It depends on the specific universities and the courses taken. Transferability of credits should be discussed with the respective institutions.
For those who wish to receive additional information
When it comes to transferring college credits from the United States to England, there are a few factors to consider. According to the British Council, “there is no formal agreement between the UK and US higher education authorities, and the acceptance of qualifications will ultimately be at the discretion of individual institutions.” Therefore, it is important to check with the specific universities and programs you are interested in to determine their policies on credit transfer.
It is worth noting that even if a university in England does accept transfer credits from an American institution, there may be differences in the educational systems that could affect the credit equivalency. For example, while many American colleges operate on a semester-based system, some universities in England use a trimester system or have different academic calendars altogether.
Here are a few additional interesting facts regarding credit transfer from the U.S. to England:
- According to the U.S. Department of State, “when undertaking a degree program in the UK, students must complete the entire program of study in order to receive a degree. Partial degrees or transferable lower division coursework are not offered.”
- The Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2021 includes four universities in the United Kingdom among the top 10 in the world: University of Oxford (1), University of Cambridge (6), Imperial College London (8), and University College London (10).
- The Fulbright Commission advises students seeking to transfer credits to England to “save course materials (syllabi, exams, research papers) and all original transcripts, as well as diploma supplements if applicable. These materials will help foreign credential evaluators assess your U.S. credentials and assist UK universities in your admission and credit allocation processes.”
To provide a clearer understanding of the potential credit transfer process, here is a simplified table comparing the credit systems at an American university and a British university:
| American University | British University | |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Calendar | Semester-based, typically runs from August/September to December and January to May | Typically runs in trimesters from September to December, January to April, and April to June/July |
| Credit System | Uses a credit system with most courses worth 3-4 credits | Uses an ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) system where most courses are worth 15 credits |
| Grading System | Typically uses a letter grading system, with many institutions also using number grades or GPA | Often uses numeric grades on a scale of 0-100, which are then converted to letter grades or classifications |
| Transferring Credits | Policies vary by institution, but credits may be transferable to some universities in the UK | Policies vary by institution, but accepting transfer credits is at the discretion of each university and subject to differences between educational systems |
In summary, while it may be possible to transfer college credits from the United States to England, there are no guarantees and it is important to verify policy at specific institutions. With careful planning and strong communication with universities, however, it is possible to pursue successful academic experiences in both countries.
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Yes. UK University admissions officers have a big book which gives the equivalence of qualifications across countries. They can also ask you to produce some work to demonstrate equivalence, or to do some work to catch up anything that was missed (if you want to transfer after the start of the course).
American college credits do not transfer to England. However, it is possible to transfer credits from US to UK University. A student is wise to do some advanced planning and find out in advance which credits will transfer to the new institution. One American credit usually translates to 2 ECTS-credits.
The short answer is no. For a number of reasons, and despite the fact that Experian and Equifax have bureaus in both the US and UK, your credit score is as irrelevant overseas as is your GPA after college.
Contrary to popular opinion, it is possible to transfer credits from US to UK University. But, as is the case whenever someone transfers between educational institutions, a student is wise to do some advanced planning. Find out in advance which credits will transfer to the new institution.
One American credit usually translates to 2 ECTS-credits.
Answer in video
In this video, Susanna shares her experience of transferring from her previous college in the US to the University of Greenwich in London. Due to the pandemic and her struggling business, Susanna decided to pursue her degree in the UK. She expresses her excitement about living in a big city and being closer to her boyfriend. Susanna invites her viewers to follow along with her journey and compare her experiences in the UK to those in the US.
I am sure you will be interested in these topics as well
- Create a UCAS profile.
- Choose degree program and university.
- Meet entry requirements.
- Write an outstanding personal statement.
- Submit your application.
- Obtain student visa.
- Meet financial requirements.