Transfer Credit and Prior Learning

UBIS may accept college-level credits earned at accredited colleges and universities in good academic standing. Applicants who submit official transcripts may have prior coursework evaluated for transfer credit after admission. Transfer credit is awarded based on its applicability toward the degree requirements of the student’s declared program.

All transfer credit accepted becomes part of the student’s permanent academic record and is not removed.

General Transfer Credit Principles

• Transfer credit must be relevant in content and level to the UBIS program of study.
• Course age may affect equivalency and applicability, particularly in rapidly evolving disciplines such as technology.
• Only coursework earned from degree-granting institutions is considered.
• Acceptance of transfer credit is determined solely by UBIS as the receiving institution.

Course Age Limits

• No time limit applies to General Education coursework.
• A maximum age of 10 years applies to undergraduate and graduate core courses.
• Exceptions may be granted by the Chief Academic Officer or Academic Dean.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit

• Undergraduate transfer credit is accepted only for courses completed with a grade of C or better.
• Students may transfer up to: 90 U.S. credits / 180 ECTS from comparable degree programs, or 60 U.S. credits / 120 ECTS from programs outside of business disciplines.
• General education coursework from an associate degree may be accepted if the degree was completed at a recognized, accredited two-year institution.

Master’s Degree Transfer Credit

• Students may transfer up to 50% of the total credits required for a master’s degree.
• Courses must be equivalent in level and content and relevant to the program of study.
• Only courses completed with a grade of B or better are eligible.

Doctoral Degree Transfer Credit

• Doctoral students may transfer up to 9 U.S. credits / 18 ECTS.
• Transfer credit may be applied to waive doctoral coursework completed at other institutions.
• Courses must be equivalent in level and content and completed with a grade of B or better at an institution in good academic standing.

International Transfer Credit

To ensure fair and consistent evaluation, UBIS applies recognized international grade equivalency standards specific to the country or region of study when reviewing international transfer credit.

Transferability of UBIS Credit

Acceptance of transfer credit is always at the discretion of the receiving institution. UBIS does not guarantee that credits earned at UBIS will transfer to another university. Students seeking to transfer UBIS credit elsewhere should confirm transferability directly with the receiving institution.

Oversight and Authority

Transfer credit policies and articulation agreements are established and maintained under the authority of the institution’s academic leadership. The Registrar’s Office evaluates transfer coursework and determines course equivalencies in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

UBIS recognizes that students affected by the war in Ukraine may face significant barriers in obtaining official academic documentation. In such cases, and where official records are unavailable due to documented circumstances related to the conflict, UBIS may permit alternative documentation for admissions and transfer credit evaluation.

In lieu of official transcripts or diplomas, UBIS may accept the following:

• A signed and dated statement from the applicant attesting to completion of secondary education in Ukraine, including the name and address of the secondary school attended and the date the diploma was awarded.
• Copies of unofficial academic transcripts or records, if available, for the purpose of evaluating potential transfer credit.

All alternative documentation is subject to institutional review and verification to the extent reasonably possible.

Students are normally required to complete a minimum number of courses at UBIS to earn a degree. UBIS may grant limited flexibility to this requirement for students directly affected by the war in Ukraine, in accordance with institutional policy and applicable accreditation and regulatory standards, to support degree completion where continuation of study in the student’s home country is not feasible.

Students are encouraged to obtain relevant professional experience prior to enrolling in undergraduate programs, as practical experience can enhance applied learning outcomes. However, work experience alone does not result in the award of academic credit at the undergraduate level.

Graduate-Level Credit for Work Experience

UBIS may award limited academic credit for prior professional work experience at the graduate level through a formal prior learning assessment process.

• Eligible candidates must demonstrate a minimum of five (5) years of verifiable professional experience in a business-related field at a decision-making or managerial level.
• Credit for work experience may be applied to waive up to 6 U.S. credits / 12 ECTS, inclusive of any transfer credit awarded.
• Credit is awarded only when prior learning is deemed equivalent in level, rigor, and learning outcomes to graduate-level coursework.

Documentation and Review

• Prior learning must be documented and verifiable, typically through a detailed resume and supporting evidence as required.
• Requests for credit based on work experience are evaluated through a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process.
• All determinations are made under the authority of the institution’s academic leadership in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

The number of credits necessary to graduate from a program can be reduced by waivers, granted based on work experience (graduate or executive) or through examination. If the total number of credits for a program goes below the minimum residency per term (3 courses for undergraduate students and 2 courses for graduate students), additional courses will be added to the student’s program to fulfill the requirement.