Current Students

Transfer Credits

Transfer Credit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I. Applying for Transfer Credits

• Can I find out how many Transfer Credits I can expect to receive before I confirm my Offer of Admission? Answer

  We do not pre-determine Transfer Credits prior to a student confirming their Offer of Admission into a Ryerson program.

• How do I know if I am eligible for Transfer Credit? Answer

  If you have completed courses at an accredited college with a minimum grade of 'B' (70%) or higher, or at an accredited university with a minimum grade of 'C-' (60%) or higher, you are eligible to apply for credit as long as the external courses(s) being used towards transfer credit have not been used as a Basis of Admission.

  Please note that the date you completed the course is a factor in determining the transferability of the course. If you took a course ten years ago, the content may be out-of-date now and not applicable to the current curriculum.

• When do I apply for Transfer Credits? Answer

  Undergraduate students: you can apply for Transfer Credits once you are admitted to an undergraduate program and have confirmed your offer. We strongly recommend you apply for transfer credit as soon as you have confirmed your offer in the program so that you have the results prior to enrolling in your first semester.

  Continuing Education students: you can apply for Transfer Credits once you have received confirmation of enrollment in a certificate program. We do not assess Transfer Credits prior to your enrollment in a program.

• How do I apply for Transfer Credits? Answer

  You have the option of applying online or using the paper-based Transfer Credit Application form. Complete instructions for both methods are available online at www.ryerson.ca/transfercredits.

• Is there a fee to apply for Transfer Credits? Answer

  There is no fee for applying for Transfer Credits for Continuing Education students or for newly approved undergraduate students. A $50 Transfer Credit Late Fee (subject to change) will be charged to all returning undergraduate students who apply for Transfer Credit after the April 30th Transfer Credit Application Deadline of their first year. The Late Fee can be paid at Student Records, POD-70.

• I'm a returning student applying online. How do I pay the $50 Late Application Fee? Answer

  You can submit your application. Your application will be processed and a Late Fee will be indicated in the Holds section the Student Centre on RAMSS. To have the Hold removed from your record you can pay your Transfer Credit Late Fee at Student Records (POD-70).

• Can I apply for a Transfer Credit for a course I completed at Ryerson? Answer

  No, you do not need to apply for Transfer Credit for courses taken through the Chang School of Continuing Education or from a previous Ryerson program. If you completed similar courses through a previous Ryerson program you may apply for Course Substitution.

• I switched to a new Ryerson program. Can I apply for Transfer Credits using courses taken in another Ryerson program? Answer

  No, you can only apply for Transfer Credits using post-secondary level courses taken at an institution other than Ryerson. If you took courses through your previous program that are similar to courses in you new program, you can apply for a Course Substitution using the Course Substitution/Course Directive form. More information is available online from Curriculum Advising.

• I have changed programs but I was granted Transfer Credits toward my previous Ryerson program. How do I have my Transfer Credits apply toward my new program? Answer

  You must reapply for these Transfer Credits, as you may be eligible for different credits for your new Ryerson program. Returning students are not required to pay the Late Fee if they apply for Transfer Credits within two semesters of their program transfer.

• How do I apply for a Transfer Credit for a course I completed on a Letter of Permission (LOP)? Answer

  Within 3 months of completing the course you should submit a paper-based Transfer Credit Application Form indicating the course was completed on a LOP along with your official transcript. Applications for Credits taken on a LOP will not be subject to Transfer Credit Late Fee and should not be made using the online Application.

• How can I ensure that courses taken on exchange are transferred to my Ryerson program? Answer

  Prior to the exchange, students must meet with their Ryerson program or exchange advisor to determine suitable courses at the host university. Upon completing the exchange, students must obtain an official transcript and meet with their advisor to complete the required paperwork to have the courses officially transferred toward their program.

• Who can I contact if I have more questions about Transfer Credits? Answer

  You can direct all your inquiries to tcredits@ryerson.ca or call 416-598-5959.

