Transfer Credit Policy

Transfer credit refers to the course equivalencies granted towards a program of study based on acceptable academic degree or diploma level course work from an accredited post-secondary institution. Advanced standing and transfer credit may also be granted for some standardized advanced secondary school programs (see Admissions from Secondary Institutions in the Academic Calendar for details)

Trent University subscribes to the Council of Ontario Universities’ policy on the transfer of course credit and supports the intent of the Pan Canadian Protocol on the Transferability of University Credits.

Transfer Credit Policy

Requests for reassessment of transfer credits must be received by the Office of the Registrar in writing before the end of the first academic year of study in which the student is admitted. Students can normally expect a response from the Office of the Registrar within 10 working days from the date the reassessment is submitted.

Trent University does not grant PLAR credits. Credits granted by another institution on the basis of PLAR are not transferable to Trent University.

1. Courses from accredited universities are considered for transfer credit when successfully completed with a grade of 60% or higher. Courses from accredited colleges and institutions of technology may be considered for transfer credit when completed with a grade of 70% or higher.
2. A grade of “P” (pass) is assigned to all transfer credits.
3. Transfer credit is designated in three different ways:
   • Assigned credit is used when there is a Trent University equivalent.
   • Unassigned credit in a subject area is used for courses without Trent University equivalents, but which are acceptable to a department as fulfilling subject requirements toward a degree in that department. Individual departments may restrict the number of unassigned credits that may be counted toward a degree in that department.
   • General elective credit is used for courses which are judged to be transferable but do not fulfill specific departmental requirements. General elective credits are expressed in terms of arts elective or science elective courses.

   Advanced Standing is placement to a certain level in a subject area granted to students on admission. The department concerned examines the applicant’s previous work or asks him/her to take a placement test, and then places the applicant at a certain level in the sequence of courses in the department. Prerequisite status in a department means that the Trent prerequisite for a course will be waived to enable the student to go on to more advanced work in that discipline.

4. The total number of non-Trent credits (either transfer credits or credits taken on Letter of Permission) may not exceed 10.0 for an honours degree and 7.5 for a general degree. Specific degree requirements may mean that not all transfer credits awarded are applicable to a degree program.
5. If a student transfers to a different degree program, the transfer credits assigned on admission may not all apply to the new degree program. It is the student's responsibility to discuss his or her academic program requirements with an academic advisor and to notify the Registrar's Office of any program changes.
6. Changes to Transfer Credits: Transfer credits are determined in accordance with the policies and regulations effective at the time the admission decision is made. Subsequent changes to policies and regulations will not affect a previously determined transfer credit assessment. Normally, once transfer credits have been awarded and applied to a student’s Trent academic record, they cannot be removed from that record.
7. Assignment of transfer credits for courses completed more than 10 years ago will be considered on an individual basis.
8. In cases where the grading scheme for a university or community college differs from Trent University’s grading scheme, and a relevant grade translation is not provided with the official transcript, grades will be translated into the equivalent Trent University grades. Eligibility for admission and transfer credit will be assessed on the translated grades.
9. Trent does not grant Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits. Credits granted by another institution on the basis of PLAR are not transferable to Trent University.
10. Trent University reserves the right to assign or not to assign transfer credit in any situation.

Transfer Credit Eligibility, by Jurisdiction

Canadian Universities

All university level credit courses that have been completed at an accredited Canadian university, that are academic in content and in which a minimum grade of 60% has been achieved will be recognized for credit at Trent University.

Canadian Community Colleges and Colleges of Applied Arts & Technology in Ontario

Applicants who have completed at least one year (two terms) in a Canadian community college or an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology with a cumulative average of 65% will be considered for admission to Trent University and, if admissible will be eligible for transfer credit consideration, as follows:

1. Trent University has over 60 Articulation Agreements and MOUs which outline specific required grades, transfer credits to be awarded and degree completion requirements. The terms of an Articulation Agreement may supersede general transfer credit policy.
2. Outside of an Articulation Agreement, individual courses and programs which are academic in nature will be considered for transfer credit. A minimum 70% average is required in any community college course to be considered for course-by-course transfer credit assessment.
3. As a general guide, graduates of a two year highly academic college program can expect to receive up to 5.0 transfer credits. Graduates of a three year highly academic program can expect to receive up to 7.5 credits.

Applicants who have completed less than one year of community college will be assessed for transfer credit eligibility on an individual basis.

Religious Institutions

Students who have completed courses at an institution accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) may be granted transfer credit for academic courses that have content related to courses offered at Trent, and in which a minimum grade of 70% has been attained.

CEGEP

Students who have successfully completed CEGEP courses may be eligible for transfer credit for academic courses in which a minimum grade of 70% has been attained, up to a maximum of 2.5 credits for 1-year of CEGEP and up to a maximum of 5.0 credits for 2-years of CEGEP.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Advanced standing and transfer credit will be granted for higher level subjects passed with a grade of five (5) or higher. The maximum credit that will be awarded from an IB Diploma is 5.0 credits (one year of full-time study). 

Advanced Placement (AP) Program

All applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses from the College Board are required to submit their examination results for evaluation. Advanced standing or transfer credit will be granted for most Advanced Placement courses with examination grades of four (4) or better, to a maximum of 5.0 credits (one full year of study). 

Private or Career Colleges

Although many private/career colleges are registered with the Ministry of Education, most offer specific applied (non-academic) career training. Trent University does not grant transfer credit for programs completed at private/career colleges.

Universities and Colleges outside of Canada

For students admitted to Trent University from an accredited university degree, college diploma or associate degree program outside of Canada, a maximum of 10.0 transfer credits (the equivalent of two years of full-time study) may be granted depending on course content and grades. Students transferring to Trent from institutions outside of Canada are encouraged to submit detailed course descriptions or a calendar of the institution at which they studied. Transfer credits are not granted for postgraduate certificate programs.