Transferring to Arts

Before applying to transfer into the Faculty of Arts, follow these steps:

1. Talk to Your Current Academic Advisor

Discuss the options available within your current faculty and confirm whether a transfer is the right path for you.

2. Explore Your Career Goals

Meet with a career advisor at the Centre for Career Development to:

• Explore future career options
• Make sure an Arts program aligns with your goals

3. Speak with an Arts Transfer Advisor

Before submitting any forms, you must consult with a Faculty Transfer Advisor in Arts.

• Location: Arts Undergraduate Office (PAS 2439)
• Phone: 519-888-4567 ext. 45870
• Book an appointment online

4. Program-Specific Questions

If you're interested in the specific programs below, contact the appropriate advisor:

• GBDA (Global Business and Digital Arts)
  → Contact the GBDA Recruitment Coordinator
• AFM / SFM (Accounting & Financial Management / Sustainability & Financial Management)
  → Contact SAF advisors

5. Math Double Degree (WLU) Students

If you are a WLU-based Math Double Degree student:

• You will likely need to apply to the University of Waterloo through OUAC
• If you are in Good or Excellent standing (2A or higher):
  • Contact Kayla Lorentz after consulting your Math advisor

6. Communication Requirement

Your Undergraduate Communications Requirement (UCR) will be assessed during the transfer process.

Students interested in transferring can learn more about the BA and program options by reviewing the BA Overview webpage.

Transferring directly into a major or program of choice may be an option. Your request is reviewed by Jennifer, the Faculty Transfer advisor in Arts. Please refer to the Arts Academic Plans for specific plan requirements.  Majors are offered at an honours level or at a general level.

• Honours majors require a major average of at least 70%
• General majors require a major average of at least 65%

Usual conditions (these can vary slightly from student to student):

• 65% term average including taking 3-4 Arts courses, no fails, no repeats of past courses, and no more than 2 classes in the same subject (the term average may be higher depending on your current Arts faculty average)
• A 65% minimum Arts faculty average in all Arts courses completed, including failed course(s)
• A 60% minimum overall cumulative average (all courses you've ever taken here at UW). If your cumulative average is below 60%, you may still be admissible after the qualifying or non-degree term but clearing will be initiated.
• English Language Requirement

Deadlines and Forms:

• After you meet with the Faculty Transfer advisor, you must submit the Faculty Transfer Form at least one month before the start of the next term, or the term in which you'd like to use as your qualifying or non-degree term. 
• Any Petition requesting a transfer to Arts will require the support of the Faculty Transfer advisor in Arts along with your current faculty advisor.
• If you are in FRW standing in your home faculty and have been discontinued as a student, you must first apply for readmission to your home faculty. Please connect with your home advisor for assistance.

Things to consider:

• There are 29 Arts majors and numerous minors.
• If you are in first-year within your current faculty, your requirements may be different.
• The maximum number of transfer credits that can be granted by the Faculty of Arts is:
  • 10.0 academic course units for a four-year degree;
  • 7.5 academic course units for a three-year degree.
• Are you in co-op now? Do you want to keep co-op? See the details about co-op eligibility when transferring to Arts below.

When transferring to Arts, co-op may be an option for you. Please review all the requirements and considerations before requesting your transfer.

Requirements:

• Review co-op eligibility in Arts

Things to consider:

• You may be able to continue in co-op past the 2A level if you have already completed at least one work term in your current or former faculty.
• Co-op will affect how many terms it takes to complete your degree.
• If you are being admitted to a co-op plan, your sequence will be reviewed/adjusted by your new major advisor once your transfer is finalized.

Requirements:

• In addition to the requirements listed above for the Bachelor of Arts, transferring to ARBUS requires that you:
  • Must be admitted to an Honours major plan (min 70% average) at the 2A level or higher
  • Must have completed at least two Arts and Business required courses with a combined average of at least 70%

Things to consider:

• You cannot exceed more than 6.5 units (13 courses) to be eligible for co-op in ARBUS.
• If approved for a transfer, your appropriate academic level is based on the number of academic credits you have completed.

Requirements:

1. A minimum overall average of at least 75% is required for courses completed at the University. Fall, winter, and spring term courses are included in this average.
2. Applicants must also ensure that if they have taken any required courses for the GBDA degree (ECON 101, CS 105, etc.), they have achieved a minimum average of 70% in these courses.
3. The Admissions Committee will review your high school transcripts to ensure that your average is competitive against the application pool
   1. Last year, applicants needed a high school average in the mid-to-high 80s and 75% in Grade 12 U English to be admitted into GBDA.
4. If you have withdrawn in your 1A term, your high school grades will only be considered when determining your transfer eligibility.
5. You must be a full-time student. You can learn what is considered full-time at the University of Waterloo here.