II. Paper-based Transfer Credit Applications

• What will I need to apply for a transfer credit? Answer

  You must provide us with officially certified transcripts with all final grades from your previous institution (if not previously submitted), a completed Transfer Credit Application form and a detailed course outline for each course that you would like to be assessed.

• If I submitted an official transcript at time of Admission, do I need to submit another copy when I apply for Transfer Credits? Answer

  No. If you already sent in an official transcript with all final grades at time of Admission, you do not need to submit another copy. Indicate on the Transfer Credit Application that the transcript is on file.

• I applied for Transfer Credits using the paper-based Transfer Credit Application form and I submitted course outlines with my application. My status on RAMSS says, "No Rule, submit course outline". Do I need to resubmit my course outlines? Answer

  If you submitted detailed course outlines with your Transfer Credit Application form, you do not need to resubmit them. If additional information is required you will receive a letter that states specifically what additional information is required.

  "No Rule, submit course outline"; means that your course is being reviewed by faculty and a final decision will be posted within six to eight weeks.

• I completed a Bachelor of Commerce at my previous university. Can I fill out one Transfer Credit Application form and indicate the entire degree for transfer credit? Answer

  No. You must fill out one Transfer Credit Application for EACH course you would like reviewed for transfer credit. If you completed 20 courses and would like to apply for Transfer Credits, you must fill out 20 separate applications.

III. Online Applications

• What institutions are available on the online application? Answer

  Accredited Ontario colleges and universities as well as select out-of-province Canadian Universities are available: Athabasca University, Concordia University, Dalhousie University, McGill University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Manitoba, University of New Brunswick and University of Victoria.

• I could not enter one of my courses from an Ontario college on self-service. How can I have this course evaluated for transfer credit? Answer

  If a course is not available in the self-service online catalogue, you can apply for a transfer credit using the paper-based Transfer Credit Application form. Make sure you submit a copy of the course outline along with the application.

• I submitted my course outlines for applications with a status of "No Rule, submit course outline" however my status on RAMSS has not changed. Do I need to resubmit my course outlines? Answer

  If you submitted detailed course outlines, you do not need to resubmit them. The status will remain as "No Rule, submit course outline" even after the outline is received and until a final decision has been made. If the course outlines are not sufficient you will receive a letter that states specifically what additional information is required.

• I’m a returning student applying online. How do I pay the $50 Late Fee? Answer

  You can submit your application online and then pay your Late Application Fee at Student Records (POD-70). You will receive a receipt that you must take to the Transfer Credit Unit located in POD-363 in order to have your online application processed. Your application will be on hold until confirmation of payment of your Late Fee is received by the Transfer Credit Unit.

IV. Processing of Transfer Credit Applications

• How long does it take to process Transfer Credits? Answer

  Transfer Credit Applications are generally processed within one to two weeks of submission however they may take longer during our peak processing time from mid-June to September.

  Applicants from Ontario schools can view the results on the Transfer Credit Report on RAMSS at this time. Courses that we do not have equivalencies for will show as "No Rule, submit course outline" and will be assessed by faculty. Results will be posted on RAMSS and may take six to eight weeks.

  Certificate students and applicants from out-of-province schools can view the results on the Transfer Credit Report on RAMSS once a final decision is made. Courses not listed on RAMSS with a final decision are in transition and/or are being evaluated by the appropriate faculty. Generally results are available within six to eight weeks.

• I applied for a transfer credit but I don’t see my course on RAMSS, should I resubmit my transfer credit application? Answer

  No, if you applied for Transfer Credits from an out-of-province school, you will only see the final decision(s) posted on RAMSS. Assume that the course is still under evaluation if you have not received a letter from our office asking for more information.

  If you applied for Transfer Credits from an Ontario school your applications will appear on RAMSS after they have been processed by the Transfer Credit Unit. This generally takes one to two weeks, however in our peak times it may take longer. If you were sent a letter requesting more information and documents were not received within six weeks, the course has been removed from your Transfer Credit Report. To have the course evaluated for credit, submit the missing information as soon as possible. You are not required to resubmit your application.

