Course Credit at UVic

The actual credit you receive for your courses while overseas will be determined after you return from the exchange and your transcripts/course outlines can be reviewed and evaluated by the relevant departments. However, you can take some steps before you go to estimate the amount of credit you will receive. Here are some ideas.

Before you apply

Review your present academic standing to determine what courses you need. It is a good idea to check with your academic advisor to review your program.

Take a look at the courses offered at your first choice university to see if any match your needs. It is often more difficult to get exchange credit for specific third or fourth year courses because programs diverge more as they proceed, although a first or second year Sociology course is probably much the same in most countries. To get maximum transfer credit, choose courses to fulfill UVic requirements in this order, from easiest to most difficult:

1. Electives
2. 100 or 200 level
3. 300 or 400 level
4. Specific upper level courses needed to meet degree requirements.

If a course is similar to one for which you have already received credit at UVic, credit will not be issued again. The course would be recognized as a duplicate.

Up-to-date transfer credit history listings have been uploaded for each of UVic's Partner Universities. If the university you are interested in does not have a transfer credit history listing online, your IESS advisor may be able to obtain one for you or provide further advice. Note that this is a guide only, and not a guarantee that your courses would be evaluated in the same way.

You do not need to declare your major before going on exchange. However, Academic Advising recommends you choose a major area at the beginning of your third year. You simply go to your advising centre and tell them that you wish to declare your program. This means telling them the subject areas and level of study (honours, major, minor, etc.) in which you want to graduate.

After Acceptance

Review these courses with the appropriate academic department to determine course suitability for UVic credit. Exchange credit is determined by the academic department that offers instruction in the subject at UVic. A Chemistry course at an Australian university, for example, will be evaluated by the UVic Chemistry Department, even if the course is being taken to meet a Biology or Education degree requirement.

Request preliminary evaluations for two or three more courses than you plan to take. This will give you some flexibility during registration at your overseas university. You can receive preliminary evaluations from the appropriate department by contacting your departmental advisor.

Be prepared to be flexible with your course selections because you will be working with different university systems, and what you want may not be offered or classes may be full.

Tip:  Choosing courses as electives gives you the greatest flexibility, more selection, and greater chance of receiving transfer credit.

You can also take steps to help the transfer of credit while you are overseas. Refer to While You are Abroad for detailed steps you should consider.

Credit will be transferred to your UVic record, but the grades will not. Your grades will be recorded as COM (for Completed), or F (for Fail). This means your overseas experience does not affect your grade point average, with the exception of failing grades. A failing grade will be noted on your transcript and be calculated into your grade point average.

Note:  Timetable clashes, course cancellations, faculty illnesses and many other unpredictable and uncontrollable circumstances at our host institutions make it impossible to predict with certainty the transfer credit that will eventually be awarded. Therefore, transfer credit cannot be guaranteed.