Transfer Students
Undergraduate Applications
As a transfer student, you must first identify which type of transfer student you are in order to follow the correct steps to apply. If at any point in the process you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Which type of TRANSFER STUDENT are you?
You are a FRESHMAN TRANSFER applicant if you:
- Already graduated from high school or home school, or have earned a GED and have enrolled in a college or university after high school graduation, and
- Have earned 0-23 college credit hours from the college or university you attended after high school graduation.
You are a regular TRANSFER applicant if you:
- Already graduated from high school or home school, or have earned a GED and have enrolled in a college or university after high school graduation, and
- Have earned 24+ college credit hours from the college or university you attended after high school graduation.
STEPS TO APPLY:
If you are a FRESHMAN TRANSFER student (0-23 hrs.) please follow the steps below:
- Fill out your UTRGV application online at www.applytexas.org by submitting a “Transfer Undergraduate” application.
- Submit your ACT or SAT scores directly from the testing agency. The UTRGV school code is ACT 6991 and SAT 6568.
- Submit your final high school transcript. Make sure it indicates your diploma, GPA, graduation date, class rank and class size.
- Submit official transcripts from each college or university attended.
- Provide proof of meningitis vaccination (only for students under 22 years of age).
- Once you’re admitted, register for New Student Orientation.
If you are a regular TRANSFER student please follow the steps below:
- Apply online at www.applytexas.org by submitting a “Transfer Undergraduate” application.
- Submit official transcripts from each college or university attended.
If you fall under these additional scenarios, you must submit other documents in addition to the standard documents mentioned above.
- If you attended a high school (only for freshman transfers) or university (all transfers) in a foreign country, you must send your transcript to get evaluated by Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA) or World Education Services (WES). FCSA and WES are the only companies accepted by UTRGV for foreign evaluations.
- Complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). To sign up for TOEFL click here. Note: The minimum scores for the tests are as follow: TOEFL IBT 61, TOEFL PB 500, TOEFL CBT 173, and IELTS 6. Students who submit documentation demonstrating successful completion of ESL Advanced Level course through The UTRGV Language Institute can be waived from TOEFL requirement.
All required documents can be submitted in several ways:
In-person at U Central Locations:
Edinburg Location:
- 1st Floor Student Services Building (SSBL)
1201 West University Drive
Edinburg, Texas 78539 -
Office Hours:
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8 - 5 p.m. - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
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8 - 6 p.m. - Tuesday
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8 - 4 p.m. - Friday
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Brownsville Location:
- The Tower, Main 1.100
1 West University Boulevard
Brownsville, Texas 78520 -
Office Hours:
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8 - 5 p.m. - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
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8 - 6 p.m. - Tuesday
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8 - 4 p.m. - Friday
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Mail to:
UTRGV Student Enrollment
Visitors Center 1.113
1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg, Texas 78539
Electronic Submission of Documents can be emailed to application@utrgv.edu
If you have questions about how to apply to UTRGV, call us at 888-882-4026 or email admissions@utrgv.edu.
Meningitis Vaccination
In accordance with Texas law, UTRGV requires all first-time students, including transfer and returning students under the age of 22, to submit evidence the student has been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis at least 10 days prior to the first class day of the semester or to provide other documentation establishing why such a vaccination is not required. Students will not be allowed to enroll without providing proof of the vaccination or exemption.
All first-time students, including transfer and returning students, must provide one of the following documents to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions:
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A “Bacterial Meningitis Immunization Record” signed by a health practitioner indicating the student has been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis or any other official state or local immunization record. Confirmation of the MCV4 (Menactra) vaccine will satisfy as the requirement. The MPSV4 (Menomune) vaccination may not be accepted unless administered or boosted within the past five years. Vaccinations must be administered no more than 5 years and no fewer than 10 days prior to the first day of the semester for which the student is enrolling.
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A "Refusal of Immunization for Medical Reasons" signed by a physician who is licensed and registered to practice medicine in the United States that states the physician's opinion that the required vaccination would be injurious to the health and well-being of the student.
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A "Texas Department of State Health Services Conscientious Exemption" form signed by the student stating the student has declined the vaccination for reasons of conscience, including religious belief. Submit original form, no copies allowed.
Transfer Credit Policy and Procedures
The UTRGV Office of Undergraduate Admissions, in consultation with academic departments, is responsible for awarding transfer credit. An evaluation of transfer credit is completed for undergraduate degree-seeking applicants at the time of admission. Students may view their evaluations by accessing their academic record on My.UTRGV.edu. The processes used to evaluate transfer credit are based on the guidelines and practices recommended by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). UTRGV accepts transfer credit from institutions accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the North Central Association, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. In some circumstances, course credit earned at institutions undergoing accreditation or from foreign institutions may be accepted. Credits for life experience are not normally awarded. An exception to this rule may include those cases where the credit has been validated either by another regionally accredited institution of higher education, or by a test administered by an academic department and approved by the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Students Success, and P-16 Integration. Experiential learning and vocational-technical courses are not accepted for transfer credit. UTRGV assumes responsibility for the academic quality of any course work or credit recorded on the institution’s transcript.
Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS)
UTRGV participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS) which aids students in the transfer of general academic courses between colleges and universities throughout Texas. Common courses are freshman and sophomore academic credit courses identified as common by TCCNS member institutions. The TCCNS system ensures that if the student takes courses designated as common, they are accepted as transfer with credit. A list of courses UTRGV has identified as common and their TCCNS equivalents are listed on pages 31-37 in the undergraduate catalog.
