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Q: How do I know if I'm a transfer student?

A: Any student who has attended a postsecondary institution after graduating from high school (with the exception of attendance during the summer term immediately following graduation) is considered a transfer student.

A: No, previous GPAs do not transfer to MSU. When a student enrolls at MSU, a new GPA is established after the first semester of classes. However, all grades, all courses, and all previously attended institutions may be used in the calculation for the purpose of admission to the university. Applicants with a grade-point average (GPA) below a 2.0 are not admissible to the university.

A: Transfer applicants are able to use MSU's Degree Navigator as a guest to see the courses required for each major.

A: All admitted students are required to submit an Advanced Enrollment Deposit (AED) confirming their planned enrollment at MSU.

Once an official transcript has been received, the student has been admitted to the university, and the AED has been paid, an evaluation will be completed for transfer credit. This information will first be made available to the student when they attend AOP (Academic Orientation Program). Once AOP is over transfer credits will be available for viewing on their transcript through StuInfo.

Until then, transfer students are encouraged to use the Transfer MSU searchable transfer credit equivalency system to identify courses that may transfer.

A: Acceptance of courses and credits deemed suitable for transfer to Michigan State University is determined by faculty in the department, school, or college responsible for instruction in the subject area. For more information, please see the Transfer Courses and Credits section of Academic Programs.

Students requesting transfer credit of coursework from a higher learning institution in China must have a China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) verification report of the university transcript mailed directly to the MSU Office of Admissions. There are numerous English-language based summer programs in China which are administered by a third-party in collaboration with an institution hosting the program on a campus in China. If the program is not part of a university degree program, it may not be recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education. This determination will be made by the CDGDC for all China programs. CDGDC verification does not guarantee the transfer of credit to MSU.

MSU offers its own summer programs in China through study abroad, which award MSU credit.

Please note that, in general, the transfer of credit from a higher learning institution cannot be guaranteed. In particular, credit for summer and other non-degree programs offered on the campuses of officially recognized international institutions may be subject to an additional review. In many cases, a transcript demonstrating a completed course of study will need to be reviewed to determine the transferability of credit.

A: Michigan State's transfer credit evaluators add courses to the Transfer MSU searchable credit equivalency system as they are reviewed. If you do not see your course or institution listed, that does not mean you will not receive credit. It simply means your course, or a course from your institution, has yet to be reviewed by an MSU transfer credit evaluator.

A: Michigan State University is a member of the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and recognizes most course exchanges. However, MSU has additional requirements for entering transfer students.

A: The Office of Admissions provides admission presentations for prospective transfer students and their families followed by a walking tour of campus most Saturdays during the fall and spring semesters. The presentation provides information on admission requirements, academic programs, and campus life. There is also time for questions. Reservations are required and certain dates are not available.

A: Transfer admission requirements are available on the Office of Admissions Web site and prospective students can attend a presentation on transfer admission followed by campus tour on most Saturdays during the fall and spring semesters. Reservations are required and certain dates are not available. For technical help and further assistance please visit our contact Admissions page.

A: Course transfer information, including online transfer equivalency systems, are available for many Michigan institutions on the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (MACRAO) Web site.