Current Students

Transfer Unit Policy for Current CGS Students

The following policy applies only to CGS students who have officially matriculated to Boston University. Students who have been admitted to BU but have not yet begun their undergraduate studies should refer to the Transfer Unit policy for Incoming First-Year Students.

Current CGS first-year and sophomore students are permitted to take external courses during summer semesters towards either an elective(s), and/or to make up a CGS required course. It is the responsibility of the student to follow the Transfer Unit Policy as noted. Students who enroll in unapproved courses may not receive units at Boston University.

It is mandatory that all students discuss external course options with their CGS Academic Advisor prior to registration.

Step 1: Check Transferology

After discussing course selection with your CGS academic advisor, use Transferology to see if the course you plan to take is listed. Boston University’s transfer equivalency site is provided as a guide to how classes taken at other colleges or universities may transfer to Boston University.

If you have questions about course options on Transferology, please contact your CGS Academic Advisor directly.

Step 2: Submit transfer unit form and supplemental materials (if needed)

If the course you plan to take is not listed on Transferology, you will have to have the course evaluated.  In order to evaluate an external course equivalency, please follow the instructions below:

Gather the following materials and bring them to the appropriate Boston University department (contacts can be found in the Bulletin) for evaluation:

  • Full external course syllabus
  • Full external course description
  • Transfer Credit Form – The relevant BU department will either provide this form, or provide instruction on where to obtain one

Once the Boston University department has evaluated the submitted materials, it will notify you whether the course(s) have been approved or not.  If the course has been approved, you must submit the approved course form to your CGS academic advisor.

You must earn a final grade of ‘C’ or higher for BU to accept credit for approved external courses.

Step 3: Meet with your CGS Academic Advisor

If the course you plan to take is listed on Transferology, you must meet with your CGS academic advisor prior to registration to ensure that the elective you plan to take fulfills the appropriate BU requirement.

If you decide to enroll in an approved course, please email your CGS academic advisor to confirm and include your full name, BUID#, Institution, Course code at outside institution, and BU course equivalent so that they can take note.

Step 4: Submit Official Transcript to BU

Once the course has been completed with a grade of “C” or higher, contact the external institution to request that an official external transcript be sent directly to BU:

  • Electronic (Preferred Method): Send to CEtscrpt@bu.edu
  • Paper Mail: Credit Evaluation Department, 881 Commonwealth Avenue 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Once submitted, please email your CGS academic advisor to notify them that a transcript is being sent to Boston University.