IMPORTANT NOTE: This policy applies only to courses taken at other domestic (i.e., United States) institutions after you begin your studies at Northwestern. Other policies apply for college work completed during high school.
Please read this policy before downloading the form.
- Students entering Northwestern as freshmen (students entering with fewer than four courses taken at other institutions and applied toward degree requirements) may count toward degree requirements a maximum of four courses taken at other institutions. Any courses beyond this maximum of four may not be used to accelerate graduation (i.e., count toward the required minimum of 45 units for the degree) without financial penalty. Transfer students (students who have transferred four or more courses taken at another institution and applied them toward degree requirements) are not permitted to register at any other institution subsequent to Northwestern matriculation for purposes of taking courses to accelerate graduation. Any non-Northwestern credit earned by a transfer student subsequent to NU matriculation will not count toward the required minimum of 45 units for the degree nor toward the university's Undergraduate Residence Requirement; students may, however, apply such credit toward major/minor requirements with prior approval of that department. Students who for compelling reasons wish to apply toward Weinberg College degree requirements more than the permitted amount should contact the Assistant Dean for Academic and Advanced Standing.
- Work must be pursued at an accredited four-year institution; no credits from a two-year college will be accepted.
- No distance learning, video, television, internet, or correspondence courses will be accepted.
- Work must be in curricular areas generally recognized for Northwestern credit.
- Credit earned at other institutions may not be applied towards fulfillment of any of the Weinberg College distribution requirements or the foreign language requirement
- Courses that are to be applied towards the student's major or minor program must have the prior approval of the Chair or Director of Undergraduate Studies in that department.
- Any student intending to pursue courses elsewhere which will be submitted for Northwestern credit must secure prior approval from the Weinberg College Office of Studies.
- Students who did not receive prior permission for work pursued elsewhere should not assume that the credits will transfer. They can submit the standard form for transferring non-NU credits and apply for retroactive approval. There is, however, a real risk that the coursework will be deemed unacceptable.
- One unit of Northwestern credit will be granted for each course which carries at the sponsoring institution two or three semester hours or three or four quarter hours of credit. Credit will not be granted for one semester hour or two quarter hour courses.
- The maximum number of Northwestern units that can be earned in summer session is two units for any four-week session, three units for any six-week session, and four units for any eight- or ten-week session.
- A grade of "C" or higher is requisite for transfer of credit for courses taken at other institutions. This excludes the granting of transfer credit for courses in which a grade of P or D is earned. Note that in all cases, grades earned elsewhere will not be factored into the student's Northwestern GPA.
- Students must complete 23 units of work at Northwestern before graduation in order to be eligible for the bachelor's degree.
- Students who complete approved courses at other institutions during the summer must request that official transcripts of their work be sent to:
Degree Auditor
Registrar's Office
Northwestern University
633 Clark Street
Evanston, IL 60208-1118
It is the responsibility of the student to check with the Registrar's Office in mid-October to see that a transcript of the summer work has been received.
Download the Application for Credit for Non-Northwestern Courses.
