Below you will find some commonly asked questions for Transfer applicants. Please keep in mind that the application process is student-managed and that students are responsible for keeping up with dates, deadlines, and items to be submitted.
How UGA evaluates applicants and what matters most
I meet the transfer admission consideration eligibility levels. Am I guaranteed admission? 
No. Transfer admission decisions are made on a space-as-available basis. Thus, neither GPA nor completed credit hour levels guarantee admission. Under certain circumstances, for students closer to the minimum consideration levels, we will conduct a secondary review. This review will consider additional information, such as your statement of purpose, to help us better understand your academic plans and grade trends. We will also review your coursework to see how it aligns with your intended major. Our goal in both the initial and detailed reviews is to ensure that students are prepared for the rigorous coursework at UGA.
What is the purpose statement and why do I need to submit this?
The purpose statement is an opportunity to express why applicants are interested in applying to UGA. Applicants are encouraged to include how their academic coursework has prepared them for their selected major/program and how it will help them reach their academic goals.
How can I make my transfer application stronger?
The most important factor for transfer consideration will be how well you’ve prepared yourself for your intended major at UGA. To strengthen your application, take courses related to your major and aim to get the best grades you can, especially in those major-related courses. To see what courses fit with your interests, visit the UGA Bulletin.
After applying to UGA, will I also have to apply for my intended major?
Some majors at UGA are in high-demand and require an additional application into the major after being admitted to the university by UGA Undergraduate Admissions. It is important to research your intended major well before applying to UGA and learn more about the process for your respective UGA major. You can also find more information about applying into high-demand majors online.
I was admitted to UGA as a first-year student, but chose to go to another institution. Does this affect my future transfer application to UGA?
The First-Year and Transfer application review are separate processes. A decision made for a First-Year applicant has no bearing on future application decisions.
Does it matter where I go to school first in order to transfer to UGA?
No, it does not. But UGA only accepts coursework from United States institutions accredited by the regional organizations of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. An Outsourced Credit Evaluation is required for Non-U.S. institutions. Transferable credit from a community or technical college is generally listed in their transfer/general education core. Advanced placement credit listed as specific courses on a college transcript may be transferable. Non-academic, sub-college level, non-credit, experiential learning, professional certification and areas of study not also taught at UGA will not be transferred.
As a transfer student, what are my chances to graduate in four years from UGA?
Institutional data indicates that roughly 70% of sophomore transfer students graduate in four years total and about 46% of junior transfer students graduate in four years total. As a prospective transfer student, it is important to note that to earn a UGA baccalaureate degree, at least 45 of the last 60 semester credit hours must be completed in residence at UGA. Please review the UGA Bulletin’s university wide degree requirements for more information.
What kind of support services are available for transfer students at UGA?
UGA offers a variety of support services for students as they navigate the application process and begin classes at UGA. You can find comprehensive information online at the Office of Transfer Services website.
Where can I learn more about transferring to UGA?
A number of offices around UGA provide some specific supports to Transferring students. Below are some resources and a brief description of their role.
How grades and coursework are reviewed
What if I cannot complete 30 transferable semester hours until after the application deadline?
Students who have not completed 30 or more transferable hours following their graduation from high school are ineligible for transfer admission. Students must have at least one complete year of full-time college enrollment resulting in 30 or more transferable hours delivered on their official college transcripts by the transfer application deadline to be considered for transfer admission to UGA.
Can test credit such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate course credit count toward the required 30 completed semester hours?
Advanced Placement/IB credit will only count toward meeting admissions criteria if it is adequately represented on another college’s transcript. The credit must be identifiable as AP or IB, have a course designation at the college (ex. ENGL1101), and credit hours (ex. 3). If UGA Admissions cannot determine from the transcript the course or hours or if it is AP/IB credit, the credit will not be included in transferable hours. UGA does not accept CLEP credit, either from a CLEP score or on a college transcript. EDUC credit from a HS pathway, if on a college transcript, will not be used in the transfer hour calculation.
I have attended more than one institution. Do I need to send transcripts from every school at which I have taken college level work?
Official transcript(s) from all colleges or universities ever attended, including work completed through joint or dual enrollment programs, through study abroad work, or through work completed as a summer transient or any other program, are required for a complete application.
I received a failing grade in a course but have retaken the course. Will the failing grade be replaced?
In calculating your GPA, we use all academic grades you have earned in transferable courses (including Ds, Fs, and WFs) from every college you have attended. If a course is repeated, we will use both grades. As well, we only review transfer work with specific course titles, course numbers and credit hours.
Does UGA use my plus/minus grades from my previous college?
We do use plus/minus grades in the calculation of your transfer GPA. For a UGA GPA, we will translate the plus/minus work into the grade scale of UGA, and the HOPE scholarship program does not accept plus/minus grades.
Determining which courses will transfer to UGA
How will I know which classes will transfer to UGA?
We cannot tell students what courses definitely will or will not transfer until an application and transcripts are submitted. For admitted students, we will provide a list of all UGA courses for which a student has received credit.
Courses designed to apply towards a Bachelor Degree generally transfer. Some types of courses that may not transfer include: Experience or Institutional Placement, Non-academic courses (Internships, Workshops, Practicums, etc.), Music performance beyond 4 hours, PE beyond 1 hour (no grade used) and Bachelor Degree level areas of study not taught by UGA (Nursing, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, etc.).
Our Transfer Equivalency Search System contains courses that have already been researched for other UGA students. Please note these course equivalencies are subject to change.
What do all of the symbols mean on the Transfer Equivalency System?
The first 4 letters are the UGA prefix, (ex. MATH) the next number is the course level (2) and the last 3 are the course designation (TXX, GXX or numbers).
Why are some courses listed as electives on the Transfer Equivalency System?
Transferring Courses that do not match to existing UGA courses because of content, hours or UGA Departmental instructions are transferred as electives.
What if the transferring course is not on the Transfer Equivalency System?
Beyond the general rule for transfer (bachelor’s degree level courses should transfer), prospective students and applicants will need to wait until they are admitted for more information. Current students may contact their UGA advisors or departments.
What are General Education Core Electives?
Transferring Courses that do not match to existing UGA courses, but satisfy core at another University System of Georgia (USG) school, or some non-USG schools are coded to satisfy core requirements as electives.
For example:
USG course College Algebra MATH1111 = MATH1GXX automatically satisfies Core Area 1/A or 3 hour USG course Intro Spanish SPAN1001 = SPAN1GXX automatically satisfies Core similarly to the UGA 4 hour Intro Spanish SPAN1001.
Why do some transferring courses have multiple UGA Course listings on the Transfer Equivalency System?
Some courses may transfer differently if combined with other courses or additional hours may transfer as electives.
Examples include: A 3 hour science course or 1 hour lab may transfer as an elective if both were not completed, a 4 hour transfer course may transfer as a 3 hour UGA course and 1 hour elective, College Algebra (USG ID: MATH1111) combined with Trigonometry (USG ID: MATH1112) may transfer as Pre-Calculus (USG ID: MATH1113) and a General Education Core elective (MATH1GXX).
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Not a transfer applicant? Check out our First-Year FAQ
