If you’re granted transfer credit, you’ll still need to meet all the program requirements for the degree you’re pursuing at Brandon University. The maximum number of transfer credit hours allowed for 3-year, 4-year, and 5-year degrees is outlined in the appropriate section of the Academic Calendar for your program. Please note that not all transferred courses may apply to your specific degree requirements.

Departments also reserve the right to decline transfer credit if the coursework is considered outdated, also referred to as stale-dated.

Types of Transfer Credit

After reviewing your transfer credit request and the supporting course information, the academic department and/or Dean may make one of the following three decisions:

Specific course equivalent – The evaluated course is deemed equivalent to a specific course offered in the evaluator’s Faculty/School/Department at Brandon University

Unallocated course credit – The evaluated course is deemed to be a university-level course in the discipline of study offered by the Faculty/School/Department but for which there is no direct Brandon University equivalent

No course credit– Insufficient information has been provided about a course, the course is deemed to be not of university-level, or the course was a practical/work learning experience that has no Brandon University equivalent

Stale-Dated Course Policy

Some academic departments have a stale-date policy, meaning they will not accept courses completed beyond a certain number of years. The following programs have specific time limits:

• Biology, Business Administration, and Graduate Studies in Education: Courses must be no older than 7 years
• Justice Studies: Courses must be no older than 8 years
• Bachelor of Nursing: Courses must be no older than 10 years
• Environmental Science and Psychology: Courses must be no older than 15 years

In addition:

• Courses listed in the Transfer Database will automatically expire five years after the date they were last assessed for credit.
• If a course has expired, you will be asked to submit a course syllabus so the department can reassess it.
• Evaluations in the Transfer Database are subject to change without notice, and expired courses may be evaluated differently from the original assessment.

If you have questions about whether your courses are still eligible, we encourage you to contact the Admissions Office for guidance after you have applied for admission.

Transfer of Credit from Community Colleges

Requests for transfer credit for community college courses are considered on a course-by-course basis, provided there is an equivalent course offered at Brandon University. In making these decisions, consideration is also given to the established practices of accredited universities within the region where the community college is located.

Please note that not all community college courses are equivalent to university-level coursework. The final decision on whether transfer credit is granted rests with the academic department and the Dean of the relevant Faculty or School.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

As an adult leaner admitted to Brandon University, you may want to consider whether you bring to university a wealth of experience, knowledge, and skills acquired while working or through personal endeavors such as a hobby. If you have acquired university level learning through your hard work, you may be eligible to have your prior learning assessed for university credits. By making use of the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) service at Brandon University and by gaining PLAR Credits that can be applied towards the completion of your degree, you can save yourself time and money.  The program also allows students to apply for academic credit for learning achieved through the completion of non-accredited credentials offered, for example, by professional associations, organizations or government agencies.

PLAR credit will be recognized if equivalency of knowledge and skills can be demonstrated. A range of assessment techniques may be used, including demonstrations, challenge exams, portfolio-assisted assessments, as well as an evaluation of a non-accredited credential.

Please contact our PLAR Coordinator to discuss your options.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Receiving transfer credit for Advanced Placement is voluntary. Students must apply for transfer credit by completing a Request Form by August 31. Transfer credit for Advanced Placement is granted in specific subject areas if a minimum score of 3 is achieved with some departments requiring a minimum score of 4.  The Faculty of Science requires a minimum grade of 4 for transfer.

The College Board number for Brandon University is 000905.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Transfer credit for International Baccalaureate is granted upon request. Students must apply for transfer credit by completing a Request Form by August 31.  Higher Level IB courses with a grade of 4 or higher are eligible for transfer credit.

Letter of Permission – Courses Taken Elsewhere

Brandon University students who wish to take a course(s) at another post-secondary institution for transfer of credit to their degree program here must obtain a Letter of Permission before they make application to the other institution.  Complete information on requirements and submitting a request is found online on the Letter of Permission page.