Before taking courses at another university, you must be approved by the Science Office for Undergraduate Student Advising (SOUSA) for an authorized Study Away activity such as Exchange, Independent Study Away, or Inter-University Transfer. Courses completed outside of an approved Study Away will not be accepted for transfer credit. 

Being approved to study away does not mean that every course you take while away will be accepted for transfer credit. Each course must also meet McGill and Faculty requirements.

SOUSA has final authority over transfer credit for B.Sc. and B.A. & Sc. students. Departments assess the academic content of courses, and program advisors can guide you on how a course may fit into your program(s). These assessments are important for planning your studies, but they do not guarantee that a course will be accepted for transfer credit.

Follow the steps below carefully to make sure you understand the requirements, have your courses assessed, and provide the information needed for SOUSA to finalize your transfer credit.

  1. Research and identify course options
  2. Review McGill and Faculty requirements
  3. Submit a course equivalency request
  4. Report your courses on the Transfer Credit Assessment Form
  5. Submit an official transcript from your host institution
  6. View your transfer credits and exemptions on your unofficial Minerva transcript

 

NOTE: For University courses completed before you began your McGill studies (i.e. pre-McGill), please refer to the Pre-McGill University Transfer Credit page.

1. Research and identify course options

You are responsible for researching the courses available at your host university and identifying suitable courses to take during your Study Away. This includes reviewing the host university's course offerings, and checking for prerequisites and enrolment restrictions for visiting/exchange students.

As part of your planning, you may wish to:

  • Consult your program advisor(s) about how certain courses might meet your program requirements.
  • Search McGill's Course Equivalency System (CES) to see whether courses at your host university have already been assessed for equivalency.
  • Identify alternative courses in case your preferred courses are unavailable, full, or restricted.

Before deciding which courses to pursue, review the McGill and Faculty requirements in Step 2 to ensure that the courses you are considering will be eligible for transfer credit.

2. Review McGill and Faculty requirements

The McGill and Faculty requirements below apply to all courses you wish to take for transfer credit and should guide your selection of courses at your host university.

Not every course offered by a recognized university is eligible for transfer credit! Reviewing the requirements below will help you choose appropriate courses and understand the conditions you must meet to receive transfer credit.

Course requirements

  1. Course must be delivered on-campus (i.e. in person) and be part of the host university’s undergraduate curriculum. See Online education policy for information regarding online courses.
  2. Course must count for credit toward a degree at the host institution. Courses taken toward a certificate/diploma or courses taken through continuing studies will typically NOT be credited unless they count toward an undergraduate degree at that institution.
  3. Course must have a syllabus that includes, at a minimum, contact hours, course objectives, readings, mode of delivery, and method of evaluation.
  4. Course must not overlap in content with a course for which credit has already been granted. (See Course requirements)
  5. Course may not exceed the maximum of credits that can be taken outside the Faculty of Arts or Science. (See Course requirements)
  6. ALL components of the method of evaluation of each course must be completed by the end of the term of study at the host university.
  7. Course must generate a final grade that can be recorded on the host university’s official transcript.

NOTE: Students must verify that they have the required prerequisite for any course they intend to take at the host university. Students should not take a course at the host university if they do not have the required academic background to succeed in the course.

Courses that are NOT accepted for transfer credit toward your degree are:

  1. Courses applied only toward certificates and/or diploma programs at the host institution (including Continuing Education courses).
  2. Language courses offered by Language Centers or Institutes not associated with a degree granting institution.
  3. Practicum ("How to") courses: e.g., dance, fashion designing, journalism, orientation, photography, fine arts, sports, web designing, culinary courses, etc.
  4. Skills-improvement courses such as “art workshop”, “civilization”, and “methodology” (“Welcome Program”).
  5. Volunteer programs.
  6. Graduate level courses.
  7. Independent Research or Reading courses.
  8. Internship courses.

Transfer credits can only be accepted from institutions that:

  1. Are accredited by a college board, or a degree granting institution. Requests to study away via intermediary study abroad organizations or companies will NOT be approved.
  2. Offer a three or four year bachelor's degree or equivalent which is similar to a McGill B.Sc. or B.A. & Sc..

NOTE: Institutions such as Community Colleges, which offer two-year associate degrees, are acceptable for transfer credits ONLY if courses were completed pre-McGill. Once admitted to McGill, all courses MUST be taken at university-level institutions to be eligible for transfer credit.

Institutional requirements

Transfer credits can only be accepted from institutions that:

  • Are accredited by a college board, or a degree granting institution. Requests to study away via intermediary study abroad organizations or companies will NOT be approved.
  • Offer a three or four year bachelor's degree or equivalent which is similar to a McGill B.Sc. or B.A. & Sc..

NOTE: Institutions such as Community Colleges, which offer two-year associate degrees, are acceptable for transfer credits ONLY if courses were completed pre-McGill. Once admitted to McGill, all courses MUST be taken at university-level institutions to be eligible for transfer credit.

