Transfer Credit from Study Abroad

Students are responsible for the completion of courses taken abroad, having their official study abroad transcript sent to the Office of Study Abroad, and providing signed URTC forms for any courses fulfilling major/degree requirements (plus any other documentation needed for the proper evaluation of credits earned abroad).

Students should be aware of and carefully review Rice graduation requirements, directing any questions regarding Degree Works to the Office of the Registrar.

Transfer Credit Pre-Approval Process

As part of the study abroad application process, students are strongly encouraged to obtain pre-approval from their transfer credit advisors for coursework completed abroad for which the student wishes to obtain Rice-equivalent or elective credit. This advising is a critical part of allowing a Rice student to maximize his/her study abroad experience, as it ensures not only that credit will be properly evaluated, but that the study abroad complements each individual student’s course of study at Rice.

The pre-approval process requires students to identify courses abroad relevant to their major or minor programs, or able to fulfill distribution requirements. Students will meet with the appropriate transfer credit advisor to review planned courses and complete the Undergraduate Request for Transfer Credit form. Each department has the authority to pre-approve courses that may earn credit for either core requirements or electives.

The course pre-approval process is dependent upon the transfer credit advisor in each major. Transcripts from the institution abroad are then evaluated by the registrar upon return to Rice to determine final credit awarded.

Individual departments make the final decision as to whether courses are appropriate for transfer to Rice, as determined by departmental transfer credit advisors. Students who wish to use courses to satisfy requirements in their major will need to meet with these advisors to evaluate potential transfer credit for each course taken abroad and transferred back as credit into their major.

The course evaluation and pre-approval process is as follows:

Step 1: Research Course Offerings

When selecting a program, make sure you know what courses are being offered during the term you are looking to go abroad. Collect all available course syllabi and course descriptions.

Step 2: Look at the Rice Course Catalog

It is important to determine what courses will keep you on track for graduation. If the course offerings meet major/minor requirements, you will need to get a signed URTC form from a transfer credit advisor (the credit will transfer as either for Rice-equivalent or elective credit).

Step 3: Complete the URTC Form

Prior to meeting with a transfer credit advisor, you must fill out a URTC form for any courses you are interested in taking abroad. The transfer credit advisor may or may not sign off on the form during your meeting, but you should come prepared.

Step 4: Schedule an Appointment with the Appropriate Transfer Credit Advisor

Schedule an appointment to meet with the appropriate departmental transfer credit advisor for each course. Bring all course information at your disposal (syllabi, descriptions, sample assignments & exams, instructor contact information, etc.) along with the URTC form to your appointment(s). Discuss the classes you are interested in taking with the transfer credit advisor and identify which requirements they may fulfill.

Transfer credit advisors may or may not pre-approve courses for transfer credit on the URTC form at the initial meeting. Official approval is typically awarded only after a review of all available course materials upon the student's return to Rice. However, transfer credit advisors offer valuable guidance with regards to the likelihood of a student's proposed courses receiving approval. The outcome of conversation(s) with the transfer credit advisor(s) are documented in the study abroad portal during the application process.

Step 5: Submit Pre-Approval Documentation to the Study Abroad Application Portal

As part of your Rice Study Abroad application, you are required to upload documentation of the transfer credit pre-approval process. If you obtained any signed URTC forms, please upload those. If not, you must provide at least an email thread with the transfer credit advisor(s) detailing the outcome of the discussion.

Any URTC forms or supporting documentation you submit are kept on file through your return to Rice.

For courses that were not pre-approved, students should keep copies of exams, syllabi, papers, and other assignments for review by a transfer credit advisor upon return to Rice.

If you end up enrolling in different courses than those reported on your URTC form(s), you should consult with your transfer credit advisor(s) while abroad to ensure that major/minor credit can be awarded. You will need signed URTC forms for each newly approved course; the Office of Study Abroad will need a copy of these upon your return.