1. Home ›
  2. Advising ›
  3. Processes & Policies

Transfer Credit

A student who wishes to receive credit for a course taken at another institution must receive pre-approval from the Arts and Letters Office for Undergraduate Studies and the related subject-relevant department.

Approval Criteria

Transfer courses are evaluated according to the criteria listed in §1.2.2 of the Undergraduate Academic Code.

Credit Limit

The Undergraduate Academic Code (§ 5.5.1.2) stipulates that during the Notre Dame Summer Session – not more than 8 concurrent credit hours (including courses taken at ND and/or other institutions) may be approved for a single summer. Due to their intensive and compressed nature, AL students may not take and/or transfer more than three courses per summer.

Approval and Transfer Processes

Students seeking pre-approval for transfer courses must submit a “Transfer Approval” eForm using the eForms app on InsideND. 
Upon course completion, students must request an official transcript from the host institution to be submitted directly to their AL undergraduate dean.

Exception for Certain Language Programs

The Office for Undergraduate Studies may award up to eight credits by examination for participants in well-structured, non-credit bearing language programs or in programs at unaccredited and/or non-degree bearing institutions with the following conditions:

  • Students must receive departmental and dean’s permission in advance of attending such a language program.
  • Standardized testing (ACTFL or other nationally respected testing as appropriate) must be done for the student at the end of the period of study.
  • The Office for Undergraduate Studies will correlate the results of individual students’ standardized tests with data acquired regarding range of results at each level of Notre Dame courses to ensure accuracy of placement and credit (the department is responsible for establishing cut-off points for credit amounts and providing this information to the Undergraduate Dean’s Office and the Registrar’s Office).
  • Students must successfully complete at least one semester of the next level of language study (when offered) in order for credit to be awarded.