Understanding International Course Credits and the Credit Transfer Process

The number of courses you'll take while on exchange varies from country to country and institution to institution; you might be taking four courses while your friend is taking six, or more, courses. 

Course structure can also be different. Your courses may only last a few weeks, you may have to do an oral exam, or your final grade could be determined by one exam. These differences are part of the experience of studying abroad!

Even though the weighting of each course, and possibly the course structure, will vary, the work you do in these courses will be comparable to what you would do at Laurier.

Exchange Course Credit Transfer Process for 2026-2027 Exchange Students (by Faculty)

• CCTA process for LSBE Students
• CCTA process for students from all other departments

Credit Conversion

This information will help you better understand how many credits you need to take in a host country or a host institution to earn an equivalent of 2.5 credits at Laurier.

Australia:

• Australian Catholic University: 12 UC credit points, or 30 UCTS
• University of Canberra: 12 UC credit points, or 30 UCTS

Europe:

• 30 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) unless noted below
• Université de Tours: 25 - 30 ECTS
• Université de Poitiers: 25 - 30 ECTS
• Sorbonne Nouvelle University - 25 ECTS

Ireland: 30 ECTS

United Kingdom: 60 CATS or 30 ECTS

United States: 12 credits (generally 4 courses, with each course being worth 3 credits)

Mexico:

• ITAM: 4 courses
• Tecnologico de Monterrey: 18 credits

Hong Kong: 

• HKUST: 15 credits (generally 4 courses)
• Hong Kong University: 30 credits

Macau: 18 credits (generally 6 courses)

Japan:

• Akita International University: 18 credits
• Nagoya University of Commerce & Business: Each course is worth 2 NUCB credits, which equals 3 ECTS (as in Europe)
• Saga University: 15 credits

South Korea: 12 credits (generally 4 courses)

China: 15 credits (generally 4-5 courses, but confirm with the Student Abroad Advisor)

• Shanghai Lixin University: 30 ECTS
• Nanjing University: 2 credits is equal to 0.5 Laurier credits

When neither the ECTS nor UCTS credit systems are available, credits are awarded on the basis of Laurier course hours. Each 0.5 credit course at Laurier is 36 hours over a 12-week period. When multiplied by 5 courses per term, the normal course load at Laurier is 180 hours per term.

Types of Credits You Can Earn on Exchange

There are three types of credits you can earn while you are on exchange:

1. 100-, 200-, 300-, or 400-level program-specific electives (e.g. 400-level history elective).
2. Exact equivalent courses (e.g. BU481).
   • If the course matches a similar course offered at Laurier, you may be able to earn the equivalent credit. However, in some programs it's not possible so you may earn a program elective instead.
3. UU courses. This happens when you take a course that doesn't fit in any program offered at Laurier (e.g. Folklore Studies or Korean Ceramics).

Always discuss your program progression with your academic advisor to see where the credits you earn while on exchange will fit into your academic plan.

Course Credit Transfer Agreement Form

Once you are officially registered in your courses, and you won't be changing them, you should complete the Course Credit Transfer Agreement (CCTA) form. This form can be completed electronically with your academic advisor or in person prior to your departure.

You can complete the CCTA form after your exchange, but we recommend that you do it before you leave, and that you are in touch with your advisor about your course selection and the type of Laurier credit(s) you'll receive during your exchange. If you don't keep your advisor up-to-date on your course selection, you might not receive the credit(s) you were expecting!

You can find a fillable CCTA form, as well as an example of a completed CCTA form, in Journey under the Document Library tab. Be sure to write the name and title of your advisor clearly on the form.

And remember, your academic advisor or program coordinator can only approve credits for their specific program. This means you could have to meet with more than one advisor or program coordinator to get all your credits approved.

Transcript Information

For the courses you take while you are on exchange, the actual numeric or letter grade will not appear on your Laurier record. Instead, you will only earn a CR (credit) for F (fail). As well, your GPA will not be affected by the grades you receive during your exchange.

While your grades will not show on your Laurier record, most graduate institutions will require an official transcript from the host institution at which you studied while abroad. While on exchange, order extra copies of an official transcript from your host institution and send them to yourself. Leave them sealed so they are ready in case you apply to graduate school.

It is often difficult to obtain transcripts after leaving the country and  you are no longer registered at the host institution.

Exchange Course Credit Transfer Process for 2026-2027 Exchange Students (by Faculty)

Your Course Credit Transfer Agreement (CCTA) outlines the equivalent Laurier credits exchange students will earn from their term abroad. Follow the instructions for your faculty below. After your exchange, Laurier needs your official host transcript to finalize your credit transfer.

Download the CCTA form for all faculties

CCTA Process Lazaridis School of Business and Economics Students:

For students in BBA, Economics or Business Double-Degree programs:

1. Complete your CCTA

Wait until your course registration at your host institution is finalized. You can submit your CCTA only once.

• Complete all student information at the top of the form.
• List all courses you are taking on exchange.
• If you want courses considered toward a concentration, identify the concentration in the “Requested Laurier Credit” section.
• If you expect to receive UU credits, sign the UU acknowledgement on page 2. See the UU credit explanation below.

2. Prepare your course syllabi

• Include a PDF syllabus for every course listed on your CCTA. Links will not be accepted. If your syllabus is provided as a webpage or in another file format, convert it to a PDF before submitting.

3. Submit your CCTA and syllabi

Upload your completed CCTA and all required PDF syllabi using the LSBE submission form.

Submit your LSBE CCTA and syllabi

Submission deadlines

• Fall 2026 exchange: October 26, 2026
• Winter 2027 exchange: February 26, 2027

Questions? Email exchange@wlu.ca. Do not email your CCTA or supporting documents unless specifically asked to do so.

CCTA Process for Students From All Other Faculties:

For students in Science, Arts, Music, Social Work, Liberal Arts, and Human and Social Sciences:

1. Fill out the form first

Before sending your CCTA to your Academic Advisor / Program Coordinator, complete all student information at the top of the form.

2. Get academic approval

Ask your Academic Advisor(s) or Program Coordinator(s) to review your CCTA and complete the following:

• Initial next to each course in the table and indicate the corresponding Laurier credit value.
• Complete the section labelled “Laurier.”
• Complete the “UU Credit” section, if applicable.

3. Check signatures and submit

Make sure both you and your Academic Advisor or Program Coordinator have signed the completed CCTA. Then submit it to the Global Engagement Office using the form below.

There is no hard deadline at the moment, but your CCTA should be completed before your departure or while you are abroad, and submitted using the Qualtrics link below BEFORE you return to Canada.

Submit your CCTA for all other faculties

What are UU credits

You may request an interdisciplinary UU (unassigned) credit if a course does not fit clearly within one department, or if you do not need it to count toward a specific subject area. UU credits count toward your total degree credits, but may not meet specific program or major requirements.

After your exchange

1. Your host institution sends your official transcript to Laurier. This takes two to three months after your exchange ends.
2. Once the transcript arrives, your Student Abroad Advisor completes the final section of your CCTA and sends it to the Registrar’s Office.
3. The Registrar’s Office processes your credit transfer.