Transfer Credit
Through CityUHK coursework, credit from advanced-standing examinations such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or college coursework completed at an institution other than CityUHK, Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program students will transfer up to 60 of the 124 credits required for degree completion at Columbia University.
Similarly, students will transfer 60 of the 120 credits required for graduation from CityUHK from their Columbia University coursework. It is important to note that these credits will be comprised only of credits earned from completed Columbia University coursework (with a grade of C or higher), and will not include higher standing credits such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate etc.) or credits earned at other colleges or universities.
Eligible pre-program transfer credit will be evaluated by the admissions committee at the point of admission into the Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program and communicated to students on a case by case basis. Students admitted to the Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program may transfer credit only from the institutions listed on their application for admission at the time the application is submitted. Coursework from institutions not listed on the application for admission will not be considered for transfer credit. Transcripts from all institutions previously attended must be listed on the application form and submitted to the School of General Studies. Failure to report and send transcripts from all schools previously attended is considered academic dishonesty and may result in disciplinary action including rescinding the offer of admissions.
In all cases, transfer credit from all pre-program coursework must be finalized within six months of matriculation. For additional information on transferring credits, please visit the Transfer Credit section of the School of General Studies website.
During the first two years of the Program, CityUHK will send student transcripts to Columbia for transfer credit evaluation. Before the start of their third year, Joint Bachelor’s Degree students will receive the maximum 60 allowable transfer credits toward the 124 credit minimum required for the Columbia undergraduate degree for coursework completed at CityUHK.
Students will also have access to their General Degree Requirements, compiled by their advising deans. These requirements will detail which of the core requirements have been satisfied by transfer credit.
Classroom hours are relatively similar at both CityUHK and Columbia.
Please note that Columbia accepts a maximum of 60 transfer credits; moreover, with respect to the Columbia bachelor’s degree requirements, all coursework completed at CityUHK will be classified as transfer credit. Consequently, non-CityUHK transfer credits may not accelerate degree completion.
AP Credit
Each year individual departments at Columbia review the College Board Advanced Placement curriculum and determine policies for placement, credit, and/or exemption. Although AP scores cannot be used toward exemption from Core Curriculum courses, scores may be used to satisfy other requirements, as noted on the GS website.
Please also note that CityUHK does not accept AP credits for transfer toward the bachelor’s degree.
International Baccalaureate
The School of General Studies awards transfer credit only for International Baccalaureate (IB) exams taken at the Higher level. No transfer credit is awarded for the "Theory of Knowledge" exam.
Students are awarded the equivalent of one semester of transfer credit (typically 3 points) in the relevant discipline for any Higher level exam in which they receive a score of 6 or 7. Any transfer credit received, as determined by Admissions, will appear on the student's ECR and will be considered part of the 60-credit transfer maximum.
Although IB scores cannot be used toward exemption from Core Curriculum courses, scores may be used to satisfy other requirements, as noted on the GS website.
Please also note that CityUHK does not accept IB credits for transfer toward the bachelor’s degree.
GPA and Grade Conversion
A student’s Columbia GPA is determined only by courses completed at Columbia. While students are required to pass their CityUHK classes in order to progress to Columbia in year three, the grades earned in years one and two are not factored into their Columbia GPA. To determine an approximate GPA based on CityUHK coursework, Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program students can create an average of their combined GPAs from both CityUHK and Columbia.
Students at both CityUHK Columbia are given both letter and numerical grades as follows:
A+ = 4.33
B+ = 3.33
C+ = 2.33
D = 1.00
A = 4.00
B = 3.00
C = 2.00
F = 0.00
A- = 3.67
B- = 2.67
C- = 1.67
* The Columbia University grading scale does not distinguish between D+/D/D- grades. These grades are weighted for each class based upon the credit value.