Learn More About Transfer

Transfer refers to an exchange of courses, credits, or enrollment between colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes. Transfer students are people who switch institutions, change programs, or are granted transfer credits.

Are you in high school? Are you confused about diplomas, degrees, certificates, and apprenticeships? Follow the link to learn more about Ontario's education system.

Some institutions will recognize learning (that means courses or credits) you completed at other institutions. Getting transfer credit can mean you do not have to repeat similar courses.

Over 60,000 students transfer in Ontario each year! Transferring credits can save you:

Receiving transfer credit may depend on:

1. Course Similarity. Do the different courses cover the same material (or the same subject matter)? Do the courses give you similar skills and knowledge?
2. Course Relevance. How relevant (or related) was your previous learning to your new program? For example, an art course might not be related to your social worker degree, but you might be able to apply it as an elective or non-major credit.
3. Grades. What grades did you receive for your courses? Some institutions have a minimum grade requirement for granting transfer credits.
4. Time. When did you take your courses? Some institutions make sure that what you learned is recent and consistent with their curriculum.
5. Hours. How many course hours were required in your previous course? Some institutions grant transfer credit for course(s) of the same length in hours. For example, a previous course may have required 36 course hours to complete.

This website helps people transfer between publicly funded colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes in Ontario. If you want to transfer out of Ontario—or come to Ontario from another province or country— click here for more information.

ONTransfer.ca has thousands of searchable pathway agreements between institutions and individual course transfer opportunities.

Explore your options

You can explore program pathways from your college, university, or Indigenous institute. You can search for courses you can take to your next program. You can also search for courses you can take at other institutions while remaining in your current program. Remember to consider costs, fees, and whether an institution and program are a good fit for you!

Talk to a Transfer Advisor

Have you found an institution (or a few) you are interested in? Find out details about those institutions' specific transfer requirements. Different institutions tend to have different transfer processes. Contact us for help in locating these requirements or connect with a transfer advisor at that institution.

Steps for Transferring

Transfer students can apply through:

• College: ontariocolleges.ca
• University: ouac.on.ca
• Indigenous Institutes: iicontario.ca

Along with the application, most institutions require an additional documentation to transfer:

• An official transcript from your current school,
• A course syllabi or outline may be required if you want a specific course transferred, and
• Some may require additional documents, forms, portfolios, or performance assessment.

Some institutions may:

• Charge you a fee for transfer credit assessment and/or the actual credit transfer.
• Provide transfer credit assessment only after you have accepted admission to the school.
• Others automatically assess credits upon receiving your application.