Transfer Credit Policies

In applying transfer credit policies, the intent is to give full recognition for appropriate post-secondary work completed at accredited institutions. In some cases this may mean combining courses that are worth less than 3 semesters. Courses completed in a quarter system will be converted to semester hours using the conversion of 5 quarter hours = 3 semester hours. Normally no first or second year course will be granted upper level TWU credit. In cases where a similar course has been completed, the student may receive general credit and may not take the upper level TWU course for credit or may receive a waiver from taking that course. All TWU graduates must have taken at least half of their upper level major, concentration or minor requirements at Trinity Western University.

Using the B.C. Transfer Guide

The B.C. Transfer Guide is the record of all formal transfer agreements between B.C. post-secondary institutions. It includes the listings of course-for-course transfer equivalencies between community colleges and universities/university- colleges. The courses included are at the first or second year level. It does not include courses that are third and fourth year level. It also does not include courses that are taken outside of B.C. and the transfer details for university-to-university transfer.

If Courses Do Not Transfer

Courses may not transfer to an institution or program for a variety of reasons. For one, the course(s) taken may not be at the same level as the ones in the program being transferred into. Or, you may have taken only one course where a two-course combination was needed. Or the same course was taken at two different institutions. Or the course was not passed with the acceptable grade required. Or, after transferring, a course was taken at another institution but no approval was given. (See Letter of Permission section). Or finally, the course was taken in B.C. but is listed in the Transfer Guide with a dash. This means that the course has not been evaluated.

Unassigned Credit

When an institution gives unassigned credit, it usually means that exact course taken is not offered at this institution and so a course equivalency cannot be assigned. Unassigned credit is still course credit and can either be used as elective credit or it may be able to fulfill a program requirement.

Applying Transfer Credit

After the institution has processed your application, they will let you know what your transfer credits are. The next step is to see where those transfer credits fit into your program.

The Importance of a Letter of Permission

Once you have been accepted as a student at a university, your status changes. The university considers you to be one of its own students, and you have to get permission to take courses anywhere else. Not realizing this, some students continue to take courses at the college they attended before transferring. They are taken aback when they are denied credit for these courses.

In order to receive credit for courses taken at other institutions you must obtain a signed Letter of Permission (LOP) beforehand, authorizing you to take the course. However, permission is not always granted, and there is usually a grade requirement (a C at TWU) for the courses. Letter of Permission forms are available at the Enrolment Services office.