Transferring To West Virginia University: What You Need To Know

West Virginia University (WVU) accepts transfer students, and offers a number of articulation agreements with partner colleges that allow students to begin their education close to home. The requirements for transfer students vary depending on the college or school that a student's major is associated with. For example, the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources admits transfer students on a case-by-case basis, whereas the College of Applied Human Sciences requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.00 for all majors. The transfer process at WVU is supported by experienced staff who will work with students individually to ensure a smooth transition.

Transferring course credit to WVU

West Virginia University (WVU) accepts transfer students and their course credits. The process of transferring course credit to WVU is outlined below.

Transfer Credit Database

The WVU transfer credit database allows students to see how credits from other institutions will transfer and how they will apply to their degree at WVU. The database is designed to make the transfer process more transparent and easier.

Transferring Credits

WVU accepts all "college-level courses" from "accepted regionally accredited institutions." Grades and credits are transferable for college-level courses from regionally accredited US institutions. Credit hours do not change when transferred to WVU. For example, if a student earned 3 credit hours in a Computer Science course at their previous institution, and the equivalent WVU course is 4 credit hours, they will only receive 3 transfer credit hours at WVU.

How Courses Transfer

There are two ways that courses can transfer to WVU:

• When a course at the previous institution matches a WVU course, the course is assigned a WVU equivalent course number. For example, Sociology 100, Introduction to Sociology, at the previous institution might be equivalent to Sociology 101, Introduction to Sociology, at WVU, and would be added to the student's WVU transcript as Sociology 101.
• Courses that do not have a direct equivalent but are accepted by WVU will be marked as accepted transfer courses. For example, a 100-level History course on Russian politics that does not have an equivalent at WVU may be translated to HIST 1TC, where '1' indicates the level at which it was taught, and 'TC' represents "transfer credit."

Using Transfer Credits Towards Your Degree

The student's academic adviser and academic college or school will determine how transfer courses that do not have a direct WVU equivalent can be applied to their degree requirements. In some cases, transfer courses will count only as general WVU credit rather than towards specific degree requirements.

Taking Courses Elsewhere

Current WVU students who want to take credits at another regionally accredited institution must first get permission from their academic adviser. Once they know which courses they want to take, they can access the transfer credit database to determine the available transient credit courses. Any courses not found in this database may be requested to be added via the Transfer Equivalency Review Request (TERR).

The Transfer Equivalency System

The WVU Transfer Equivalency Self Service (TESS) system helps potential WVU students identify course equivalency information for courses from other institutions. TESS also allows students to see how their translated coursework will be applied in their desired degree program.

Appealing Transfer Credit Evaluations

Students who transfer credits to WVU may appeal the University's evaluation of transfer credits on a case-by-case basis within one semester of transferring. To do so, they must send an email to transfercredit@mail.wvu.edu outlining their request with specific information about the course in question.

Admission requirements for transfer students

West Virginia University (WVU) accepts transfer students and offers support through the transfer process. Here are the admission requirements for transfer students:

Application Process

To apply for admission to WVU, you must complete the WVU Application and include a non-refundable fee. The fee is $50 for domestic applicants and $65 for international applicants. If you are applying for an online program, follow the steps for WVU Online Campus applicants. Additionally, request official transcripts from all previously attended institutions. If you have fewer than 24 transferable credits, you must also submit your final high school transcript.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to enroll as a transfer student at WVU, you must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all college-level work attempted. Additionally, if you have fewer than 24 transferable credit hours, you must also meet the freshman admission standards and can apply as test-optional.

Transferring Course Credit

WVU accepts grades and credits from regionally accredited transferring institutions. College-level courses from regionally accredited U.S. institutions are transferable, although not all courses will have direct equivalents at WVU. The Office of Admissions will evaluate your transfer credits and translate them into WVU courses based on their transfer database.

Program Requirements

Program requirements for transfer students vary by college and school within WVU. For example, the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources admits transfer students based on space availability and requires a minimum GPA of 3.00 for Engineering Technology and All Other Engineering Majors with fewer than 24 credit hours. In contrast, the College of Creative Arts and Media has a minimum GPA requirement of 2.00 for admission.

Application Deadlines

For fall semester admission, all application materials and supporting documents must be received by August 1. For spring semester admission, the deadline is December 1. It is recommended that you apply as early as possible.

How to apply as a transfer student

West Virginia University (WVU) accepts transfer students and offers an individualised approach to ensure a smooth transition. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply as a transfer student to WVU:

Review the Admissions Requirements:

Before starting your application, it is important to review the admissions requirements for transfer students on the WVU website. Understand the eligibility criteria, including the minimum grade point average and any specific program or major requirements.

