Transfer Credit and PLAR

Transfer Equivalency

Upon receipt of an application for admission and an official transcript from each current or previously attended post-secondary institution, transfer course equivalencies are assessed.

To be considered for transfer equivalency, each course must have been completed at a recognized accredited post-secondary institution with a minimum passing grade.

Regardless of when a course was completed, normally it may be considered for transfer equivalency. However, limitations do exist for some time-sensitive courses. Refer to Transfer Credit Assessment within individual program requirements.

Unspecified Equivalency

Transfer equivalencies are either direct equivalents to specific Mount Royal University courses or unspecified courses at the appropriate post-secondary level. Courses granted unspecified equivalents are indicated as XXXX, 1XXX, 2XXX, 3XXX. An unspecified transfer equivalency may satisfy an elective but not a specific course requirement.

Courses completed in academic disciplines at the university level that are not offered by the University are considered unspecified transfer equivalency. If the transfer equivalency assigned by MRU is unspecified and you think it might transfer as a direct equivalent, you need to provide the detailed course outline for assessment.

Detailed course outlines will only be evaluated for applicants who have received a (conditional) offer of admission. A detailed course outline includes course outline, weekly structure, textbook(s), reading requirements, learning outcomes and instructor qualifications. Web or calendar descriptions are not accepted due to minimal content.

In order to have your detailed course outline evaluated for a direct equivalency, please fill out the “Detailed Course Outline Evaluation Request” form. You will need to include your MRU email (@mtroyal.ca) and your student ID number. 

NOTE:
1. Detailed course outlines must be from the term and year the course was completed. Detailed course outlines from different academic years cannot be reviewed.
2. Course outlines submitted for evaluation MUST be in English (the language of instruction at MRU). If the outlines are in a language other than English, it is the student’s responsibility to have the outlines translated and notarized by an accredited translation service.  A copy of the original course outline and the translated copy MUST both be submitted for evaluation. 

Timelines for Transfer Equivalency Assessment

Failure to submit the detailed course outline by the deadline may affect whether a course prerequisite has been met. Lack of course prerequisites would limit your choice of courses when registering and/or result in your removal from a class list. Refer to Course Prerequisite Requirements .

Transfer Credit

Transfer Equivalencies become Transfer Credits when the course satisfies a graduation requirement. If a higher grade is required to satisfy either a prerequisite or a program continuance requirement, a transfer course with a minimum passing grade would not satisfy a direct equivalent.

A maximum of 50% of the program in which a student is officially enrolled may be completed as Transfer Credit.

Assessed Transfer Credit is viewable in a student’s MyMRU account and mruGRADU8 program audit.

Letter of Permission

Students who are registered in degree, diploma, or certificate programs at the University may be granted permission to take a limited number of courses at other recognized or accredited postsecondary institutions.

A Letter of Permission (LOP):

• when approved, provides a guarantee that a course successfully completed at another institution will fulfill a current program requirement for graduation purposes.
• must be obtained prior to registering for the course(s) at another post-secondary institution.

It is the student’s responsibility to review another post-secondary institution’s information on admission, registration, course description and tuition fees, prior to requesting an LOP. Students may request a LOP by accessing MyMRU.

A LOP does not:

• Ensure admission to another post-secondary institution.
• Ensure prerequisites, required by another post-secondary institution, have been previously completed.

LOP limitations:

• The number of courses that may be completed elsewhere is limited by the number of transfer credits permitted toward a current program. You must complete 50% of the program requirements at Mount Royal.

Upon completion of a course, it is the student’s responsibility to request an official transcript indicating the final results be sent by the issuing institution to Mount Royal University.

Note: A student is not eligible to request a LOP if:

1. They have interrupted their program for longer than the allowable absence period;
2. They have not been admitted into a degree, diploma or certificate program;
3. They have already completed the requirements of their program whether or not they have applied to graduate;
4. They have exceeded the time limitation for completion of their program;
5. They have not met the prerequisites for the equivalent Mount Royal course;
6. They are not in Good Academic Standing or;
7. They are in their last semester before graduation.
8. They have two active LOP requests. Active request means being currently assessed. Students may submit additional requests once the two requests have been approved or denied.

The Office of the Registrar reserves the right to refuse Letters of Permission if there is an available seat in the course scheduled at Mount Royal.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Policy

Many students enter the University with work, academic and life experiences that may reflect sound knowledge of the subject matter covered in courses offered for credit by the University. Prior learning assessment is a method of recognizing and accrediting the demonstrated knowledge that has resulted from those experiences.

Mount Royal fully supports the following academic principles with respect to prior learning assessment and recognition.