How to Apply and Deadlines:

1. The process for a UW student to apply to GBDA would be to complete a Plan Modification Form for Faculty of Arts students or a Faculty Transfer Form for non-Faculty of Arts students. Completed forms should be submitted to stratfordprograms@uwaterloo.ca
2. If you are a 1A student who has withdrawn from your program within the last 12 months, the process still requires that you complete a Plan Modification Form for Faculty of Arts students or a Faculty Transfer Form for non-Faculty of Arts students. You cannot apply to the program via OUAC once you have registered for the fall term at Waterloo and arranged fees, even if you subsequently withdrew from that 1A term.
3. If you are in your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year, you must meet with the GBDA Admissions Coordinator before submitting either the Plan Modification Form or Faculty Transfer Form by emailing stratfordprograms@uwaterloo.ca
   1. This meeting must be scheduled ahead of the transfer deadline for that term
4. Deadline Dates:
   1. Fall Term: April 15^th
   2. Winter Term: December 15^th

Things to Consider:

1. The GBDA program is held out of the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business - this is a satellite campus of the University of Waterloo
2. The GBDA program is an enhanced tuition program. To view tuition rates, please visit the website here. 
3. GBDA is a cohort-based program - internal transfer students are not granted advanced standing and will begin in the 1A term. Exceptions may be made by the Academic Advisor in exceptional cases.
4. Taking the required courses for the GBDA degree will not factor into the transfer decision, so please do not prioritize taking these courses if they hinder the current program plan that you are enrolled in.
   1. GBDA subject courses are not open to students enrolled in any other program.
5. Transfer decisions are made only after we have received your grades
6. There are limited transfer spots available each term. Therefore, there are no admission guarantees as internal transfer applicants are considered within the context of the entire pool of applicants for the GBDA program. Meeting the above requirements does not guarantee admission.

What if I am not eligible to transfer or my application is not approved?

• The GBDA Admissions Coordinator will contact you to inform you of why your application was not accepted.

1. If your request to transfer is declined, please make sure you have a backup plan. Options include:
   1. Applying to another Arts Program
   2. Please meet with your current Academic Advisor to discuss a program that may suit you.
2. You can apply for the next transfer term if you are set on the Global Business and Digital Arts program.
   1. You will still need to meet our admission averages, and your application will be reassessed.
   2. Admission is not guaranteed.

What happens if my transfer is accepted?

1. You will receive a confirmation of transfer email from the GBDA Admissions Coordinator that you must respond to proceed with the transfer.
2. You will have a mandatory meeting with the GBDA Academic Advisor to map out your new program
3. The Registrar’s Office will be notified of your transfer to the GBDA program and as such, your seat in your previous program will be forfeited.

If you would like to chat more about this process or have any other questions, please email the Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator.

Requirements:

• The transfer window to AFM is now closed for 2026. To be considered for a transfer into SFM, students must meet the high school requirements. If you have not taken 4U Advanced Functions, Calculus, or an equivalent, you will be asked to enrol in MATH 127 to be considered for transfer. 

• Students must have a minimum 75% cumulative overall average by the end of the fall term. 

• Do I need to take some AFM courses to be eligible to transfer? No, your cumulative overall average can come from any course grades. 

• For students interested in transferring to Sustainability & Financial Management (SFM), please contact SAF Advising.

Deadline: 

• How do I apply? Students should submit a Faculty Transfer Form to SAF Advising by February 1, 2027. You cannot apply via OUAC - the Faculty transfer form functions as the application form. 

• The above requirements do not guarantee admission to either the BAFM or BSFM program and are minimum requirements only. The School of Accounting and Finance takes in a small number of transfer students each year and the process is highly competitive.  

Things to consider:

• Can prior courses apply towards the BAFM or BSFM degree? The start date will be in the fall term at the 1A level, regardless of transfer credit. The 1A start is non-negotiable as AFM has required first-year courses. Students beyond 2A can still apply but it is not recommended as successful applicants start in 1A.

• What if I am not eligible to transfer? If your request to transfer is declined, make sure you have a backup plan. Options include: 

  • Applying to other Ontario University programs that lead to a CPA designation. 

  • Applying to transfer to the Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program. Schedule an advising meeting with the Faculty of Arts transfer advisor if you wish to learn more about this option.

Upon successful transfer to Arts, your new major advisor will review your record and transfer credits will be assessed (if applicable).