Transferring Credit for Courses Taken Outside of Penn

All students seeking transfer credit, please note:

  • You will only be able to transfer credit from an accredited, four-year institution.
  • While taking the course, you should save all your materials (syllabus, tests, quizzes, compositions, and course texts.)
  • You must apply for transfer credit before taking a higher level Penn course. Otherwise, you will not be eligible for transfer credit.

Elementary and Intermediate Language Courses (0100 - 0400)

  • Submit your request for transfer credit via XCAT. Be sure to include your course materials (syllabus, detailed course description, tests, quizzes, compositions.) 
  • Each course requested must be entered aeparately.
  • Students seeking credit for language courses need to take the transfer credit multiple-choice exam, a 60-minute standardized test which covers comprehension of grammar, vocabulary and reading. There is no oral or listening comprehension component. This exam is offered during New Student Orientation (NSO) and a few other times throughout the year. Contact the Language Program Director for more information.
  • Please note that you may not take the online placement exam as a substitute for the department's transfer credit multiple-choice exam.
  • You will be notified of your score within two days. The Language Program Director will also be notified.
  • The director will determine whether or not to award credit for the equivalent level at Penn based on your test score and your course materials. You will see the department’s decision on your XCAT account by clicking on “list your requests.”
  • If you wish to continue taking language courses at Penn, you should register for the course above the level for which you received credit. For example, if you received credit for Italian 0300, you should register for Italian 0400.

Upper Level Courses (courses at the 1000-, 2000-, and 3000-level)

  • Enter your request for transfer credit via XCAT. Be sure to include your course materials (syllabus, detailed course description, tests, quizzes, compositions.) 
  • Meet with the undergraduate chair. The chairperson will use your course materials from XCAT to determine whether or not to award credit for the equivalent level at Penn. You will see the department’s decision on your XCAT account by clicking on “list your requests.”

Please contact the Undergraduate Coordinator, Jackie Zahn, if you have questions regarding transfer credit.