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Transferrable Credits from other Universities

Transferring Courses from the Virginia Community College System (VCCS)

Any currently enrolled Virginia Tech student planning to transfer courses from a Virginia Community College should follow the below steps.

Step 1: Review the VCCS Guide to determine course equivalents
Students intending to transfer credit for ENGE 1215, ENGE 1216, PHYS 2305, PHYS 2306, or any ECE course should review the following documents:
ECE VCCS Equivalents
ENGE 1215 & ENGE 1216 VCCS Equivalents
PHYS 2305 & PHYS 2306 VCCS Equivalents

Step 2: Use the VCCS Course Search to see which VCCS sites teach the course equivalents

Step 3: Sign-up and complete the course(s) -- a grade of a "C" or better is required in any course to receive transfer credit

Step 4: Send your official transcript from the transfer institution to Virginia Tech
Once you have a final grade in the course, your official transcript should be sent to the following address:
Office of the University Registrar
Student Services Building, Suite 250, Virginia Tech
800 Washington St, S.W.
Blacksburg, VA 24060-0134


Transferring Courses from a US Institution not in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS)

Any currently enrolled Virginia Tech student planning to transfer courses from a non-Virginia Community College within the United States should follow the below steps.  Admitted students that have not yet enrolled at VT do not need to seek authorization to transfer a class, but can use VCCS Guide and Transfer Equivalency Database to understand the transferability of any course you have taken at another institution. 

Step 1: Review the Transfer Equivalency Database (TED) to determine previous course equivalents
Courses may or may not be in the TED. If you don't find an equivalent in the TED, you can still proceed with Step 2, we may just need some additional details. 

Step 2: Request pre-approval for your intended transfer course(s) 
To ensure the course you intend to take will transfer to VT as you need it to, you will complete the Authorization to Take Courses Elsewhere (ATCE) form. If approved, this provides you with confirmation on how the course will transfer to Virginia Tech. You will complete the form even if the course you plan to take is listed in the TED.

Step 3: Sign-up and complete the course(s) -- a grade of a "C" or better is required in any course to receive transfer credit
If your ATCE is approved, you can proceed with signing-up for the courses at the transfer institution.

Step 4: Send your official transcript from the transfer institution to Virginia Tech:
Once you have a final grade in the course(s), your official transcript should be sent to the following address:
Office of the University Registrar
Student Services Building, Suite 250, Virginia Tech
800 Washington St, S.W.
Blacksburg, VA 24060-0134


Transferring Courses from Outside the United States

Any currently enrolled Virginia Tech student planning to transfer courses from an institution outside of the United States (US) should review the Global Education Office (GEO) website for details on this process, which will include completing the Authorization to Take Courses Abroad. Questions should be directed to Ryan Wagoner (rdw@vt.edu).


Transfer Course Policies

  1. Courses will be transferred as equivalent Virginia Tech courses as determined by the appropriate department. If there is no equivalent Virginia Tech course, transfer credit may be awarded as a Free Elective.
  2. Courses in which a grade of a C or higher is earned are considered for transfer (Pass/Fail courses will not transfer). Only the credits will transfer, grades do not.
  3. Courses taken as Credit-by-Exam or as Advanced Standing at another institution do not transfer.
  4. Home study or correspondence courses do not transfer.
  5. A course passed at Virginia Tech takes priority over an equivalent transfer course, regardless of when the transfer course is taken or the grade earned. Courses that duplicate previously studied material will not transfer.
  6. Students may transfer up to one-half of the credits required for their degree program from any combination of 2-year schools.
  7. There is no limit to the number of credits transferred from a 4-year school, however a minimum of one-fourth of the credit for the respective degree must be earned at Virginia Tech.
  8. Of the last 45 semester hours before graduation, a maximum of 18 semester hours may be transfer hours.
  9. Courses taken elsewhere during periods of academic suspension will not transfer to Virginia Tech.