Transferring Credit from International Institutions

Here you will find information on how students who have attended institutions outside of the United States can request and receive transfer credit.

 

Who Is Eligible?

International students are those who have attended institutions outside the United States. Brooklyn College grants transfer credit to matriculated undergraduate students only. Graduate students should contact Graduate Admissions for assistance.

Credit Transfer Policy

  • Maximum Transfer Credits: Up to 60 credits from recognized institutions.
  • Institutions must:
    • Be recognized by CUNY’s University Application Processing Center.
    • Offer programs equivalent to Brooklyn College’s baccalaureate degrees.
  • Coursework must have a U.S. grade equivalency of C- or higher.
    • Grades like CR, P, or S are not accepted unless they equate to C- or higher.
  • Non-English transcripts must be professionally translated and evaluated.
  • Students must submit course descriptions or syllabi for departmental review. If not in English, provide translations along with originals.

Requesting an Evaluation

Step 1: Complete the Brooklyn College Course Description Evaluation

  • Your courses will appear in CUNYfirst with a pending evaluation code (9999R).
  • Provide course descriptions for all international courses:
    • A short paragraph explaining:
      • Course goal.
      • Expected learning outcomes.
      • Key theories or concepts taught.
    • Example: PHIL 100 Philosophy—Philosophy is an ongoing and open-ended conversation about basic questions of human existence. This course introduces students to the conversation through the works of major philosophers. Units: 3 Department: Philosophy Source Catalog: Wells College 2020–21.
  • If you don’t have descriptions:
    • Contact your previous institution.
    • Check the institution’s website or your syllabus.
  • Translations:
    • Use a professional translator or authorized service
    • Online tools like Google Translate are acceptable but less precise.
    • Submit both original and translated descriptions via email with the subject line: “Course Descriptions.”

Step 2: Get an Official Course-by-Course Evaluation Report

  • Obtain this report from an approved third-party agency.
  • The report must include:
    • GPA based on all coursework and external exams.
    • U.S. credit value for each course.
    • Certified copies of all documents.
    • English translations (if needed).
  • Submit the official evaluation to the Transfer Evaluations Office via email with the subject line: “Course-by-Course Evaluation.”

Evaluation Review and Processing Workflow

  • Academic departments review and determine equivalencies.
  • Decisions are posted to your Transfer Credit Report in CUNYfirst.
  • Updates will appear in Degree Works within 2–3 days.
  • If more information is needed, you will be notified by email.

Requesting a Re-evaluation or Modification

Acknowledgment Form: The acknowledgement form is for any student that is submitting documents past their deadline date.

Re-evaluation Form: The re-evaluation form is for any student that would like to dispute a course that has already been evaluated.

 

 

Key Reminders

  • All international coursework must be completed before admission as a matriculated student.
  • Credits may not be granted for courses without an equivalent discipline at Brooklyn College.
  • Some credits may count only as general electives and not toward major, minor, or Pathways requirements.
  • Students can petition for additional credit evaluation beyond the 60-credit limit through the Transfer Appeals Officer.
  • All transcripts and course descriptions must be in English.

Transfering Credit

International students are students who have attended institutions outside of the United States. Brooklyn College does grant international students transfer credit.

A maximum of 60 credits can transfer from any combination of institutions that are recognized by CUNY’s University Application Processing Center as part of the system of higher education of another country and offers programs of study equivalent to baccalaureate degree programs in Brooklyn College. Course work must receive the U.S. grade equivalency of a C- or higher. Credit (CR), Pass/Passing (P), and Satisfactory/Satisfied (S) grades will not be considered, unless the transcript indicates that these grades equate to a C- or higher.

Brooklyn College requires all non-English transcripts to be professionally translated and evaluated with course credits and grades transcribed via the U.S. standards. Students will also be required to submit course descriptions/syllabi to the Transfer Evaluations Office, for academic departments to review. If these are not in English, the student will need to submit translations, along with the descriptions/syllabi in the original language.

All international coursework must have been successfully completed prior to being admitted to the college as a matriculated student. Students may not receive credits for courses that Brooklyn College does not have an existing/equivalent discipline. International students may receive general subject credits that may not count toward the students’ major/minor/college option/Pathway requirements. All coursework must be reviewed by the departmental academic evaluator who is the expert in the discipline the student is transferring in. International students will have the ability to petition with the transfer appeals officer if they wish to have additional credits evaluated and posted beyond the 60-credit limit.

  • International Evaluation Process: Information on agencies to contact for evaluation of international transcripts. This letter will be sent via email to you if it has been determined that we need additional information to evaluate your transfer credits.
  • Acknowledgment Form: This form is to be used if you are seeking a modification or re-evaluation of a course that was transferred into the college in a term other than your first semester at the college. If this is your first term at Brooklyn College, you do not have to fill out this form. This form indicates that you have consulted with the Office of Financial Aid and understand that modifying the transfer record after your first term at the college may result in a change in your financial aid. You can send the signed form to the Transfer Evaluations Office via email.

Important Reminder: All transcripts and course descriptions/syllabi must be translated in English in order to process your evaluation.

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