Any course taken at the University of Waterloo for which credit is granted, but where the grade is not included in the student's cumulative major and overall averages, will be considered an internal transfer credit. Students are encouraged to meet with their undergraduate advisor for further guidance on what constitutes an internal transfer credit.
Any course taken at an accredited post-secondary institution, except Wilfrid Laurier University (see Courses, Enrolment, and Grades section of this Calendar), will be considered for external transfer credit and, if approved, may be counted towards degree requirements. External transfer credits can be acquired through studies completed prior to admission to the University of Waterloo, through a University of Waterloo approved international exchange agreement, or through courses taken on Letter of Permission (see information below). External transfer credits are not included in the student's cumulative major and overall averages.
For courses to be considered for external transfer credit, a grade of 60% or better is normally required.
For maximum number of transfer credits allowed, see below (Minimum Course Requirement for Calculation of Plan Averages).
Letter of Permission
Students may apply to take a course(s) at other accredited post-secondary institutions for credit towards a Waterloo degree by Letter of Permission. A Letter of Permission Application will only be approved for students who have successfully completed a minimum of four University of Waterloo courses and who are in satisfactory standing; that is, they have satisfied the minimum cumulative average requirements for their current plan.
A Letter of Permission Application must be approved by the student's undergraduate academic advisor prior to enrolling at the host institution and is subject to departmental regulations.
Courses taken on a Letter of Permission must meet the grade requirement for external transfer credits as noted above.
External Transfer Students
A student applying for admission to the Faculty of Environment who has already completed courses at an accredited post-secondary institution will automatically have their transcripts assessed for external transfer credit allowances.
For information on Laurier courses see the Environment Courses, Enrolment, and Grades section of this Calendar.
Unless otherwise stated in the Diploma rules, external transfer credits normally cannot be used to satisfy Faculty of Environment Diploma requirements or the English Language Communication Requirement.
Internal Transfer Students
A student transferring to a Faculty of Environment plan from within the University, or former University of Waterloo students returning after an absence, will have their previous Waterloo courses assessed for internal transfer credit. If it is determined to be in the student’s best interest, their prior University of Waterloo record will be cleared; all courses will remain on the student’s academic record, but the grades achieved will not be included in the calculation of cumulative averages. Cleared courses with a grade of 50% or better will contribute to the total credits required.
Inter-Faculty Transfer of Co-op Credits
Information pertaining to the transfer of work-term credits can be found on the Co-operative Education website.
Minimum Course Requirement for Calculation of Plan Averages
Transfer credits, whether internal or external, are not used in plan cumulative major and overall average calculations. Each academic plan requires a minimum number of courses which must be included in the calculation of the cumulative overall and major averages:
- Bachelor of Environmental Studies Honours: 10.0 units, of which 5.0 units must qualify for inclusion in the calculation of the cumulative major average.
- Bachelor of Knowledge Integration: 10.5 units, of which 5.5 units must qualify for inclusion in the calculation of the cumulative major average.
- Bachelor of Environmental Studies Three-Year General: 7.5 units, of which 3.0 units must qualify for inclusion in the calculation of the cumulative major average.
These requirements may affect the total number of transfer credits assigned.
Students are advised to refer to their academic plan sections in this Calendar, or contact their academic advisors, for degree and cumulative major and overall average requirements for their plan or intended plan.
Notes
- The School of Planning may grant a maximum of 5.0 units at time of admission from an external accredited post-secondary institution.
- Geography and Aviation maximum transfer credit allowance includes flight training requirements.