Credit Transfer
CIS Abroad‘s study programs are fully accredited and hosted by some of the best institutions in the world.
CIS Abroad study programs either carry a transcript from the host institution, accredited in that country, or carry a fully accredited U.S. institution transcript.
Determining how credit will transfer is a crucial part of the study abroad application process for students, parents, and advisors. We compiled some guidelines to help facilitate the credit transfer process from our host institutions abroad.
Credit is also available for other CIS Abroad experiential learning programs, including both on-site and virtual internship programs.
Transferring Study Abroad Credit Earned on CIS Abroad Programs
A student’s home university will dictate whether they can receive credit for courses taken overseas on a CIS Abroad program. Students should begin by asking their study abroad office if CIS Abroad is an approved program and about the process for transferring credits back to campus. We recommend that students seek approval for each class by submitting course syllabi or course descriptions to an academic advisor in their department during the enrollment process.
Processing Transcripts
After students have completed their coursework at the foreign university and have made all of the appropriate payments, the home institution will be issued a transcript from the host school via CIS Abroad. In addition to the official transcript, CIS Abroad also provides a transcript translation sheet to facilitate faster acceptance of overseas credits.
This process generally takes longer than in the U.S., usually about 8 – 10 weeks. Please keep in mind that academic records will not be released if a student has any outstanding financial obligations to the host university or to CIS Abroad. If you have any questions about a student transcript, please contact us!
Transcript Request
Students applying to graduate school or who need an additional transcript should email admissions@cisabroad.com.
STUDY ABROAD FOR CREDIT LOCATION SPECIFICS
NEWCASTLE
University of Newcastle operates on a semester schedule similar to the American system. Newcastle is like the Australian universities in that students take 3-4 subjects per term. Each course at Newcastle is worth 10 points and would be equivalent to 3-4 U.S. credits. Students receive a DIGITAL University of Newcastle transcript.
GOLD COAST
Bond University operates on a trimester schedule similar to the American system. Bond is like the Australian universities in that students take 3-4 subjects per term. Each subject at Bond is worth 10 points and would be equivalent to 3-4 U.S. credits.
Classes are generally organized by students going to a lecture once per week and tutorials twice per week. A tutorial is a smaller class where students can interact with the professor or lecturer, and this is where they are encouraged to ask questions. Although students can take only 4 subjects in a semester, they are asked to do much more outside of the classroom than in the American system. For this reason, it is recommended that U.S. schools consider granting 4 U.S. credits per class as opposed to 3 U.S. credits. Students receive a DIGITAL Bond University transcript.
SAN JOSE
Universidad Veritas operates on the contact hour system. The number of credits earned depends on the time spent in class with a professor. To determine the conversion of Costa Rican contact hours to U.S. credits, divide the contact hours per course by 15 (number of weeks in a semester). Elective courses vary between 3-4 U.S. semester credits and language courses can equate to 3-5 U.S. semester credits. Students receive a Universidad Veritas transcript.
LONDON
University of Westminster students enrolled full-time receive a total of 60 UK credits (the equivalent of 12 U.S. semester credits or 30 ECTS credits) in one semester. Students generally complete 3 modules per semester (with a fourth semester module available for an additional fee), or 1 module per summer, as the majority of modules are worth 20 UK credits (the equivalent of 4 U.S. semester credits or 10 ECTS credits) each. Students receive a University of Westminster transcript.
The University of Roehampton operates on the British credit system. Students usually complete 3-4 modules per term, each valued at 10 – 20 British credits. A student will typically be enrolled in 60 UK credits for a full term, which is 3-4 courses. Students receive a University of Roehampton transcript.
ATHENS
Students at The American College of Greece typically take 4-5 courses for 12-16 U.S. credits. Students receive a US University transcript issued by The American College of Greece
Our partner universities in Ireland operate on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). It is generally accepted that in order to convert from ECTS to U.S. credits, one should divide the ECTS total by 2, one course is typically 6 ECTS whereby most courses are worth 3 U.S. credits.