Grade requirements

  • All courses must receive final grades and be passed with a grade of "C", or better, at the host university.
  • Grades of C-, Pass (P) and Satisfactory (S) are not accepted for any transfer credits towards your degree.
  • The letter grades achieved at the host university will take precedence over the corresponding numerical grades if both are provided. If the host university does not use a letter grade system, you must consult with the mary.gauthier [at] mcgill.ca (Mary Gauthier) to confirm the minimum grade required for transfer credits.

Credit load limit

Fall or Winter termMaximum of 15 transfer credits is normally granted
Full academic yearMaximum of 30 transfer credits is normally granted
Summer term

Inter-University Transfer (Quebec): Maximum of 12 transfer credits is normally granted

Independent Study Away: Maximum of 3-4 credits (1 course) will be granted

It is the host university's full course load for degree students that will determine the calculation of your transfer credits. If you complete less than the equivalent of a full course load, transfer credits will be pro-rated.

Additional requirements for language courses:

  1. Requirements for French language courses (FRSL): You must follow the requirements of French Language Centre including the post-test for any French language courses completed outside of McGill, including as part of the Explore Program.
  2. Courses taken at language centres are normally not permitted. However, if you obtain written approval from the appropriate Department Chair on the 'Transfer credit assessment form', this will be taken into consideration when assessing your record for transfer credits.
  3. A language course which is not offered at McGill is normally assessed by SOUSA as generic language transfer credits using course code 'TRNS LANG'.

2. Submit a course equivalency request

As part of the transfer credit process, the courses you take must be assessed to determine whether they are academically equivalent to McGill courses.

When should I have my courses assessed for equivalency?

Exchange or Fall/Winter Independent Study Away: You must first be approved to study away. Once approved, you can begin having the courses you are considering assessed.

Summer Independent Study Away or Inter-University Transfer: Course assessment is part of the Study Away application process. You must have your proposed courses assessed before your application can be approved.

How do I have my courses assessed for equivalency?

Course equivalencies are assessed through McGill's Course Equivalency System (CES). You can also search the CES to view courses at other institutions that have already been assessed. For step-by-step instructions on searching for courses and submitting or updating a course equivalency request, see our How to use the CES guide.

As you plan your courses, you should also plan for alternative options in case your preferred courses are full, unavailable, or not open to visiting or exchange students. We recommend having a reasonable number of backup courses assessed in addition to the courses you hope to take. As a general guide:

  • If you expect to take 5 courses while away, approximately 8–10 course options will normally provide enough flexibility.
  • If you expect to take 1 course while away, you may submit 2-3 course options.

Please limit your requests to courses you are realistically considering. Excessive requests may be cancelled, and you will be asked to narrow your choices and resubmit.

What does CES approval mean?

An approved course equivalency means that the academic content of the course has been assessed. It does not mean that:

  • you have permission to study away;
  • you are permitted to take that particular course for transfer credit; or
  • you are guaranteed to receive transfer credit after completing it.

For example, a course at another university might be assessed in CES as equivalent to COMP 208. However, if you decide to take the online section, you will not receive transfer credit for it. The academic equivalency of the course has not changed, but the course you completed is not eligible for transfer credit.

This is why Step 2 is important: before choosing your courses, make sure you understand the McGill and Faculty requirements that apply to Study Away.

If you take a course that has not been assessed in advance, it may still be assessed during or after you return. However, you take the risk that it may not be equivalent to the McGill course you expected or may not fit into your degree as you had planned.

3. Report your courses on the Transfer Credit Assessment Form (TCAF)

The TCAF is how you report your proposed Study Away courses to SOUSA. SOUSA reviews the courses in the context of your academic record and degree requirements to determine if they are eligible for transfer credit.

For example, if you submit a course on your TCAF that is equivalent to one you have already taken, SOUSA will not approve it for transfer credit because of courses overlap rules. Even if a course was approved on the CES, that does not mean it is eligible for credit toward your degree.

TCAF approval is also not a final guarantee of transfer credit. It is based on the course and information available at the time of review. You are still responsible for making sure that the course you ultimately take meets all McGill and Faculty requirements. For example, if your course is approved on the TCAF, but you then take it under the S/U or Pass/Fail option, the course will not be accepted for transfer credit. 

Final transfer credit is determined after your Study Away, once McGill receives your final official transcript and confirms that all requirements have been met.

How to use the TCAF:

1) To access the form you must already have an active study away (Exchange, ISA, IUT) application:

  • Login to Minerva (Student Menu > Student Records Menu > Exchange/Study Away Menu > View Application Status > Click on the Details).
  • At the bottom of your application, click on Course Approval and Transfer Credit Form.