V. Incomplete Documentation

• I received a letter informing me that my application is incomplete. Do I need to submit my entire application again with the required documents? Answer

  No. Submit the missing documentation to Student Records (POD-70) as soon as possible. Your application will be on hold until the required documents are received. When submitting the information, ensure you attach a copy of the letter you received on top of the documents.

  You have one year from the submission of an incomplete application to submit the missing information. If it is not submitted within this time, your application and all supporting documents will be destroyed.

• What if I can’t provide you with a detailed course outline? Answer

  We cannot determine if a course is equivalent to one of our courses if we do not have the appropriate information.

  All North American colleges and universities generally have their course outlines on their website. If it is not available online, you can contact the school directly to request the information. Current course outlines will be accepted as long as the course title or course code has not changed. Transfer credits are not granted on the basis of a Statutory Declaration or Affidavit submitted in lieu of officially certified transcripts or descriptions.

• I cannot get a course outline from the year I took the course but I am able to get the current version. Is the current version acceptable? Answer

  The current version of the course outline will be accepted as long as the course code has not changed. In the case that the course code has changed, the current version of the course outline will only be accepted with an official letter from the institution confirming the course outline with the new course code is equivalent to the old version of the course.

• On my Transfer Credit Report on RAMSS the applications with a status of "No Rule, submit course outline" have been removed. Why is this? Answer

  Students have 6 weeks from time of application to submit course outlines. If course outlines are not received within this time period, the applications are removed from the Transfer Credit Report.

  Students have 1 year from the date of the initial application to submit course outlines for evaluation. Course outlines should be labeled with your name and Student ID and submitted to Student Records (POD-70), or mailed to the Transfer Credit Unit, POD-363. Applications for which suitable course outlines are not received within 1 year will be cancelled. To pursue credits for cancelled applications you will be required to reapply and will be subject to applicable late fees.

• When I submit course outlines for applications with a status of "No Rule, submit course outline" do I need to attach a Transfer Credit Application Form? Answer

  You are not required to attach a Transfer Credit Application Form to your course outlines. Make sure that you label your name and Student ID on the course outlines and note that they are to accompany your No Rule Applications.

• Can I fax or email my course outlines? Answer

  We do not accept course outlines for Transfer Credits via email or fax. Course outlines should be printed and dropped off to Enrollment Services and Student Services, POD-70 or mailed to the Transfer Credit Unit, POD-363. Make sure that you reference your name and Student ID on all submitted material.

• My course outlines are not in English. Can I translate the outlines myself? Answer

  You can translate the course outlines yourself only if the original document is in French. If the original course outlines are not in English or French, a certified translation of the course outline is required.

• I’m from an international school where course outlines are not available. Can faculty take this into consideration and still evaluate my Transfer Credits? Answer

  No. Detailed course outlines are mandatory to evaluate Transfer Credits. We recommend that you contact your previous school and request the outlines. If they are still unavailable, we will accept an official letter from the school outlining what was covered in the course.

VI. Effect on Program Requirements and Course Selection

• How many credits can I apply toward my Ryerson program? Answer

  You can apply for as many Transfer Credits as you have external courses, however as per Ryerson’s Residency Requirement a maximum of 50 percent of your curriculum requirements can include Basis of Admission credit (applicable to Direct-Entry students), Transfer Credits, Challenge Credits and credits granted on a Letter of Permission.

• I applied for Transfer Credits and received more Transfer Credits than I am eligible for, all of which apply to my program. How do I choose which Transfer Credits are used? Answer

  You do not have the option to choose which credits get used toward your program. If you are granted more Transfer Credits than you are allowed, your Transfer Credits will be applied to fulfill your program requirements in the following order: reachbacks, required courses, professional courses, professionally related courses. You can confirm which courses are being used toward your program by running an Advisement Report on RAMSS or by contacting Curriculum Advising.

