Transfer Credit

Courses taken at another college or university that are appropriate to the Rice curriculum may be approved for transfer credit toward a Rice University undergraduate degree. This includes credit for summer school courses not taken at Rice. Credit is normally given for courses that meet the following conditions:

• equivalent to courses that are or could be offered at Rice
• completed at an accredited academic institution
• completed with a grade of C- or better
• taken for a grade (not taken pass/fail) 

The Office of the Registrar in conjunction with academic departments determine whether courses are appropriate for transfer to Rice as specific Rice equivalent courses or as TRAN credit. Rice equivalent transfer credit satisfies the same university, major, and distribution requirements as Rice enrollment. Rice equivalent credit usually requires departmental approval. TRAN credit can be awarded as lower-level (TRAN 100), upper-level (TRAN 300), or graduate (TRAN 500). TRAN credit counts toward general elective hours required for graduation and for upper-level credit requirements if the TRAN credit is designated as upper-level by the Office of the Registrar.  Transfer course grades do not appear on a student’s record and have no effect on a student’s Rice grade point average.

TRAN Credit vs. Rice Equivalent Credit

As stated above, TRAN credit is a general elective credit that counts toward a student's total hour requirement for graduation.  Students are transferring in courses from other institutions are generally awarded TRAN credit.  Students wishing to convert general TRAN credit to Rice equivalent credit will need to:

1. Obtain the course description or syllabi for the classes you would like to convert from TRAN.
2. Look at the Rice Course Catalog and match up the transfer classes to Rice classes.
3. Undergraduates should complete the Undergraduate Request for Transfer Credit    form available online or in the Office of the Registrar.
4. Undergraduates must meet with the appropriate Departmental Transfer Credit Advisor and obtain his/her approval signature.
5. Submit the completed form to the Office of the Registrar.

Turnaround Time

Once the Office of the Registrar receives your official transcript from the other college or university, you should allow a minimum of four weeks (study abroad students should allow six weeks) for the transfer credit to post to your record. Students will be notified by e-mail when the transfer credit updates are complete.

Details on transferring credit for:

• Undergraduates planning to transfer college credit
• Undergraduates planning to transfer study abroad college credit
• Undergraduate transfer students completing college credit prior to matriculation at Rice 
• Undergraduates planning to transfer college credit completed during high school 
• Graduate students transferring graduate-level college credit

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