When students switch schools or colleges, they may request a transfer of credits. This process involves moving their earned credits from their previous institution to the new one. It's commonly known as credit transfer or credit equivalence and happens for various reasons. For instance, in many countries, including the MENA region, non-traditional education may not be directly accepted. In such cases, credits need to be transferred or equalized according to the country’s education standards. We, at US Board of Education, fully support non-traditional universities in this regard.
Moreover, students pursuing different academic programs, which may include practical credit hours and research papers, may need to transfer their credits. This transfer is facilitated by the US Board of Education to traditional universities. Here, they can continue their practical credit hours based on their degree program's requirements, whether in engineering, medicine, or management.
Some students work full-time while attending university. If their job requires them to move to a different country or location within the United States, they may need to transfer their credits. This sometimes means stopping their studies midway through a course. Additionally, students may opt to complete corporate university courses. These courses are reviewed by the US Board of Education to ensure they meet educational standards.
Distance learning and online courses have become increasingly popular, leading to a rise in the use of university credit transfer processes. These courses allow students to learn at their own pace from anywhere. However, some online education providers may not meet regional standards. Our education board steps in to help by facilitating credit transfers to state-listed universities. This affects how college’s view transferred credits earned from online courses, often due to accreditation concerns.
Between 10% to 15% of students aim to condense their 4-year programs into 2 years, while 30% to 40% extend their 2-year programs to 4 years through the credit transfer process. This flexibility allows students to align their education with their professional and personal goals.
If you opt to switch your major to one that your current university doesn't offer, credit transfer becomes a top choice. For instance,
if you're studying engineering but want to switch to management and your current institution doesn't provide the necessary courses or options.
Should you need to discontinue your international education for any reason and plan to enroll in a local institution instead, you can apply for a credit transfer.
Many students face financial challenges during their international education journey, often due to high fees. In such cases, applying for credit transfer to switch to
an institution that fits within their budget becomes a viable option to complete their program.
Students are increasingly exploring self-paced, online learning courses available across numerous universities on the internet. While these open courses offer
flexibility in studying at one's own pace, they may lack the support services found in traditional or paid online courses. Nonetheless, these courses are evaluated,
and the learning is recognized as transfer credit. Should students wish to revert to a traditional status for reasons concerning acceptance or value,
transferring back is made seamless by submitting transcripts and related documents to an accredited university.
Students enrolled in non-traditional or distance learning programs may seek credit transfer to transition to a traditional campus-based university for various reasons,
including fulfilling practical credit hour requirements, defending theses and research, enhancing education, or pursuing international opportunities.
Such transfers can seamlessly occur within the same or different states under the oversight of the relevant State Division.
Please note: The US Board of Education is responsible for ensuring that all required standards and protocols are met for credit transfers. However, the cost of credit transfers may vary based on factors such as program type, major, reason for transfer, or equivalence required. Transfers may involve traditional methods (such as physical travel) or non-traditional methods (such as registering for practical credit hours or participating in fellowships/internships for research). It's important to clarify that all credit transfers are executed in accordance with the accreditation status of the US Board of Education, rather than any affiliations or partnerships between universities. All student cohorts are officially registered and confirmed by the US Board of Education. Any external or transfer processes must receive approval from the US Board of Education before being initiated.
