Transfer is the movement of students between post-secondary institutions.
Transfer credit is the credit received for prior post-secondary studies.
Types of Transfer
Courses can be transferred
individually
as a block
as a program
A block of courses are courses related by subject area but not part of a specific program, e.g. Biological Sciences.
A program transfer happens when you complete a certificate or diploma program and transfer the credential into the next credential. For example, an Early Childhood Development Certificate can be transferred into Year 2 of a Child and Youth Care Diploma.
How Transfer Credit Works
Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the Receiving Institution. Transfer credit is based on course equivalency and established program agreements. If the courses match the content of the program to which the student is applying, transfer credit may be granted. Use the Online TransferAlberta Search Tool or the printed Guide to search for information on the transferability of specific courses or programs.
Certain factors may limit the transfer of an academic credit:
Residency requirement— Most institutions require you to complete a specific number of credits at their institution in order to award a degree. How many and what courses must be completed at the Receiving Institution vary from program to program.
Minimum grade requirement — You must pass a course to obtain transfer credit. Some programs and institutions may also require a minimum grade higher than the passing grade.
Room in your academic program — Courses you want to transfer must fulfill the requirements of an academic program. For example, a completed course such as SOCI 123 may be transferable, but if there is not room in the academic program for this course, it will not transfer.
When the course was taken — Some academic programs require that acquired learning be current. Therefore, they will not award credit for courses taken 5 or more years ago.
Course combination — Sometimes a combination of 2 or more courses is needed to receive transfer credit, e.g. ACCT 100(3) + ACCT 200(3) = Elective (3). In this case a student who only took ACCT 100(3) may not receive credit for Elective (3).
University Transfer Programs
University transfer programs allow you to begin a degree-level program at a college and then transfer to a university or private college with an accredited degree program to complete the degree. Colleges typically offer up to two years of university-level courses.
When transferring, you must meet all the admission requirements of the institution. This may mean having the appropriate high school courses and marks.
NOTE: Completion of the first or second year of a university transfer program does not guarantee admission to degree programs at universities or private colleges. Admission is competitive! There may be limits on the number of students admitted to the degree program.
University transfer programs are offered at 10 public colleges in Alberta:
Collaborative Bachelor of Health Sciences (Additions Counselling)
Upgrading Courses
Alberta’s colleges and technical institutes offer both academic upgrading courses accepted by these institutions for admission purposes and upgrading courses acceptable for admission to Alberta’s degree-granting institutions.
Other Transfer Agreements
There are also transfer arrangements related to the Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
Information on transferring trade qualifications between provinces and from outside of Canada is available at Apprenticeship and Industry Training's TradeSecrets site.
Online TransferAlberta Search Tool
The Online TransferAlberta Search database shows the minimum transfer credit available for prior post-secondary courses and programs upon admission to a post-secondary institution. Additional transfer credit may be negotiated on an individual basis.
Transfer agreements may be dependent on the particular program you wish to enter. Transfer credit is not necessarily reciprocal between programs at an institution. If you switch to an unrelated program, courses may not be transferable.
Each institution has its own requirements and practices for the admission of students and awarding of credit . Check the calendar and website or contact the Registrar's Office of the institution for more information.
