Skip to content

Host-DKU Credit Transfer Process

Step 1: Spend time understanding course credit transfer types and policies

  • An upcoming advising session on this process will be scheduled soon. Attend or watch the linked recording (information will be updated here).
  • Review course credit transfer types:
    • General Elective Credits: Many or most courses taken on study away programs are eligible for general elective credit that contribute towards required units for graduation
    • Distribution Requirements: Do you still need 4 credits for a distribution requirement? Where applicable, elective credits may still carry distribution requirements (UG Bulletin) for Arts and Humanities (AH), Social Science (SS) and Natural and Applied Sciences (NS) or Quantitative Reasoning (QR).
    • Thematic Area Equivalency: Thematic areas appear in some (though not all) major/track requirements and are usually marked by language such as "And take one 4-credit upper division course in modern world history". A course may be submitted to fulfill this major requirement, even though it is not equivalent to a specific DKU course.
    • Full Equivalency: This is perhaps least common for transfer units, because the course needs to be very similar or the same as an existing course at DKU. Full equivalency notes that the transfer course is equivalent (equal) to an existing DKU course in content and scope. If approved, a full equivalency fulfills all of the same major requirements and prerequisites in divisional foundation, disciplinary, or interdisciplinary categories

Step 2: Identify courses that are compelling to your academic experience, and that are strong candidates for elective credits or thematic/full equivalency

  • Reflect on the academic experience you hope to have. Although degree progress is always important, you may identify courses that only transfer for elective credit, or even some that will not transfer for any credit at DKU! These can still be worthwhile academic and personal experiences on study away. Consult with your academic advisor closely to understand how much room you have in your degree completion planning for courses that do not fulfill major requirements.
  • Although it will take time to accumulate a historical record of credit transfer reviews, first check credit transfer approval history. If a course has already been submitted previously and approved/denied for any type of credit, this may help you identify options in advance. Link for the OGE Approved Course Database.
  • Look for courses that share common attributes or course categories with classes offered at DKU. 
  • Once you have identified courses, collect course descriptions and syllabi (check for instructor credentials, course contact hours, etc.). You may wish to download an offline copy of the Host-DKU Course Credit Transfer to fill in prior to submitting materials via the online form in Step 3.

Step 3: Submit Course Credit Transfer Requests Online

  • Once you have prepared the required information for classes (course descriptions/codes, course syllabi, etc.) you are ready to submit the Host-DKU Credit Transfer Request online.
  • Be sure you have verified that the course has not previously been submitted for review (or is currently in review) using the OGE Approved Course Database.
  • Submit ONE form PER class.
  • [Click Here to Submit Host-DKU Course Credit Transfer Request]

Step 4: Wait for Review and Decision

  • Once you have submitted a course for review, the Office of Global Education will facilitate the review process with major coordinators and divisional chairs. All questions about course review progress or outcomes should be directed to the OGE first (not individual faculty members, major coordinators, or divisional chairs).
  • Your submitted course will be added as being "in review" on the OGE Approved Course Database until an outcome is decided.

Step 5: Receive Decision

  • You will be notified by email with a final decision outcome based on the original request category in around 4-6 weeks; one of four outcomes is possible:
    • Denied credit (course is not eligible for credit transfer back to DKU)
    • Approved for general elective credit (may include distributional requirements- AH, SS, NS and/or QR)
    • Approved for Thematic Area Equivalency: Fulfills a designated thematic area major/track requirement. This approval may apply to one or more majors/tracks.
    • Approved for Full Equivalency: The course is approved as fully equivalent in content and scope to an existing DKU course code. The course will fulfill the same major requirements, distributional requirements, and prerequisites as the equivalent DKU course.

Step 6: Enroll in Courses

  • Taking the review outcome(s) for your course(s) into consideration, you may proceed to enroll in courses with your study away institution//program.
  • Carefully follow registration deadlines and requirements of your program.
      Notes:
  • You are required to enroll in a full-load of courses in your institution/program, whether or not they all are approved for credit transfer back to DKU.
  • Some on-site experiences, such as independent research, internships, or service-learning components, may not be eligible for credit transfer to DKU even if there is an accompanying course on-site for the experience.
    • Credit for these experiences can ONLY be approved if there is an academic course component that fulfills requirements (at least 4 weeks, at least 35-45 teaching contact hours, producing academic work.). Credit is never awarded for internship hours alone, for example.
  • Courses must be taken for a grade. You cannot take a course Pass/Fail.
  • You must earn the U.S. equivalent of a C- or higher in the course
  • The course can't be a duplicate of a course you've already taken
  • Transfer credits do not count toward your DKU GPA
  • Review additional policies, requirements, and exceptions related to course credit transfers in the DKU Bulletin

Step 7: Take the Course, Document Your Work

  • Keep copies of the course syllabus, and copies of all graded work for the course (quizzes, tests, assignments, and papers) for your records, in the event they are required to complete credit transfers back to DKU

Step 8: (After completing the course) Reconcile Your Approved Transfer Credits with DKU

  • Make sure you have transcripts from your courses sent directly to the DKU Registrar (dku-registrar@dukekunshan.edu.cn) once they are available. Any program or institution will require that you designate recipients of your transcript.  Individual institution/program procedures for doing this may vary.
  • If course materials from Step 7 are requested, be prepared to provide these for further documentation.
  • Approved credits for transfer will appear on your DKU transcript. Verify that course credit has transferred correctly, including the approved requirements the course may fulfill towards your degree completion.