [at] mcgill.ca and studentaffairs.music [at] mcgill.ca AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION if you are seeking transfer credits.
- We do not grant transfer credits for theory and musicianship courses completed at another educational institution. Students who wish to be exempt from first-year theory (MUTH 150, MUTH 151, MUJZ 160 or MUJZ 161) or musicianship (MUSP 123, MUSP 124, MUSP 140, MUSP 141, MUSP 170, MUSP 171, MUJZ 170 or MUJZ 171) must take placement exams.
- Students are not required to replace credits for courses for which they received transfer credits. Transfer credits are included in the total credits towards a McGill degree.
- Courses for which you received transfer credits have only the credits, not the grade, carried over to a McGill program.
- Students are not permitted to register for courses for which they received transfer credits.
- You may be asked to provide detailed course outline(s) for your transfer credit assessment.
Students can view their transfer credits on myProgress or via their McGill transcripts. Refer to “Registration Verification” on the Registration page for instructions on how to access your transcripts on Minerva.
Transfer Credits for New Music Students
Music History (MUHL 186 or MUJZ 187)
Western Musical Tradition (MUHL 186)
Students who have successfully completed Music History I, II, III & IV from a Diplôme d'études collégiales (DEC) from a Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel (cégep).
Music DEC from cégep or post-secondary courses in Western Musical Traditions or passed Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Level 10 History exam, will be given transfer credits for MUHL 186 (determined by their transcript record).
Students who have successfully completed the RCM Level 10 History Exam should email a copy of the official exam result to studentaffairs.music [at] mcgill.ca, including the McGill ID.
Students are not allowed to take the RCM History exam to seek exemption if they failed MUHL 186 nor can they take the RCM History exam to request an exemption after starting Bachelor of Music or Licentiate in Music at McGill.
Jazz History Survey (MUJZ 187)
Students will receive transfer credits for this course if they have successfully completed an equivalent jazz history course from a cégep or college/university.
Students from Quebec who have completed a Diplôme d'études collégiales (DEC) from Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel (cégep)
Students who have completed a DEC will enter their Bachelor of Music as a U1 student. U1 students generally receive these transfer credits.
|
One year of practical instruction: MUIN 180 (3cr) MUIN 181 (3 cr) |
Music History: MUHL 186 (3 cr) if successfully completed History I, II, III and IV from a Music DEC Or MUJZ 187 (3 cr) if successfully completed Jazz History from a Music DEC |
|---|---|
|
One year of ensembles: MUEN 5XX Large Ensembles (4 cr) and MUEN 4XX Small Ensembles (2 cr) – for Bachelor of Music students in a Performance Major MUEN 5XX Ensembles (4 cr) – for Bachelor of Music students with the following majors: Music Composition, Music History, Music Studies and Music Theory |
Electives: Non-music electives (6 cr) if completed one DEC Non-music/free electives (12 cr) if completed two DECs |
Students who have completed a French or International Baccalaureate (IB)
Students who obtained a grade of 10 or higher in a French Baccalaureate in “premier groupe” in the examinations of Série L (Littéraire), Série ES (Économique et sociale) or Série S (Scientifique), or who have obtained an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, will generally begin a Bachelor of Music as a U1 student.
|
One year of practical instruction: MUIN 180 (3cr) MUIN 181 (3 cr) |
Music History: MUHL 186 (3 cr) if successfully completed Western Music History from middle ages to modern times. Or MUJZ 187 (3 cr) if successfully completed Jazz History |
|---|---|
|
One year of ensembles: MUEN 5XX Large Ensembles (4 cr) and MUEN 4XX Small Ensembles (2 cr) – for Bachelor of Music students in a Performance Major MUEN 5XX Ensembles (4 cr) – for Bachelor of Music students with the following majors: Music Composition, Music History, Music Studies and Music Theory |
Electives: Non-music electives (6 cr) for students who completed a French Baccalaureate OR Credits granted for IB Higher Level (HL) subjects passed with results of “5” or better. See McGill Prospective for IB subjects that qualify for transfer credits.
|
Students who have completed Advanced Placement (AP) exams
Students who have received more than 24 AP transfer credits will be considered a U1 student. Otherwise, you will enter a Bachelor of Music as a U0 student.
Transfer credits are granted for subjects with AP exam results of “4” or better.
See McGill Prospective for details about the type of AP transfer credits you may be eligible to receive.
Transfer Students from another university, a US college, or a music conservatory
Students who have completed a year or more at another university or music conservatory prior to McGill willenter a Bachelor of Music as a U1 student.
|
One year of practical instruction: MUIN 180 (3cr) MUIN 181 (3 cr) |
Music History*: MUHL 186 (3 cr) if successfully completed Western Music History from middle ages to modern times. Or MUJZ 187 (3 cr) if successfully completed Jazz History *Students are required to submit detail course outline(s) to adelina.lameiras [at] mcgill.ca to assess for possible transfer credits.
|
|---|---|
|
One year of ensembles: MUEN 5XX Large Ensembles (4 cr) and MUEN 4XX Small Ensembles (2 cr) – for Bachelor of Music students in a Performance Major MUEN 5XX Ensembles (4 cr) – for Bachelor of Music students with the following majors: Music Composition, Music History, Music Studies and Music Theory |
Electives*: Variable, depending on subjects. *Students are required to submit detailed course outline(s) to studentaffairs.music [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Transfer%20student) studentaffairs.music [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Transfer%20student) ( )to assess for transfer credits.
|
Licentiate in Music Students
Licentiate in Music students who have graduated from a Bachelor of Music program are generally exempt from the required history, theory and musicianship courses.
No transfer credits are given for practical instruction (MUIN courses) and ensembles (MUEN courses) for students in this program.
Transfer Credits from Exchange, Independent Study Away or Inter-University Transfer
Transfer Credits from Exchange, ISA or IUT program
Students pursuing an Exchange, Independent Study Away (ISA) [also known as Visiting Student] or Inter-University (IUT) program must verify that the courses have been approved for transfer credits before registering at the host school.
You can check the Course Equivalency Database if the course has been approved for transfer credits. If the course is not in the database, you must submit a new course equivalency request for review.
For students on an Exchange or ISA program, in addition to having the course approved for transfer credits in the Course Equivalency database, you must also complete the Course Approval and Transfer Credit Form on Minerva when submitting an Exchange/ISA application form.
Visit this website for more information about these programs.
Exchange/ISA Programs
Students must submit their official e-transcripts to McGill within 45 days follow the end date of the Exchange/ISA program.
IUT Program
The host university will transmit the final grade to McGill following their course completion. Students are not required to request the official transcripts be sent separately to McGill.