Non-TCCNS Courses
Transfer coursework not part of the TCCNS inventory is evaluated on a course-by-course basis by an admissions specialist to determine if equivalent. Admissions Specialists read the course descriptions in order to analyze content, quality and comparability to UTRGV courses. If a course is found to be equivalent to a UTRGV course and it does not exist in the SIS as an equivalent, it will be created. The course must be the same level and number of credit hours with the exception of developmental courses. A lower level course cannot be given an upper level equivalent and an upper level course cannot be given a lower level equivalent. If the equivalent of a required upper-division UTRGV course is completed at an accredited institution as a lower-division course, the course need not be repeated, but another upper-division course, approved by the student’s advisor, must be completed at UTRGV in substitution. Admissions specialists follow the procedures outlined in the College transcript evaluation procedures section of the Undergraduate Admissions Policy and Procedures manual. If the admissions specialist cannot determine if the course is equivalent to a UTRGV course, they may consult with the appropriate department official. A written request is sent to the department for review. The department will review and respond with a decision in writing. If the course is not equivalent to a UTRGV course, it may be assigned a general credit based on the subject. A general credit may in some situations be used meet a degree requirement. UTRGV is on a semester hour system therefore quarter hours must be converted to semester credit hours when creating a course from an institution that uses the quarter hour system. Credit is not given for duplicated courses.
International Student Evaluations
Credits completed at institutions outside the U.S. are individually evaluated at student expense through the Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA) or World Education Services (WES). Transfer students with foreign university credit submit the completed FCSA or WES form provided on the UTRGV Office of Undergraduate Admissions webpage, official transcripts, certificates, and diplomas from foreign (non-USA) high schools, universities, and university- level schools as well as the evaluation fee directly to FCSA or WES. The evaluation service mails a detailed evaluation to the student and, if the student requests, a copy of the evaluation along with official transcripts to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. UTRGV accepts transfer credit from foreign institutions based on this evaluation.
Awarding Credit for Military Service
In accordance with Texas Education Code, Section 51.3042, eligible former armed forces members admitted as undergraduates or readmitted as undergraduates (after having withdrawn to perform military service) are given course credit for all required physical education courses and for additional semester credit hours, not to exceed 12, satisfying any elective course requirements for courses outside the student’s degree program.
Eligible veterans must graduate from an accredited public or private high school or a US Department of Defense operated high school, and honorably discharged from the US armed forces after completion of at least two years of service or discharged because of disability.
To award the credit, students must complete a Military Service Credit Request form and must provide proof of eligibility (i.e., DD214 or disability discharge documentation). The form can be found on the UTRGV website.
Credit By Exam
UTRGV offers college credit by examination to qualified students through a variety of approved examinations. A student may receive up to 30 hours of undergraduate credit by examination through the following programs:
• Advanced Placement (AP) Tests
• International Baccalaureate (IB) exams
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
A list of available course credit may be found in the UTRGV Undergraduate catalog and website. The Testing agency sends test scores directly to the university. Credit posts to the student’s permanent record when the student applies to UTRGV. Credit by exam is accepted as credit only (CR) and does not affect the student’s cumulative grade point average.
Disputes for Lower Division Courses
The following policy was developed for students transferring to UTRGV from other Texas public institutions and may be found in the undergraduate catalog:
1. The transfer of curricula shall be as prescribed by the THECB TAC, Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter B, Rule 4.27. The following procedures shall be followed by public institutions of higher education in the resolution of transfer disputes involving lower division courses:
a) If an institution of higher education does not accept a course credit earned by a student at another Texas public institution of higher education, that institution shall give written notice to the student and the other institution that the transfer of the course credit is denied.
b) The two institutions and the student shall attempt to resolve the transfer of the course credit in accordance with Coordinating Board rules and/or guidelines.
c) If the transfer dispute is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student or the institution at which the credit was earned within 45 days after the date the student received written notice of the denial, the institution that denies the transfer of the course credit shall notify the Commissioner of Higher Education of its denial and the reason for the denial.
2. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall make the final determination about a dispute concerning the transfer of course credit and give written notice of the determination to the involved student and institutions.
3. All Texas public institutions of higher education shall furnish data to the Coordinating Board on reported transfer disputes as the Board may require in accordance with its statutory responsibilities under Section 61.826 of the Texas Education Code.
Academic Fresh Start
As stated in Section 51.931 of the Texas Education Code, an applicant to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has the right to seek admission under the "Right to An Academic Fresh Start" policy. Applicants who seek admission under this section will have all undergraduate academic credits or grades, 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll, excluded from calculation of the undergraduate GPA.
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH AN ACADEMIC FRESH START MAY BE GRANTED
1. An Academic Fresh Start may be granted one time only.
2. To be eligible for an Academic Fresh Start the student/applicant:
- must be classified as a Texas Resident for tuition purposes,
- must not have a degree of any type,
- must submit all official transcripts from other institutions, regardless of whether an Academic Fresh Start has been granted at any previous institution.
3. Undergraduate coursework will be excluded from the cumulative GPA as follows:
- only for coursework earned at Texas Public institutions,
- for all coursework taken 10 or more years prior to request of the Academic Fresh Start, regardless of the grade earned.
4. Coursework & grades excluded from the GPA due to granting of an Academic Fresh Start:
- will remain on the student's official record for audit purposes,
- will not be used as pre-requisites for subsequent coursework,
- will not be used to meet graduation requirements,
- may affect NCAA eligibility, Veteran Administration Certification or Financial Aid eligibility,
- may reclassify the student for admission purposes, requiring additional admission documents.
5. Any existing degree plan or commitment which considered coursework excluded from calculation of the GPA under the Academic Fresh Start policy is invalid.
6. The Academic Fresh Start, once granted, may not be reversed under any circumstances.
Applicants requesting consideration for admission under the Academic Fresh Start statute should complete the Request for Academic Fresh Start Form found at http://www.utrgv.edu/undergraduate-admissions/freshman-students/admissions-forms/index.htm.