Credit conversion

University Exchanges and UW Partner Programs

Credits for University Exchanges and UW Partner Programs

When students return

1. 1. Be sure to have a copy of your official transcript mailed to the UW Study Abroad Office after you complete the term abroad. Official transcripts can be officially electronically shared with UW Study Abroad by sharing them with studyabroad@uw.edu.

UW Study Abroad

459 Schmitz Hall   1410 NE Campus Parkway

Box 355815  Seattle, WA 98195-5815

1. Once the transcript has arrived, our office will prepare an electronic Credit Evaluation Form, which will provide a preliminary evaluation of the number of credits and grades for each course, using country/university-specific grading scales.  We will then send you an email once this form is ready. This form is usually created and emailed to the student within a week of receiving the foreign transcript.
2. You will then share your Credit Evaluation Form – along with course syllabi and coursework completed while abroad – to the appropriate UW Departments in order to have UW equivalent courses assigned to each foreign course.
3. Once all courses have been assigned UW Course Numbers, submit the Credit Evaluation Form online and we will add the credits to your UW Transcript, usually within one week of receipt of the completed online form.

Some important considerations

• Because credits from study abroad programs are not considered transfer credit, your advisor may not award courses with XX in the course number (e.g. BIOL 2XX).
• UW Study Abroad suggests the number of credits earned based on our credit conversion tables for each foreign institution (1 semester credit = 1.5 UW quarter credits, 1 ECTS credit = 0.75 UW quarter credits). However, departmental advisors ultimately decide the number of credits earned.
• It is mandatory that students complete all required academic work for each course taken abroad and submit a transcript to UW Study Abroad in order to receive credits upon their return.
• Although credit is guaranteed, the type of UW credit awarded is not determined until after the exchange or program has ended and the appropriate UW department has evaluated the coursework completed abroad.
• Not every university abroad has a process for withdrawing from a course – be sure to document any changes (such as adding or dropping a course) you may have attempted to make while studying abroad to your transcript.
• In general, undergraduate students earn the equivalent of 20-25 UW credits/semester, 36-45 UW credits/academic year for coursework completed on exchanges, but it is your responsibility to manage the number of credits you wish to acquire or may need for full time status. Ask your study abroad advisor if you need help!
• In the unfortunate case that you do not earn enough credit abroad to maintain your full time standing at the University of Washington, FSTDY 299 will be included permanently on your official UW transcript. The amount of FSTDY 299 credit appearing on a transcript is the difference between the credits earned and the UW full-time status requirement (Undergraduate = 12 credits, Graduate = 10 credits). This course will not impede your graduation, nor have an effect on your GPA. However, this is a permanent course on your transcript and will not count towards your graduation requirements. This course may have an impact on your financial aid, so be sure to consult with the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA).
• If you are participating in a study abroad exchange program in the term you hope to graduate, you may find that your foreign transcript arrives too late to meet the registrar’s quarterly deadline for grade reporting.  In that case, you may be required to delay your graduation by a quarter.  Please plan accordingly.
• Remember, all grades for courses completed abroad will be reported to your UW transcript regardless of the final mark or need for credit.

UW Faculty-led Programs

Credits for UW Faculty-led Programs

When students return

• Once your program has ended and all coursework has been evaluated by your program director, the courses and grades will be reported to UW Study Abroad. Then, we will transfer these credits onto your UW transcript, usually within a week or two of receipt of the grade report. Early fall coursework is reported at the end of autumn quarter.

Some important considerations

• It is mandatory that students attend and participate in all courses abroad and entirely complete the coursework included in the program. Students are not eligible to drop courses on UW faculty-led programs. In certain instances, they can take courses Satisfactory/Non-satisfactory (S/NS).
• Students on UW Faculty-led Programs earn UW credit for academic work completed abroad. All grades and credits for courses completed abroad will be reported, regardless of the final mark or need for credit.

Internships and Independent Learning

Credit conversion for Independent Learning

When students return

1. Upon your return from abroad, you will work with your sponsoring faculty and departments to have your academic performance evaluated on your independent study/internship. The sponsor will then complete the “upon return” section of the credit verification form.
2. Return the completed form to UW Study Abroad and we will post the grades to your transcript.
3. It is important to note that all grades for courses completed abroad will be reported, regardless of the final mark or need for credit.

Why can't I access my Credit Evaluation Form?

• Make sure you are using your UW email to view the document. We will not give access to non-UW emails.
  • If you are still getting denied access, even after using you UW email, make sure that your UW Google Suites is active. You can check by going into your MyUW account.
• Try using the link given to you into an incognito window.
• If you are still having access issues, please email us at studyabroad@uw.edu.

When will my credits be posted to my UW transcript?

• All steps in the Credit Evaluation Form must be completed, especially step #4 to formally submit the form.
• If it has been more than 5 business days since the day you submitted your Credit Evaluation Form, please call us at 206.221.4404 or email us at studyabroad@uw.edu.

How do I fix an uploading issue?

Email studyabroad@uw.edu the following information:

1. For which course have you uploaded the document(s)?
2. For which course would you like the document to be uploaded?

There is a 5 document uploading limit, so if you have reached that, let us know that in the email as well.

What type of credit will I receive for my foreign courses?

The type of credit is dependent on the foreign course the student took while abroad. For example, once the Credit Evaluation Form is processed and sent to the student; the student will upload all relevant documentation, and then send the form with the documents to the appropriate department. So if a student took a psychology course while abroad, they would share the form with the UW Psychology department and that department’s adviser will assign the equivalent UW course. It is important to note that advisers may request additional information or meeting in order to provide an accurate UW course equivalent.

If a student cannot find a department with equivalent credits, the student can as Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising and they can assign General Studies credit.

Is it possible to drop a course off my Credit Evaluation Form?

Our office is required by the University of Washington to report all courses listed in the official foreign transcript. Therefore, the only way to officially omit a course from being reported is by contacting the foreign institution or partner to update your foreign transcript. You will need to follow the foreign institution regulations on how to have an updated foreign transcript.