What are advance and transfer credits?
If you took British-Patterned Education, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, you may be offered advance credit that counts towards your BSc degree. You can learn more about which courses are eligible for first-year credit at UBC.
Advance credit (from AP, IB, or British-Patterned Education courses) does not count toward your winter session course load because you earned it before starting studies at UBC. It does count for promotion to the next class standing, such as moving from first year class standing to second year class standing. You can read more about promotion and sufficient progress. Advance credit also counts towards the total credits required to earn your BSc degree.
If you are transferring from another post-secondary institution, UBC may grant you transfer credits for specific courses. If you have accepted transfer credits for AP or IB courses, these apply toward your promotion requirements.
Make sure to review the Academic Calendar for more considerations about advance and transfer credit.
How do I check my advance or transfer credits?
They can both be checked in Workday. After logging in, click on the "Academics" tab then check under "Transfer Credit." While this tab is called Transfer Credit, it includes both advance and transfer credits.
Should I use the advance credit or take the equivalent UBC course?
If the course is core to your area of study, it may be worthwhile to also take the course at UBC. You are likely to do well, but it also ensures you learn the material as it is taught at UBC. If the course is an elective, then you may want to use the advance credit and give yourself more flexibility in planning your first year. However, if you take the course at UBC you have refused your advance credit and if you don’t pass, you will need to retake the course at UBC.
If you're coming from high school and have received a large amount of advance credit, consider taking more electives when planning your first year courses. Or, take a second year course in the same subject as your advance credit. But don’t overestimate your readiness for second year courses; they are taught with the assumption that you have a year of university-level studies, skills, and experience already.
What should I do if I haven't been notified of the advance or transfer credit yet?
Unless it’s an elective, we recommend you register for the course on your registration day. This ensures you have the course if you don’t get the advance or transfer credit. If you receive the advance credit and decide to keep it, you can drop the UBC course later and replace it with an elective. To find out what credit you may be receiving, check out which British-patterned Education, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate courses are eligible for first year credit at UBC.
Return to the Choosing Your Courses in First Year Science guide.