Transfer Guide To Applying To Brown: Transfer Credit


Although the formal granting of transfer credit can only take place after a student has enrolled at Brown, the University will provide a “Transfer Credit Estimate” to students who have been accepted for transfer admission. This estimate is based on the most current transcript available to the Admission Office at the time of evaluation, and should not be interpreted as final or binding in any way. Students who decide to matriculate at Brown should bring with them fully up-to-date transcripts of their previous work, a completed Transfer Credit Worksheet (provided in the mail with the matriculation materials), and a course catalog from their previous institution.

The following guidelines are used in determining transfer credit:

Most courses taken at accredited, degree-granting institutions, in standard disciplines of the arts and sciences, are eligible for Brown transfer credit. Courses in professional or career-oriented programs (e.g., schools of business, nursing, forestry) are generally not acceptable for transfer credit.

To be transferrable, a course must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. (A PASS/FAIL grade is acceptable if it is clear that “Pass” is equivalent to at least a “C” grade at that institution.)

There is a faculty rule prohibiting transfer credit for summer school courses. However, courses taken in the summer that are offered in a regular year-round trimester or quarter system do not fall under this restriction, and follow the standard eligibility rules for transfer credit. Summer trimesters or quarters in a year-round system must be equal in duration to the other terms of the academic year.

Academic requirements and tuition requirements for the baccalaureate degree at Brown are based on the norm of 32 courses, four courses in each of eight semesters. The minimum academic and tuition requirement is eight full-time semesters, or the equivalent as determined by transfer credits. Transfers must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 15 courses at Brown and spend at least four semesters in residence.

To determine equivalent semester course credits at Brown, the credit system of the other institutions must be converted to Brown’s credit system; it is not simply a course-for-course arrangement. Brown courses are the equivalent of fours semester hours or six quarter hours. If you take a course that carries less than these amounts, it may be combined with other courses to equal one Brown course.

Class standing (freshman, sophomore, etc.) is determined by the number of semesters of advanced standing gained through transfer credit and/or Advanced Placement (AP) credits. Students who are granted Brown course credits for work completed at another college or university prior to enrollment at Brown, or for Advanced Placement results, will be granted advanced standing and tuition credit according to the following schedule:

 

Brown Semester Course Credits Advanced Standing and Tuition Credit
3 – 6 1 semester
7 – 10 2 semesters
11-14 3 semesters
15 4 semesters



The maximum allowable number of transfer credits is 15, and students applying transfer credits toward completion of the requirements for their Brown baccalaureate degree must complete successfully at least 15 courses and four full-time semesters of course work at Brown. Course taken at more than one institution before matriculation at Brown may be combined to determine tuition and academic credit; however, courses taken before matriculation at Brown may not be combined with courses taken after matriculation to determine advanced standing or tuition credit.

Study away from Brown, including foreign study, will not be considered as part of the two-year residency.

The number and selection of transfer credits applied to a student’s concentration are through negotiation with and at the discretion of the academic department concerned. Questions concerning the application of your present courses toward the Brown concentration may be addressed to the appropriate department prior to filing a transfer application.