AP Transfer Credit
Transfer Credit
- What is transfer credit?
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Being awarded transfer credit means you will receive university-level credit for AP work completed in high school. Transfer credit can allow for free time in your university course schedule and help save money.
- How will transfer credit show on my transcript?
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Transfer credit is awarded either for a specific class (e.g., MATH 114) or an unspecified 100-level class (e.g., MATH 100-level).
If you are awarded transfer credit, you will not be assigned a specific grade for that course nor will an AP grade appear on your U of A transcript. Your transcript will simply reflect credit already achieved towards your degree. For example, transfer credit earned for AP Calculus will show as 3 units MATH units towards a U of A degree.
If you are eligible for a transfer credit, your AP transcript will be automatically assessed and the credit will appear in Bear Tracks.
- Will transfer credit affect admission to professional programs?
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You may meet professional program prerequisites with your AP coursework, including Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science and Radiation Therapy. It is recommended that you inquire with the professional program directly to see what the implications of transfer credit are.
Please note: It is your responsibility to ensure your timetable accurately reflects your transfer credit and that you are registered in the proper higher-level course.
Declining Transfer Credit
While we encourage you to retain the transfer credit you have earned, you do have the option to decline it at the time of admission. You are responsible for initiating the process to decline transfer credit and can do so on a course-by-course basis.
Things to Consider
- If you decline your transfer credit, it cannot be reinstated at any point during your university career.
- By accepting transfer credit, you may end up with a lighter course load, which can affect your eligibility for certain programs and scholarships. Check the eligibility details for your program or scholarship(s) of interest for more details.
- The Faculty of Engineering does not grant the same transfer credit as other faculties.
- The faculty recommends declining all transfer credit for first-year courses.
- If you accept transfer credit and have a Light Load Adjustment, it will lower your ranking for entry into second-year engineering programs. You will therefore need to fill your schedule with higher-level, second-year courses to maintain a full course load. The faculty does not recommend taking second-year courses in the first year, as students are aiming to get the best GPA possible for the discipline selection process.
- AP courses do not cover the same applications as the first-year engineering courses, therefore you will end up missing a large amount of information relevant to Engineering students.
- For courses that are not Math or Chemistry, the Faculty of Engineering can award credit for complementary studies elective courses. Credit(s) for complementary studies elective(s) are awarded after admission to discipline for second year.
- For more information, contact engginfo@ualberta.ca or book a faculty-specific advising session to discuss declining transfer credit further at uab.ca/advising.
How to Decline Transfer Credit
- Send in your official AP transcripts by the add/drop deadline indicated in the University Calendar by requesting them from the AP College Board. You must send in your official AP transcripts, even if you plan on declining transfer credit.
- Check Bear Tracks to see what credit you have earned. Transfer credit assessments happen over the summer and are typically posted late August/early September.
- Download the Decline AP Transfer Credit Form and return it to the Student Service Centre by the date below. The deadline is firm for all credit posted on documents received by the document deadline.
- September 1 (if admitted to Fall Term)
- January 1 (if admitted to Winter Term)
- May 1 (if admitted to Spring/Summer Term)
- Make sure to not retake a course for which you have earned transfer credit. If you do wish to retake a course, you must first decline your transfer credit.
- Check for your revised transfer credit report in Bear Tracks approximately 14 business days following submission of the form.
Questions?
For questions about transfer credit, contact our recruitment team at apstudent@ualberta.ca.
