Transfer and Examination Credit

Pre-matriculation credit units are earned before an applicant’s enrollment at Washington University as a first-year student, and can be applied toward a WashU degree. A maximum of 15 units of pre-matriculation credit may be counted toward an undergraduate degree.

The Office of the University Registrar differentiates Examination credits (Exam Credit) from traditional transfer credits (Transfer) in Workday. Please note that on the transcript Examination credits with an “EC” grade which displays on student transcripts as an “Exam Credit.”

WashU records practice is to record credit articulated from external tests and external coursework differently in Workday, and on transcripts.

Pre-matriculation credits include:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
  Advanced Placement (AP) college level exams are taken at a student’s high school. High scores may earn the student college credit. Students wishing to receive pre-matriculation credit or proficiency for their AP test scores must contact the collegeboard.org and request that their AP test scores be sent to WashU at transfercredit@wustl.edu.
  
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
  International baccalaureate (IB) exams are the final assessments students take in the IB Diploma Program. These scores may be used for placement or degree credit. Students wishing to receive pre-matriculation credit or proficiency credit in Workday for their IB test scores must have their IB test scores sent to WashU at transfercredit@wustl.edu.
  
• British Advanced Levels (A-levels)
  A-level exams are typically taken for students aged 16-19 after completing the General Certificate of Secondary Education. Exam grades may be used for degree credit. In order to receive pre-matriculation or proficiency credit, students must have their A-level exam grades sent to WashU at transfercredit@wustl.edu.
  
• Back Credit
  Course credit earned by proficiency for preceding courses. Students who place into and satisfactorily complete higher-level courses at WashU may be eligible for Back Credit for preceding courses.
• Contingency Credit
  College credit earned after the student’s sophomore year in high school. Contingency credit may be applied for exams (e.g. AP exams)

For step by step instructions on how to request Back Credit and/or Contingency Credit visit https://workday.wustl.edu/items/request-back-credit-or-contingency-credit/

Visit the Bulletin at https://bulletin.wustl.edu/undergrad/admissions/ for additional information about Back Credit or Contingency Credit.

Prior to taking a course at another institution, a student can submit a request to transfer any credits earned for review to their WashU school’s academic office. If the course(s) for transfer credit(s) are pre-approved, a note will be added to the student’s record in Workday, and after the course is successfully completed and a final, official transcript sent to WashU, the credit will be articulated as approved.  Undergraduate students are expected to be familiar with the criteria for eligible credit found on the undergraduate policies page , including any additional requirements their schools may impose.

Students can find General Transfer Credit Approval Instructions at https://workday.wustl.edu/items/request-transfer-credit/

The Office of the University Registrar will enter study abroad credit in the student’s Workday record once the Office of the University Registrar has received an official transcript from their WashU school’s study abroad office.

For more information about study abroad credit policies, visit the study abroad website for your school or college. For more information about WashU study abroad programs, visit the Study Abroad Program Search.

How do I request an Authenticated Transcript

When you apply to graduate or professional schools, you can document your study abroad accomplishments by requesting additional transcripts from the program sponsor or host institution. The Office of the University Registrar will issue authenticated copies of program transcripts from non-U.S. study abroad institutions and non-U.S. program sponsors upon request for participants in programs offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. These include exchanges or WashU in Chile, Germany or Spain programs.

Generally, these authenticated copies are readily accepted in lieu of originals in support of graduate or professional school applications, scholarship applications, and employment applications, but always verify this with the organization to which you are submitting your transcript. It might be necessary to order an official transcript from the host university, so please plan in advance.

Please Note: The Office of the University Registrar cannot provide copies of authenticated transcripts from U.S. program sponsors (CET, DIS, IES, SIT, etc.) and U.S. host institutions (Duke, Middlebury, Indiana, etc.).  You will need to contact U.S. program sponsors or host institutions directly to request a transcript.

Internal Articulation is needed when coursework should count towards multiple academic records for a student. For example, the internal articulation process would apply when a student takes a course as an undergraduate for a bachelor’s degree which can also count as a course toward their graduate degree.

Internal Articulation requests are processed within the Office of the University Registrar. Please contact the OUR at transfercredit@wustl.edu for more information.