Complete the WVU Application:

To apply for an on-campus program at WVU, you need to submit the WVU Application along with a non-refundable fee. The fee is $50 for domestic applicants and $65 for international applicants. If you are applying for an online program, follow the steps for WVU Online Campus applicants.

Request Official Transcripts:

Gather and submit official transcripts from all institutions you have attended. If you have fewer than 24 transferable credits, you must also provide your final high school transcript. If you are currently in your first semester of college, submit your first-semester college transcript before the admissions review.

Meet Application Deadlines:

To be considered for transfer admission, ensure that WVU receives all your application materials and supporting documents by the specified deadlines. For fall semester admission, the deadline is August 1, and for spring semester admission, the deadline is December 1. It is recommended to apply as early as possible.

Check Your Application Status:

After submitting your application, you can check its status by logging into the application dashboard using your application login credentials. If you submitted the Common Application, WVU will send you instructions to access the dashboard once they receive your application.

Review Transfer Credit Evaluation:

Once admitted, your college transcripts will be reviewed, and your credits will be evaluated for transfer. Log in to the WVU Portal to access DegreeWorks and view your transferred courses and any courses that need to be submitted for review. If you have any courses with NOEQs (not yet evaluated for equivalency), submit a Transfer Equivalency Review Request (TERR) for each course.

Contact Your Academic Adviser:

To register for your first semester at WVU, you must meet with an academic adviser. They will guide you through the registration process and lift your registration hold. Contact the transfer academic adviser for your specific college, school, or program.

Submit Final Transcript:

After completing all courses at your current college or university, request that your registrar forward an updated official transcript with your final grades to the WVU Office of Admissions. This step ensures that WVU has your complete academic record.

Pay the Academic Deposit:

If you plan to live in a WVU residence hall or participate in an Adventure WV Trip, you are required to pay the academic deposit. This deposit is fully refundable if you submit a cancellation form by the specified deadlines.

Apply for Housing and Choose a Dining Plan:

If you are transferring with fewer than 24 credits, you need to apply for housing in a residence hall. WVU has a First-Year Live On Requirement. If you have 24 or more credits, on-campus housing is not mandatory, and you can choose from university apartments or off-campus housing options. All students living on campus must purchase an on-campus dining plan.

Complete New Student Orientation:

Participate in the New Student Orientation to familiarise yourself with WVU. Registration for the orientation is typically announced via email, and you can watch for program dates and details.

Complete Health Insurance Requirements:

All students enrolling in 6 or more credits at WVU are required to have health insurance coverage. You will be billed for the WVU Aetna health insurance plan unless you opt out by completing the student health insurance waiver.

Review Financial Aid and Scholarships:

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial aid and scholarships. WVU's school code is 003827. Additionally, as a transfer student, you are automatically considered for WVU scholarships if admitted by the specified deadlines.

Deadlines for transfer applications

West Virginia University (WVU) has different deadlines for transfer applications depending on the semester for which you are applying.

For fall semester admission, all application materials and supporting documents must be received by August 1. For spring semester admission, the deadline is December 1.

WVU recommends that you apply as early as possible. If you are applying for the fall semester and are in your first semester of college, WVU will need your first-semester college transcript with completed courses before your admissions review.

If you are transferring fewer than 24 credits, you will need to apply for housing in a residence hall, as WVU has a First-Year Live On Requirement. If you are transferring with 24 or more credits, you are not required to live on campus and may choose from university apartments, off-campus housing, or residence halls.

For scholarship consideration, you must be admitted by January 2 for the spring term and August 1 for the fall term. All official documents required to support merit eligibility must be received by January 2 for the spring term and August 1 for the fall term.

Scholarships for transfer students

West Virginia University (WVU) does accept transfer students. The university offers scholarships for both in-state and out-of-state transfer students, including international students.

Transfer students can use the Spring 2024 Scholarship Estimator to calculate their potential scholarship eligibility. There are various scholarship opportunities available at WVU, including:

• Institutional Scholarships: Students are automatically considered for most institutional scholarships based on admission.
• Departmental Scholarships: These scholarships may require a separate application.
• Leadership Scholarship: This scholarship may require a separate application.
• Study Abroad Scholarships: These scholarships may require a separate application.
• International Scholarships: International first-time transfer students may be eligible for scholarships.
• External or Private Scholarships: These scholarships require a separate application, such as the WV Promise Scholarship (for West Virginia residents only) and the Osher Reentry Scholarship for Nontraditional Students.

Frequently asked questions