The University reserves the right to grant or withhold transfer credit.
The maximum number of transfer credits that can be granted by the Faculty of Arts is:
- 10.0 academic course units for a four-year degree;
- 7.5 academic course units for a three-year degree.
This total includes:
- all and any credit given at the point of admission, readmission, or readmission with cleared averages.
- any academic course units completed by Letter of Permission.
- courses taken via cross-registration at Wilfrid Laurier University. Note: University of Waterloo disciplines that offer courses and/or majors jointly with Wilfrid Laurier University may be exempt from the transfer credit maxima.
- University of Waterloo courses taken on a credit/no credit (CR/NCR) basis.
See calculation of plan average(s) below for further details. The Faculty of Arts does not allow Challenge for Credit.
Admission from Another University of Waterloo Faculty
Students transferring from another faculty should consult with the Arts Undergraduate Office (AUO) and must meet admission requirements, including the English language requirements.
Transfer credit for students admitted to Arts from other faculties within the University of Waterloo will be assessed by the Arts Admissions Committee in accordance with the student's academic record at the point of admission. Either:
- all Waterloo courses with a grade of 50% or higher will be treated as transfer credit, up to the appropriate maximum, in which case the grades attained in these courses will not be used in the student's averages (that is, the grades will be "cleared"); or
- all pertinent attempted courses (passed and failed) will be applied directly, and are therefore not considered transfer credit, in which case the grades attained in these courses will be used in the student's averages.
For students transferring in to the Faculty of Arts with more than two successfully completed work terms, eligibility to pursue co-op in the Faculty of Arts will be determined by the admitting program.
Admission from Another University
Upon admission to the Arts Faculty, a student from another university may be granted transfer credits for external university courses related to a University of Waterloo Arts degree in which a grade of 60% or better was obtained. Transferred courses will count toward the University of Waterloo degree; however, grades obtained in these courses will not be included in the calculation of the student's University of Waterloo averages.
Students who have been granted more than four academic course units (eight courses) in transfer credits are normally not admissible to co-operative programs.
Admission from Other Accredited Post-Secondary Institutions
Transfer credits may be considered on a case-by-case basis. For further details, see Applicants from College or University in the Admissions section of this Calendar.
Admission from Other Education Systems or Countries
For further details, see the international admission requirements listed in the Admissions section of this Calendar.
International Exchange Programs
Courses offered through a department- and Faculty-approved international exchange program (e.g., Paris [French Studies], Waterloo in Germany [Germanic and Slavic Studies]) are treated as University of Waterloo courses and are not subject to transfer credit maxima, except that:
- such courses will normally receive a credit/no credit (CR/NCR) grade (as opposed to a numerical or alpha grade);
- students who have already reached the transfer credit maximum will only be allowed to receive credit for an additional five academic course units (to be treated as University of Waterloo academic course units) taken through such a departmental international exchange.
Courses taken through international exchange programs other than programs which have been approved at the departmental and faculty levels are treated as transfer credits, not as University of Waterloo courses. Students should consult with their academic advisors for further information on international exchanges and transfer credits.
Admission to a Second Bachelor Degree
See Second Bachelor Degrees for further details.
Readmission to an Arts Program After a Failed Academic Standing in Arts
Students must complete an Application for Undergraduate Readmission to be readmitted after a failed academic standing. All University of Waterloo courses with a grade of 50% or higher will be treated as transfer credit, up to the appropriate maximum, in which case the grades attained in these courses will not be used in the student's averages (that is, the grades will be "cleared").
Calculation of Plan Average(s)
Courses used to fulfil the Residency Requirement must be graded on a numerical basis (and have received a passing grade), be in the average, and include:
- at least half the total number of academic course units required for each degree, major, minor, or diploma;
- at least 6.5 academic course units (13 courses) in Arts subjects for a Four-Year Liberal Studies degree;
- at least four academic course units (eight courses) in Arts subjects for a Three-Year Liberal Studies degree.