Midyear Students
Congratulations on your acceptance to Brandeis University!
A combined maximum of four courses (16 credits) from external sources may be applied toward the 32 courses (128 credits) needed for graduation at Brandeis.
External sources include:
- Advanced Placement, A-Level, French Baccalaureate or International Baccalaureate Exams.
- Approved courses taken while on a leave of absence for medical reasons.
- Approved courses taken through an approved Summer Study Abroad program.
For students who applied for fall-term admission as freshmen, but who were accepted for the following spring term as members of the midyear class, these external credits may also be earned using:
- Approved college courses taken during the fall semester immediately prior to entering Brandeis (including fall study abroad programs).
- Approved General Chemistry I and II (lecture/lab) courses taken the summer prior to entering Brandeis.
Courses must be taken at accredited, degree-granting institutions from which the student will receive an official transcript. The courses must be generally equivalent to courses offered at Brandeis, and the grade received must be equivalent to at least a C-minus.
To request preapproval, please complete the online Midyear Course Petition form. The information needed to complete the form is: school name, school website, course name, course title, course description and the number of credits assigned to the course. If you are petitioning for General Chemistry, a course syllabus is also required. Once your petition is reviewed, you will receive a decision by email.
If you are taking courses through the Arcadia London Midyear Program or the CET Florence Midyear Program then you do not have to complete this petition form. For more information on these programs, visit Overview of Midyear Programs.
After the fall semester is complete, students must mail an official transcript to the address below. Official electronic transcripts are also accepted and should be emailed to transfer@brandeis.edu. Any questions about Midyear transfer credit policies can also be sent to transfer@brandeis.edu.
Office of the University Registrar
Brandeis University
415 South Street, MS 068
Waltham, MA 02453
Please note: Credit is granted based on the principle of “Equivalent Course Load.” Please see below for a detailed explanation.
The Principle of Equivalent Course Load
Brandeis does not measure progress towards the degree in terms of “semester hours” or “quarter hours.” Units such as these are converted to “semester courses” according to the formula below:
- We ascertain the number of hours or courses required for the receipt of a bachelor’s degree at the institution from which you are transferring courses. We total the number of credits acceptable to us for transfer credit, divide them by the requirement at your previous institution and multiply by 32 (the degree standard at Brandeis). For example, if your previous school requires 128 credits and you attended one semester, completing 16 credits acceptable for transfer, the equation will be 16/128 x 32 = 4. Hence, one full semester at that institution will receive full credit at Brandeis.
- If you worked at a higher or lower rate, credit transferred will reflect that rate. For example, if you complete 12 credits acceptable for transfer at a school that requires 120 credits for graduation, the equation is 12/120 x 32 = 3. In this scenario, the student will receive three Brandeis courses.
- For two year schools, we multiply by 16 (e.g., if the degree requirement is 60 credits, the equation will be #/60 x 16 = ?)