International Transfer Credit Equivalency Policy
International Transfer Credit Equivalency Policy
Credit will be considered for undergraduate courses taken at foreign institutions that are regionally accredited or approved by the government or the official regulating agency of the country.
Credit requirements vary between educational systems. The number of transfer credit awarded depends on the credit system of the institution. The number of international transfer credits for each course is determined based on the number of credits a student has taken in a semester/academic year and the equivalency of the credit or contact hours between two institutions.
The most common credit conversions by education systems are listed below:
- U.S. semester credit hour/unit system: 1 credit is considered equivalent to 1 U.S. semester credit hour/unit. U.S. credits typically transfer on a 1:1 basis.
| U.S. semester credit hour/unit system | U.S. Equivalent |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 |
- Contact hour credit system (the amount of credits earned depends on the time spent in class): Hours will be calculated so that 1 year of work is equal to approximately 30 semester hours of credit.
- Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CAT): 1 US credit hour is equivalent to approximately 4-5 CAT points:
| CAT Credits | Approximate U.S. Equivalent |
| 10 | 2 |
| 15 | 3 |
| 20 | 4 |
- European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS): 1 ECTS is typically equivalent to 0.5 U.S. semester credit hours:
| ECTS Credits | Approximate U.S. Equivalent |
| 2 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 |
| 6 | 3 |
| 8 | 4 |
| 10 | 5 |
| 12 | 6 |
Students may be awarded more credit per ECTS unit, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
The systems mentioned above are the most common education systems. Please contact Registrar’s Office regarding other systems.
Credit will be awarded as outlined for examinations completed through an A/AS Level Examining Board.
| AICE Subject | Grade | USA Course Equivalent | Credit |
| Accounting (AS-Level) | A - E | BUS 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Accounting (A-Level) | A - E | BUS 100 Level Elective | 3-6 |
| Art and Design (AS-Level) | A - E | ARS121, ARS 123, ARS 124, ARS 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Art and Design (A-Level) | A - E | ARS121, ARS 123, ARS 124, ARS 100 Level Elective | 3-6 |
| Biology (AS-Level) | A - E | BLY 101 | 3 |
| Biology (A-Level) | A - E | BLY 121, BLY 121L, BLY122, BLY 122L | 8 |
| Business Studies (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Business Studies (A-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 6 |
| Chemistry (AS-Level) | A - E | CH 100 Level Elective | 4 |
| Chemistry (A-Level) | A - E | CH 131, CH 100 Level Elective | 8 |
| Classical Studies (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Computing (AS-Level) | A - E | CSC 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Computing (A-Level) | A - E | CSC 100 Level Elective | 6 |
| Design and Technology (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Design and Technology (A-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 6 |
| Economics (AS-Level) | A - E | BUS 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Economics (A-Level) | A - E | ECO 215, ECO 216 | 6 |
| English Language (AS-Level) | A - E | EH 101 | 3 |
| Environmental Management (AS-Level) | A - E | GEO 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| French Language (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 111 | 3 |
| French Language (A-Level) | A - E | LG 111, LG 112 | 6 |
| French Literature (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Further Mathematics (A-Level) | A - E | MA 125, MA 126 | 8 |
| General Paper (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Geography (AS-Level) | A - E | GEO 115 | 3 |
| Geography (A-Level) | A - E | GEO 102, GEO 102L, GEO 100 Level Elective | 7 |
| German Language (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 151 | 3 |
| German Language (A-Level) | A - E | LG 151, LG 152 | 6 |
| History (AS-Level) | A - E | HY 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| History (A-Level) | A - E | HY 100 Level Elective | 6 |
| Language and Literature in English (AS-Level) | A - E | EH 101 | 3 |
| Latin (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 101 | 3 |
| Literature in English (AS-Level) | A - E | EH 101 | 3 |
| Literature in English (A-Level) | A - E | EH 101, EH 102 | 6 |
| Marine Science (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Marine Science (A-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 6 |
| Mathematics (AS-Level) | A - E | MA 115 | 4 |
| Mathematics (A-Level) | A - E | MA 125 | 4 |
| Music (AS-Level) | A - E | MUL 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Music (A-Level) | A - E | MUL 101, MUL 100 Level Elective | 6 |
| Physics (AS-Level) | A - E | PH 100 Level Elective | 4 |
| Physics (A-Level) | A - E | PH 114 & PH 115 | 10 |
| Psychology (AS-Level) | A - E | PSY 120 | 3 |
| Psychology (A-Level) | A - E | PSY 120, PSY 100 Level Elective | 6 |
| Sociology (AS-Level) | A - E | SY 109 | 3 |
| Sociology (A-Level) | A - E | SY 109, SY 100 Level Elective | 6 |
| Spanish Language (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 131 | 3 |
| Spanish Language (A-Level) | A - E | LG 131, LG 132 | 6 |
| Spanish Literature (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Thinking Skills (AS-Level) | A - E | PHL 100 Level Elective | 3 |
| Thinking Skills (A-Level) | A - E | PHL 100 Level Elective | 3 |
A Level Exam Credit Award Policy:
This policy is in effect for all undergraduate students entering USA. Tests taken after a student matriculates are not eligible for credit.
For incoming new undergraduate students, Cambridge A-Level and AICE scores on file at USA are evaluated for credit at the point the student has an offer of admission. Additional scores that are received for incoming new undergraduate students will be evaluated at the time of receipt.
For continuing undergraduate students who did not send their scores prior to matriculating at USA, A-Level and AICE scores received by the university are evaluated for credit based on the AP credit equivalencies in effect at time of receipt.
Transfer students will receive the A-Level and AICE credit for college-level courses when official scores are received by the university.
Credit will be awarded only once for the same subject, whether the credit is earned by examination, Dual Enrollment, transfer credit, or course credit. If duplicate credit exists among A-Level, AP, IB, the source yielding the most credit will be awarded. Credit earned through testing will not replace graded credit in that same course.
Students may opt out of test credit if they see that acceptance of credit may disadvantage them. Students should make this request within their first year of attendance at USA.
Additional Information:
Cambridge International does not release scores on A-Level taken in June until after September of that same test year. This may impact incoming undergraduate students attending orientation sessions in summer. Students should speak to their academic advisor during orientation about potential A-Level credit that is not yet on their USA record.
For sequence courses such as foreign language, English, Math, plan to take the next course after the one for which you have received course credit. Please consult with your academic advisor for additional information.
Appeals:
If you believe that the assessment of your work and subsequent awarding of credits for such is in error, please contact the Registrar’s Office.