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University and College Transfer Students

Direct entry business management student, Alyssa Twomey, shares her experience as a transfer student.

Transfer students are an important part of our diverse community. A significant number of our students have completed some post-secondary education. Many of our transfer students are able to apply some or all of their completed studies towards their degree.

If you have completed studies at university and/or college in Ontario, elsewhere in Canada or abroad, we encourage you to apply! We are committed to providing academic pathways and reducing barriers for students looking to transfer from colleges and universities.

We offer formal pathways for university/college transfer students (see pathways below) as well as other opportunities for credit transfer and advanced-level admission. Where/when possible, this will be indicated in your official Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Offer of Admission.

Have You Attended a College and/or University? Curious About How We Will Assess Your Application?

Academic Assessment

Your complete academic record, including secondary school as well as all post-secondary studies (e.g. college, university, or other post-secondary institutions) will be reviewed and considered as part of the competitive selection process. You are required to declare all secondary and post-secondary institutions you have attended on your application. You must submit transcripts from each institution you have attended, including secondary and post-secondary schools. Secondary school transcripts are not required if you are a university/college transfer student applying to one of our formal pathways (see below for pathways).

Along with reviewing performance in your post-secondary studies, we will be assessing your academic background to ensure that you have achieved the minimum grade(s) in prerequisite subject(s). You can view the prerequisite subject requirement(s) on our program page(s). This generally does not apply to our formal pathways (see below).

Non-Academic Requirements

Programs may specify non-academic requirements for admission (e.g. portfolio, admission essay, interview, audition, etc.). These programs are referred to as Grades-Plus programs. The non-academic requirements for individual Grades-Plus programs, including specific submission dates and procedures, are available by visiting each program page. Both academic and non-academic criteria are used in the admission selection process for Grades-Plus programs.

A Holistic Approach

We encourage all university/college transfer applicants to complete and submit a TMU Supplementary Form. This form provides you with an opportunity to tell us more about yourself, your academic history and why you are interested in joining our community.

While we take a holistic approach to admission assessment, it’s important to remember that we receive more applications than spaces available. The averages/grades required for admission selection to each program are determined on the basis of competition each year. Unfortunately, possession of minimum averages and/or grades does not guarantee admission.

In Undergraduate Admissions, we incorporate and prioritize equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles in all of our work. We understand that every applicant is different. We welcome you to provide us with additional information that you feel should be considered in our review of your application for admission. If you believe that your academic record may not be an accurate reflection of your academic achievement(s) or potential, you are welcome to submit a Special Consideration Form. You may use it to inform the Undergraduate Admissions Committee of an experience(s) or circumstance(s) that impacted your previous academic performance such as personal illness, mourning/bereavement, extracurricular and leadership commitments and employment/financial obligations. You may also provide insight into any other barriers you have faced (e.g. social or personal) that have impacted your academic success and your pathway to TMU. Any/all information you provide on this form will be kept confidential.

Additional Information

If you are admitted to an undergraduate degree program, you must complete at least one half (50%) of the program’s curriculum at TMU. No more than a total of 50% of the program’s requirements may consist of advanced standing/credits (transfer credits, challenge credits, credits granted on a Letter of Permission).

You are not required to submit course descriptions/outlines from your post-secondary studies for admission consideration. If this information is needed, a request will be forwarded to you. Detailed course outlines may be required as part of the transfer credit application process, after admission has been granted.

Unless otherwise stated in an Offer of Admission, the following applies if your complete post-secondary diploma or degree is used to admit you admission to an upper level:

  • Individual courses and associated transfer credits may not be recorded on your TMU transcript
  • Courses may not be used to apply for additional transfer credit (unless otherwise stated)
  • The original grades in your courses will not be recorded on your TMU academic record
  • Grades in previous courses will not be used in the TMU GPA calculation

Are you wondering what courses from your previous/current institution may transfer to TMU?

If you have completed courses at an Ontario post-secondary institution, visit ONTransfer, external link, opens in new window. Search for courses you can transfer to TMU - this is a great resource for unofficial transfer credit information.

If you have completed courses at an applicable, accredited Canadian post-secondary institution (inside or outside of Ontario), you can obtain unofficial transfer credit information after you have submitted your application for admission. Visit How to Apply for Transfer Credits for application instructions. Unofficial course equivalency information will be displayed upon submitting your application. Unofficial results are based on previously established equivalencies contained in the TMU Transfer Credit Database. If a course has not yet been evaluated for transfer credit equivalency (No Rule), you will need to upload a detailed course outline through your Transfer Credit Report after your application is processed.

For all other students, you will have an opportunity to apply for transfer credit once admitted to TMU if:

  • You have completed courses at an accredited Canadian institution that are not in our database
  • You have completed CEGEP courses and they have not been used as a basis for admission (see your Offer of Admission)
  • You have completed courses at an accredited institution outside of Canada
  • You have completed advanced secondary courses, such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), etc.

If you are transferring from another TMU undergraduate or certificate program, you are not required to apply for transfer credits.

Visit Transfer Credits for more information about transfer credit eligibility and applications.

If you are intending to transfer within the Arts, Engineering or Science programs (e.g. Criminology to Philosophy, Civil Engineering to Mechanical Engineering, Biology to Medical Physics, etc.) consult your Program Department regarding a program/plan change.

For all other TMU students wishing to transfer programs:

You must submit a TMU Application Form. Visit the Applications and Related Forms page and the Submission of Documents page for application and document submission details.

Some programs may specify non-academic requirements for admission (e.g. portfolio, admission essay, interview, audition, etc.). Visit the applicable program page for requirements, submissions dates and procedures.

If your application to transfer programs is approved, you will not be required to apply for transfer credits. Visit Internal TMU Course Transfers for more information about TMU courses and Advisement Reports.

Courses completed prior to starting your new program will not be included in the calculation of your cumulative grade point average.