• What do I do if I am granted Transfer Credits for courses that are not applicable to my program? Answer

  You may be granted Transfer Credits for courses that are not applicable to your program. If this occurs, you can apply to have this course directed to your program or substituted for another course by applying for a Course Substitution/Course Directive available online. This form must be approved by your program department and submitted to Curriculum Advising (by dropping the form off at Student Records, POD-70) for final approval.

• What do I do if I want to remove a transfer credit from my record? Answer

  You must submit a written request to the Transfer Credit Unit to have the transfer credit removed from your academic record. Your letter must include your student ID, full name, the credit you would like removed, and a brief explanation why. Email your request to tcredits@ryerson.ca or drop your letter off at Student Records, POD-70.

• What if I am enrolled in a course that I believe I will receive a Transfer Credit for, but I do not have the results of the application in time for the start of classes? Should I go ahead and drop the course? Answer

  You must never assume that a transfer credit will be granted. You should enroll in and attend all of the courses you are required to take. When you receive the results of your transfer credit applications you can drop and/or add courses to adjust your schedule.

  The Significant Dates section of the current Undergraduate or Continuing Education Calendar will confirm the final date to drop a course(s) and still receive a full refund, as well as the final date to drop a course(s) and remain in good academic standing.

• What do I do if I am granted Transfer Credits after I have enrolled in a course? Answer

  If you are granted a transfer credit for a course that you have already enrolled in, you must drop that course or its equivalent course(s) immediately prior to the official ‘drop’ date. If you do not drop the course, you will receive an ‘F’ grade in that course, which will be included in your grade point average. You can add course(s) to fill your timetable if the deadline to add courses has not passed.

• How will Transfer Credits be recorded on my transcript? Answer

  A Transfer Credit will be recorded on your record as 'CRT' (credit) and it will not be calculated in your Grade Point Average. For undergraduate students, a Transfer Credit may also be recorded on your official record as text if the course/discipline you received Transfer Credit for is one that is not offered at Ryerson. For example: "06-15-08 One Professionally-Related Transfer Credit using ABC 100."

• How will Transfer Credits affect my Grade Point Average (GPA)? Answer

  A transfer credit is recorded on your record as a ‘CRT’ and will NOT be calculated in your GPA.

VII. Transfer Credit Results

• How will I know what the final decisions are? Answer

  Transfer Credit decisions are available on RAMSS via the Transfer Credit Report once they have been determined. Keep checking RAMSS as decisions are updated on a daily basis. New students will be able to view their Transfer Credit status in mid-August.

• My credit says 'Posted', what does that mean? Answer

  'Posted' means that the transfer credit(s) has been granted and posted to your academic record.

• What do I do if I am not granted Transfer Credits? Answer

  Generally Transfer Credit decisions cannot be appealed. However, denials can be appealed only if additional supporting documentation can be provided. Appeals must be made in writing addressed to the Transfer Credit Unit and must include details outlining the reasons for the appeal. The appeal must be based on course content and not on personal/opinion issues. Drop your letter off at Student Records (POD-70).

  A student has one year from when the original denial is posted on RAMSS to appeal the decision. Normally students cannot appeal a denied decision that was based on accreditation of the external institution, or if the minimum grade has not been met.

• I completed a two semester course but was only granted one credit. Should this not be equivalent to 2 credits? Answer

  A full-year course is eligible for 2 credits however 1 credit may be granted if the course content only covers the subject matter of 1 Ryerson course. If you feel that something was overlooked by the evaluator you may have the Application reconsidered by submitting a formal Transfer Credit Appeal.

• My friend received a transfer credit using the same course as me whereas I was rejected. Am I entitled to get the credit? Answer

  Transfer credit equivalencies may change therefore the current rule that exists supercedes any past credit decisions. However if your friend was approved the credit in the same term and year and you were denied, your friend may email tcredits@ryerson.ca and provide their student ID and information. A member of our Unit will look into the discrepancy and may have the course re-evaluated.