Resources and Forms
Transfer Credit Course Equivalencies
| AP Course | University of Alberta Equivalent | Augustana Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| AP Capstone Diploma | 100-level Open Elective (3 units) | AU 100-level Open Elective (3 units) |
| Art History | HADVC 100-level (6 unites) | AUART 100 (3 units) & 102 (3 units) |
| Biology | BIOL 107 (3 units) | AUBIO 111 (3 units) |
| Calculus AB | MATH 114 (3 units) | AUMAT 110 (3 units) |
| Calculus BC | MATH 114 (3 units) [or MATH 100 (3.5 units)] (see note 1) | AUMAT 116 (3 units) |
| Chemistry | Students may apply to write a Credit by Special Assessment examination in CHEM 101 (3 units) [or CHEM 103 (4.3 units)] (see notes 1 and 2) | AUCHE 100-level (3 units) |
| Chinese Language and Culture | CHINA 200-level (3 units) | AU Language 200-level (3 units) |
| Comparative Government and Politics | POL S 100-level (3 units) (not to take POL S 101) | AUPOL 100-level (3 units) |
| Computer Science Principles | CMPUT 101(3 units) | AUCSC 100-level (3 units) |
| Computer Science A | CMPUT 174 (3 units) | AUCSC 113 (3 units) |
| English (Language and Composition) | ENGL 100-level (3 units) (not to take WRS 101) [or 100-level complementary studies elective (3 units)] (see note 1) | AUENG 100-level (3 units) |
| English (Literature and Composition) | ENGL 100-level (3 units) [or 100-level complementary studies elective (3 units)] (see note 1) | AUENG 100-level (3 units) |
| Environmental Science | 100-level Science Option (3 units) | AU Science 100-level (3 units) |
| European History | HIST 100-level (6 units) (not to take HIST 111 or 112) (see note 1) | AUHIS 100-level (6 units) (not to take AUHIS 201 or 202) |
| French Language and Culture | FREN 100-level (3 units) | AUFRE 100-level (3 units) |
| German Language and Culture | GERM 100-level (3 units) | AUGER 100-level (3 units) |
| Human Geography | HGEO 100 (3 units) | AUGEO 100-level (3 units) |
| Italian Language and Culture | ITAL 100-level (3 units) | AU Language Option 100-level (3 units) |
| Japanese Language and Culture | JAPAN 201 (3 units) & 202 (3 units) | AU Language 200-level (6 units) |
| Latin | LATIN 300-level (3 units) | AULAT 200-level (3 units) |
| Macroeconomics | ECON 102 (3 units) (see note 1) | AUECO 102 (3 units) |
| Microeconomics | ECON 101 (3 units) (see note 1) | AUECO 101 (3 units) |
| Music Theory | MUSIC 155 (3 units) | AUMUS 160 (3 units) |
| Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism plus Mechanics (taken after 2014) | PHYS 144 (3 units) | AUPHY 100-level (3 units) |
| Physics 1 plus Physics 2 | PHYS 124 (3 units) (see note 4) | AUPHY 100-level (3 units) |
| Psychology | PSYCH 104 (3 units) | AUPSY 100-level (3 units) (not to take AUPSY 103) |
| Spanish Language | SPAN 100-level (3 units) | AUSPA 100-level (3 units) |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | SPAN 200-level (6 units) | AUSPA 200-level (6 units) |
| Statistics | STAT 151 (3 units) | AUSTA 153 (3 units) |
| Studio Art: 2-D Design | ART 134 (3 units) & DES 135 (3 units) | AUART 111 (3 units) & AUART 100-level (3 units) (not to take AUART 112) |
| Studio Art: 3-D Design | ART 134 (3 units) & DES 135 (3 units) | AUART 111 (3 units) & 112 (3 units) |
| Studio Art: Drawing | ART 100-level (3 units) (not to take ART 240) | AUART 100-level (3 units) |
| United States History | HIST 100-level (6 units) (see note 1) | AUHIS 100-level (6 units) |
| US Government and Politics | POL S 100-level (3 units) | AUPOL 100-level (3 units) |
| World History | CLASS 100-level (3 units) and HIST 100-level (3 units) (not to take CLASS 110, or HIST 110, 111 or 112) | AUHIS 104 (3 units) and 105 (3 units) |
Notes
- For students entering the Faculty of Engineering, transfer credit for the first (qualifying) year courses does not reduce the minimum load requirement of 37.0 units.
- Students wishing to pursue Credit by Special Assessment, please refer to the University Calendar for information.
- Students who are eligible for Advanced Placement may register in a senior-level course. In the case of Language other than English courses, students with Advanced Placement will be permitted to register in a senior-level course after determination of their background qualifications for that course (interview, placement test, etc.). Students may also challenge a junior- or senior-level course for credit via the Credit by Special Assessment route if they have appropriate qualifications and are eligible within the regulations.
- Students who have not taken Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism and wish to take further Physics courses should consult the Department of Physics.
- When students are instructed not to take a specific course and a generic 100-level credit is granted, this credit may be used to meet the prerequisite for any higher level course requiring the specific course in question.
- MATH 114 is considered equivalent to MATH 100, 134, 144 and 154. Students with credit in MATH 114 cannot obtain credit in MATH 134, 144 or 154.