LIMERICK
The standard University of Limerick module is valued at 6 ECTS credits, although there are some exceptions. 6 ECTS credits are typically equivalent to 3 U.S. credits. Students receive a University of Limerick transcript.
FLORENCE
At Florence University of the Arts, University of South Florida issues a U.S. transcript for this program, most courses are worth 3-4 credits each. Students receive a Florence University of the Arts transcript.
ROME
At American University of Rome, at a minimum, one semester credit hour equals 15 classroom contact hours of lectures, 30 hours of laboratory, or 45 hours of practicum. The majority of courses listed in the catalog carry three semester credit hours. Students will take 4-5 classes. Students receive an American University of Rome transcript.
SORRENTO
At our partner in Sorrento, Sant’Anna Institute, Jacksonville University issues a U.S. transcript for this program. Most courses are worth 3-4 credits each. Students receive a Jacksonville University transcript.
TOKYO
At J.F. Oberlin University, participants are required to enroll in one course per 2 week term at J.F. Oberlin University. Each course is worth 4 Japanese credits, which is 3 U.S. credits. Students receive a J.F. Oberlin University transcript.
At Meiji Gakuin University, students take between 10- 18 Japanese credits per term. Six of those credits must be in Japanese Language coursework at Meiji Gakuin University. Elective courses and seminars offered in English with a focus on Japanese social and cultural issues are worth 2 credits per class. For the Japanese language course, the transcript will show all 5 levels below the course listing. We recommend evaluating that as 1 Japanese credit, for 45 contact hours. Students receive a Meiji Gakuin University transcript.
At Toyo University, most students will take 6 – 10 courses per term, at 2 Japanese credits each (although some courses are worth 1 Japanese credit). There are 45 course hours total per 1 Toyo University credit. We recommend evaluating that as 1 Japanese credit, for 45 contact hours. Students receive a Toyo University transcript.
STIRLING
At the University of Stirling, students are encouraged to take 60 SCQF credits per semester. However, Stirling advises that each course is roughly the equivalent of 5 U.S. semester credits. 3 Stirling modules (60 SCQF) is considered a full semester load. Students receive a University of Stirling transcript.
EDINBURGH
Most courses at University of Edinburgh are worth 20 “Edinburgh” credits. 20 Edinburgh credits are roughly equivalent to 10 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System), or approximately 5 U.S. credits. Students should aim to take 60 Edinburgh credits per semester. Three Edinburgh modules (60 Edinburgh credits or 15 U.S. credits) is considered a full semester load. Students receive a University of Edinburgh transcript.
SEOUL
At Sogang University, one Korean credit is equal to 1 U.S. credit. Each course is typically worth 3 credits. Students will take 4-5 courses per semester to be considered full-time. Students receive a Sogang University transcript.
Partner universities in Spain operate on the contact hour system, wherein the amount of credits earned depends on the time spent in class. A 45-hour class is worth 6 ECTS credits (3 U.S. credits). A 90-hour class is worth 12 ECTS credits (6 U.S. credits).
BARCELONA
Universitat de Barcelona operates on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). It is generally accepted that in order to convert from ECTS to U.S. credits, one should divide the ECTS total by 2. One course is typically 6 ECTS, whereby most courses are worth 3 U.S. credits. Students receive a Universitat de Barcelona transcript.
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona operates on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). It is generally accepted that in order to convert from ECTS to U.S. credits, one should divide the ECTS total by 2. One course is typically 6 ECTS, whereby most courses are worth 3 U.S. credits. Students receive a Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona transcript.
BANGKOK
The grading system at Mahidol University (MUIC) is like the system at an American college. A trimester course worth 4 Thai credits at Mahidol University is often equivalent to a 3-credit semester class. There are typically 44 lecture hours per 4-Thai-credit course, not including the final exam. Students receive a Mahidol University transcript.
