Transient Study Form & Info

Domestic Study

Other institutions are a:

• Community college
• University
• College
• Study abroad

Before Enrolling at the Visiting Institution

1. The student should submit a request for Transient Study. Requests must be made prior to registering in mySeaport.
2. The link to Submit or Check on a Transient Study Application is on the Student Services tab in mySeaport.
3. The Office of the Registrar will determine the UNCW course equivalencies.
4. The department will determine if the course is appropriate for the student's degree program and either approve or deny the request.
5. The department's decision will be sent to the Office of the Registrar with a copy to the student.
6. Students can check the status of their transient study through mySeaport. Students can see what their department has reviewed and if they approved or denied it.
7. Students will receive an automated email.

International Study Abroad

All UNCW study abroad (SA) and exchange (EX) students must complete the Education Abroad Advising Agreement & Permit for Transient Study (PDF) prior to departure. Students may be given exception by the Office of International Programs.

Please allow a minimum of three weeks for this form to be processed.

Before Departure

1. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your academic goals and program choices.
2. Visit your selected host institution's web site or review its course catalog to select your desired courses while abroad.
3. Complete the left hand side of the course selection table with your selections.
4. List course preferences and alternatives to your host school in the course selection table.
5. Retain a copy of the course description from the host institution's course catalog or web site. This information is essential to determine the UNCW course equivalent.
6. In the Credit Units column, make sure to note the credit value that's assigned to the course by your host school. For example, 15 point, 7.5 ECTS.
7. You must visit the corresponding academic departments at UNCW to obtain the course equivalencies with departmental approval once the left hand side of the course selection table is complete.
   1. For example: Students selecting history courses at the host institution will need those courses approved by the history department chair.
   2. Obtain the approval of the department chair within your major for courses fulfilling general elective credits.
   3. Refer to the International UNCW Credit Conversion Guide (PDF) with assistance from your department chair to determine the UNCW credit value of each foreign course.
8. Return the form to the Office of International Programs once:
   1. The course selection table is complete.
   2. Your academic advisor or department chair has signed it (if applicable)
   3. Please make sure at least 12+ credits have been selected per semester program.
9. OIP will forward the form to the UNCW Registrar upon review and approval of this form.
10. The Office of the Registrar will then sign the form and forward a copy to the Office of Financial Aid.
11. A copy of this form will be kept on file in your academic folder, in the Office of the Registrar and the Office of International Programs.

For students requesting an exception to the residency requirement:

• The department chair for your major will need to complete the residency requirement portion of this form.
• The chair will forward the form to the appropriate dean, with a letter of explanation, upon completion.

Preparing to Return to UNCW

• Your host institution must mail an official transcript to the UNCW Office of International Programs in order for you to receive course credit once you have completed your SA/EX program.
• You must submit a supplemental Transient Study Form listing those additional courses if SA/EX course work is completed without prior UNCW approval.
• No credit will be guaranteed for course work done without prior written approval.
• No transfer credits will be awarded for courses in which the student earned a grade of C- or below.
• It is your responsibility to assure you do not take any classes for which you have already received academic credit.

• The student should submit a Graduate Transient Study Request.
• Consult with the Graduate School for more information.

I already have credit from a two-year institution. Can I earn additional credit?

(Ending Summer 2024) Students transferring to UNC Wilmington may receive up to 90 semester hours of academic credit from all institutions attended; however, not more than 64 total hours can be transferred from two-year institutions.
(Ending Summer 2024) Correspondence courses (15 semester hours maximum), CLEP credit, AP credit, International Baccalaureate (HL only) and military credit will be counted in the 90 hours.

Beginning Fall 2024, there will no longer be any maximums on transfer credit.  Fifty percent (one-half) of the minimum semester hours required in the degree must be earned through enrollment in a regionally-accredited 4-year college or university.

Can I use transfer credit to improve My GPA, replace a grade or to remove an academic deficiency at UNCW?

You may not use transfer credit to remove an academic deficiency or to replace a grade. Transfer credit will not be awarded for repeating a course where a grade of D- or higher was earned at UNCW.

Transfer credit received for a UNCW course in which a grade of F was earned prevents the student from repeating this course at UNCW to improve the UNCW GPA.

When will my transfer credit be posted to my UNCW record?

You must request that a final transcript from the visiting institution be mailed to the Office of the Registrar. Transfer credit will be awarded for any approved course upon receipt of the final transcript.

How will I know when the transfer credit will be posted to my record?

Transfer credit information is available in your Degree Audit and on your Unofficial Transcript once processed. Please see Transfer Credit Evaluation Access for details.