The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar details the University of Waterloo requirements to transfer a course and the limits placed on the transfer of an academic credit. In all cases, transfer credits must be "unused" credits, i.e., they must not have been credited towards an earlier acquired degree or other academic credential.
Number of transfer courses allowed in Engineering:
- Course-based Master's programs -three courses
- Thesis-based Master's programs -maximum of one half of courses required for the degree
- Doctoral program from a Master's - maximum of one half of courses required for the degree
- Doctoral program from a Bachelor's - maximum of one half of courses required for the degree
Transferring courses from another institution
Requests for transfer credits must be approved by your supervisor, department, and the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies. This can be done at the time of admission, but is more commonly done after you begin your program.
You can, with the support of your Department, submit a request for transfer credit to the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies which should include the following documents:
- Formal request from the department signed by the student, supervisor(s), and Associate Chair, Graduate Studies.
- Transcript showing the course requested for transfer, clearly indicating the course was unused for another degree. Transcripts must have been supplied to UWaterloo at the time of your application for admission.
- Course syllabus and/or academic calendar entry providing more details of the course.
Transferring courses between UWaterloo programs
There are two ways you would transfer courses from one program at Waterloo to another:
1. Program change
A program change is when you would begin a new program without completing the first program. Your term count continues fluidly without a break, but your program requirements will be different due to this program change.
If there are courses to transfer during a program change they must be included on the Program/plan change form.
Exception: If you wish to transfer from a diploma program to a degree program and have Waterloo courses transferred, you must withdraw from the diploma program, apply to the degree program through OUAC, and complete the transfer request process outlined below.
2. Starting a new program
This type of course transfer is typically seen when students are planning on completing an MASc and beginning a PhD, but can sometimes be seen in students who take graduate courses in their undergraduate program, like those in the Accelerated Master's program. In order to have courses transferred in this way you need to ensure that any courses you intend to transfer are coded as extra to your current degree. You must ensure the extra designation is in place when you enrol in the course. If you are unsure how to do this you should consult with your Departmental Program Coordinator/Advisor.
Note: For students in the Accelerated Master's program, graduate courses taken in your undergraduate program must be coded as NRNA or TRIA to be eligible for transfer to your graduate program. Please consult with your Undergraduate Program Advisor to ensure any graduate courses are appropriately coded.
Requests for transfer credits must be approved by your supervisor, department, and the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies. This can be done at the time of admission, but is more commonly done after you begin your program.
You can, with the support of your Department, submit a request for transfer credit to the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies which should include the following documents:
- Formal request from the department signed by the student, supervisor(s), and Associate Chair, Graduate Studies.
- Transcript showing the course requested for transfer, clearly indicating the course was unused for another degree.