2) Enter your courses. Refer to the Help Field on Minerva for instructions. Note: only courses that have already been approved in the CES can be reported on your TCAF.

3) Note that SOUSA may request a copy of the course syllabus or other course material as part of the TCAF review process - even if the course was pre-approved in the CES. It is your responsibility to obtain and retain copies of all course material and documentation received while on study away.

Departmental staff (academics and advisors) in Arts, Science and in other faculties at McGill will evaluate courses (based on content, level and method of evaluation) for approval and make recommendations for transfer credit assessment. However, SOUSA has responsibility for assessing the mode of delivery and has final authority over the granting transfer credits and the number of transfer credits given for B.Sc. and B.A. & Sc. students.

4. Submit an official transcript from the host institution

An official transcript of completed studies (including course numbers and individual final grades) must be provided to McGill’s Enrolment Services by the deadlines indicated below in order to process your transfer credit. A provisional transcript or a certificate indicating only the completion of studies will not be accepted.

NOTE: See Additional requirements for Language and Civilization courses for additional documentation needed to receive credit for these types of courses.

McGill accepts electronic final official transcripts sent through a recognized digital credential service provider or directly from the issuing institution(s).

Recognized digital credential service providers include (but are not limited to):

  • Parchment
  • Credentials Solutions
  • Bureau du cooperation interuniversitaire (BCI)
  • National Student Clearinghouse
  • Digitary
  • My eQuals
  • eScrip-safe

If it is not possible for documents to be sent via one of the service providers listed above, McGill will accept final official transcripts sent directly from the issuing institution to officialschooldocs [at] mcgill.ca (officialschooldocs[at]mcgill[dot]ca). Documents that are not required or that are determined to be unofficial will not be accepted.

Mailing Address:

Enrolment Services
3415 McTavish St.
McLennan Library Building
Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C8

5. View your transfer credits and exemptions on your unofficial Minerva transcript

Transfer credits are processed and recorded on your unofficial Minerva transcript according to the following guidelines and regulations:

  • Course exemptions and transfer credits are indicated for the term(s) in which they were taken. Courses that do not have direct McGill course equivalencies are indicated using generic or specific subject codes: e.g. BIOL 3XX (for a Biology course at the 300 level), TRNS HUMN (for a course in a Humanities subject), or TRNS LANG (for a language course not taught at McGill).
  • Courses given the following transfer credit codes can be used only as electives for your McGill Science or B.A. & Sc. degree: SUBJ 1XX; e.g. BIOL 1XX (for a course considered as "general" Biology course), TRNS GNST (General Studies), TRNS HUMN (Humanities), TRNS LANG (Language), TRNS MASC (Math and Sciences) or TRNS SOSC (Social Sciences).
  • The number of credits transferred will reflect the number of credits completed at the host university, and may differ slightly from the credit weight for the equivalent McGill course, where such an equivalent course exists. Students are advised to verify their record and meet with their departmental adviser once the transfer credits are added to the Minerva transcript.
  • The host university's full course load for degree students will determine the calculation of McGill transfer credits. If the host university has a different full course load for International students, SOUSA will use this requirement to calculate the number of transfer credits you will receive.
  • The host university's full-year course load is equivalent to 30 McGill credits; their term (Fall or Winter) course load is 15 McGill credits. Consult our list of approved host universities (to be available shortly) to determine what is considered a "full course load".
  • If less than the equivalent of a full course load is completed, credits will be calculated as follows.
    • The number of credits taken at the host university, divided by the number of credits for a full-year course load at the host university, multiplied by 30.
    • Example: 10 units completed at University A ÷ 14 units for a full-year course load at University A x 30: [10/14 x 30 = 21.4] = 21 McGill transfer credits.
    • In Europe, most universities use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to assign credit weight to courses. Credit ratio is 2 ECTS credits =1 McGill credit; so 60 ECTS credits = 30 McGill credits; 30 ECTS credits = 15 McGill credits.
  • All transfer credits will be displayed on the Minerva transcript regardless of whether the courses have been successfully completed or have been approved towards your McGill degree.
  • The grades achieved at the host university will not appear on the McGill transcript and will not be included in the McGill CGPA; however, you are expected to maintain your McGill academic standing at the host institution. If the host university grade average is not comparable to the final McGill CGPA, the designations of Distinction or Dean's Honour List may be withdrawn at graduation.
  • If your current academic standing is Unsatisfactory or Probationary, credits will only be transferred to your record once you return to Satisfactory standing.
  • Courses at a host university which you fail or from which you withdraw will appear on your McGill transcript with zero credit granted.

SOUSA Contact

All questions regarding transfer credits for B.Sc. and B.A. & Sc. students should be addressed to:

  • Bachelor of Science: mary.gauthier [at] mcgill.ca (Mary Gauthier)
  • Bachelor of Arts and Science: marina.saunders [at] mcgill.ca (Marina Saunders)