• Are there special rules about Liberal Studies Transfer Credits? Answer

  For a Lower Level Liberal Studies transfer credit, an essay or written out-of-class assignment(s) totaling 1,200–1,500 words is required. For an Upper Level Liberal Studies transfer credit, an essay or written out-of-class assignment(s) totaling 1,500–2,000 words is required. The writing component should be worth at least 25% of the final grade. Note: First and second year university courses will only be considered for lower level liberal studies credits even if the course has met the upper level liberal studies writing requirements. A university course will be considered for an upper level liberal studies credit if in addition to the meeting the writing requirement, the course is at the third or fourth year level. Transfer credit will not be granted for liberal studies credits using introductory level courses from college. Upper level liberal studies credits will not be granted using courses from college.

  The courses must also be deemed to provide breadth to your studies by developing the capacity to understand and appraise the social and cultural context in which graduates live as educated citizens.

  Please note that Liberal Studies courses similar to your program may not be eligible to apply toward your program requirements. For a list of program restricted Liberal Studies courses refer to the current Undergraduate or Continuing Education Calendar.

VIII. Terminology

• What is a GEN credit (e.g., SOC GEN)? Answer

  GEN refers to a 'generic credit' and is normally granted to undergraduate student when the external course is not equivalent to a specific course but the course otherwise meets the transfer requirements.

  Generic credits may be applied towards graduation requirements subject to your program department’s approval. If approval has been pre-authorized by the teaching department, generic courses will automatically be assigned to degree requirements and will be reflected on your Advisement Report. If prior authorization has not been given, generic courses will fall into 'Non-Applicable Courses and Credits' section'.

  To have these courses applied towards your degree, you must complete a Course Directive Form, available online and have your program department authorize the use of the generic course(s) and/or have it applied to your Liberal Studies requirements.

• What is a PRE GEN credit? Answer

  PRE GEN is a Professionally-Related Generic Transfer Credit. These Credits are generally granted for subject areas not listed in a program�s Professionally-Related Table or for subjects not offered at Ryerson.

  To determine if PRE GEN credits apply toward your program's graduation requirements you should run an Advisement Report. (Part-time students can request a Manual Advisement Report.) If approval has been pre-authorized by your program department, PRE GEN credits will automatically be assigned to degree requirements and will be reflected on your Advisement Report. If prior authorization has not been given, generic credits will fall into 'Non-Applicable Courses and Credits' section of the Report. To have these courses applied towards your degree, you must have your program department approve a Course Directive.

• I received Transfer Credits for SOC ULS and GEN LLS. Which credits did I get? Answer

  A credit that ends in LLS or ULS refers to either a Lower Level Liberal Studies or an Upper Level Liberal Studies credit. The first three characters indicate the subject area. For example: SOC ULS is an Upper Level Liberal Studies in Sociology, and GEN LLS is a Lower Level Liberal Studies in no specific discipline.

• What is a Letter of Permission? Answer

  If you are a Ryerson student and you want to take a course at another accredited post-secondary institution for credit towards your Ryerson program, a Letter of Permission will confirm that you will receive a transfer credit for the course upon its completion with an acceptable grade.

  You can apply for a Letter of Permission through Curriculum Advising using the Letter of Permission application form. Once you have successfully completed the course, fill out a Transfer Credit Application form, indicate that the course was taken on a Letter of Permission and attach the final official transcript. Curriculum Advising provides additional information.

• What is a Challenge Credit? Answer

  A Challenge Credit is academic credit for skills and knowledge gained outside the traditional post-secondary environment. Usually this is gained through work experience. Forms are available at the Office of Enrollment Services and Student Records or from Curriculum Advising. Curriculum Advising provides additional information.

• What is Advanced Standing? Answer

  Advanced Standing means you have been admitted to a level higher than first semester or to a part-time degree completion program. All or some of your post-secondary studies will have been used as block credit, rather than individual transfer credit. These courses will be recorded on your academic record as transfer credit(s). Studies used to grant these Transfer Credits will be specified in your Basis of Admission. Only those courses not identified in your Basis of Admission may be used to apply for further transfer credit.