Transfer Applicants
Academic Preparation & Transfer Credit
The primary criterion for admission to Stanford is academic excellence. We seek evidence of your preparation and potential to succeed in your academic record.
College Curriculum Recommendations
Your college transcript should reflect that you have taken a rigorous curriculum. There are no required courses for admission to Stanford. If you have attended college for more than one year, we expect that you have begun to focus on a potential major or area of study.
We cannot provide specific guidance on course selection. We encourage students to consult with their academic advisor and pursue courses that meet the degree requirements at their current institution.
Most competitive students will apply to Stanford with the equivalent of two years of college-level coursework by the time they enter Stanford. However, Stanford does not have a minimum number of credits students must have to be admitted.
Transfer Credit
Transfer credit is reviewed and awarded by Stanford's Office of the University Registrar according to Faculty Senate policy. While Stanford has no articulation agreements with any college or institution, a course generally receives transfer credit if it meets the following conditions:
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It is completed at an accredited institution
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It is substantially similar to courses offered at Stanford
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It is completed with a minimum grade of “C-” or Pass (where ‘Pass’ is equivalent to a “C-” or above).
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It does not duplicate, overlap or regress previous coursework
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Courses cannot have been used to satisfy secondary/high school diploma and/or graduation requirements
Incoming transfer students may transfer a maximum of 90 quarter units (roughly two years of full-time college or university study) to Stanford regardless of the number of units earned at previous institutions. While transfer students are eligible to apply with more than two years of coursework from a previous institution, note that students are required to complete at least two years of full-time enrollment at Stanford in order to attain a bachelor's degree from the university.
The transferability of specific courses is ultimately determined by the Registrar's Office once students are admitted. Transferability policy may change from year to year. Consult the Office of the University Registrar for current information on transfer credit .
Frequently Asked Questions
When you apply to Stanford, you apply to the university as a whole, not to a particular major, department, or school. As a result, there are no additional requirements for certain areas of study. If you have attended college for more than one year, we expect that you have begun to focus on a potential major or area of study.
We are not able to advise students on the transferability of specific courses. Please review the guidelines listed above when choosing courses. Transferability of specific courses will be determined after students are admitted.
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