1. Recognition of prior learning should be based on demonstrated learning.
2. Recognition of prior learning should be appropriate to the course or program in which it is accepted.
3. Recognition of prior learning should be consistent with the achievement levels required by the post-secondary program in which it is accepted.
4. Recognition of prior learning should be for learning that has a balance, appropriate to the subject, between theory and practical application.
5. Assessment of prior learning by post-secondary institutions should be made by content specialists, with external advice as necessary.

At Mount Royal, demonstrated prior learning resulting from work, life and academic experiences may be assessed by any one of the following evaluation methods or some combination of them:

1. Formal examinations (including challenge examinations and standardized external examinations);
2. Course equivalencies involving an evaluation of non-collegiate and/or noncredit programs, courses, certificates and designations; and
3. Documentation and demonstration of achievement through portfolio assessment and portfolio-assisted assessment (including product assessment [work samples], simulation/performance assessment, interviews and oral examinations, and practical and laboratory demonstrations).

The most appropriate evaluation method in any particular case is to be determined by the department Chair, acting on the advice of the content specialists for the subject and/or discipline area for which recognition or credit is requested. The relevant department Chair shall also have the responsibility to evaluate each student’s application for prior learning assessment and determine which courses and/or subject areas or disciplines may be reviewed for possible recognition or accreditation, subject to the general academic regulations specified below. Each department shall also compile and maintain a list of courses for its area that will not be considered for credit or recognition through the prior learning assessment methods indicated above.

Application for recognition of prior learning must be made through the Office of the Registrar.

Procedures

1. In order to obtain recognition of prior learning by the University, the individual requesting the assessment of prior learning must be a registered student at the start of the semester and when the assessment is conducted. New and continuing students are strongly advised to explore and, as appropriate, to initiate the prior learning assessment and recognition process outlined here as early as possible after their acceptance into a program of studies offered by the University. Requests must be received by the end of the first week of classes in any semester. The final assessment of prior learning must be completed by the end of the fourth week of classes in any semester.
2. Students can complete the Application for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Form online. The request will be reviewed to ensure it meets policy requirements. If approved the student will be notified when they have been registered in the PLAR and fees have been assessed. Once the student has been registered and the tuition paid the request will be sent to the appropriate Discipline Chair.
3. The Chair will evaluate the student’s request for assessment and recognition of prior learning and determine if credit for a specific course or courses may be obtained in this manner. Upon completion of the initial evaluation, the Chair’s decision will be recorded on the Application for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Form.
4. The Chair shall return the form to the Office of the Registrar.
5. An assessment of prior learning will be conducted by the department, which will determine whether the student clearly shows above-average knowledge of the subject matter. The grading shall be either “CR” (credit awarded) or “NC” (credit not awarded). Under no circumstances will a letter grade be assigned. Courses for which credit is received in this manner will contribute to the student’s total credits.
6. Students may confirm online the specific credits they have been awarded through the prior learning assessment process by accessing Student Web Services on the University website (mtroyal.ca). The Office of the Registrar shall make the appropriate notation on the student’s permanent academic record.
7. A student may request a review of a particular assessment through the normal grade appeal process.

Limitations

1. The purpose of prior learning assessment is to allow students to complete their studies at the University successfully. Prior learning assessment is not intended to be used to aid students in transferring to another institution. Any university transferable courses offered at the 1000 level or higher will not be granted credit by prior learning assessment.
2. Students may not apply for credit by prior learning assessment in any course in which they are currently or have previously been registered at any institution. However, courses taken over six years ago may be recognized for credit through prior learning assessment.
3. In cases where prerequisites exist, students may request assessment and recognition of prior learning only for those courses for which they have the stated prerequisites.
4. No student may receive credit by prior learning assessment in more than two courses within a given subject or discipline area, nor in more than a total of three courses at the University if registered in a diploma or certificate program or in more than a total of six courses if registered in a baccalaureate degree program.
5. This policy, procedures, and limitations are intended to govern the award of academic credit through the assessment and recognition of demonstrated learning resulting from prior life, work, educational and other extracurricular experiences. The assessment and recognition of work experience credit, based on prior work experience for purposes of satisfying the graduation requirements of the University’s baccalaureate degree programs are covered under separate policy and procedures that apply specifically and exclusively to those degree programs.
6. Students should be aware that academic credit awarded through prior learning assessment at the University is guaranteed only toward the University’s graduation requirements. Other institutions may or may not allow transfer credit towards degrees, diplomas or certificates for courses recognized or accredited through the University’s prior learning assessment process.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Upon admission to a degree, diploma or certificate program, students who successfully complete Advanced Placement courses may be considered for transfer credit for approved courses. An official AP transcript must be sent directly from the issuing body to Admissions, Mount Royal University.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Upon admission to a degree, diploma or certificate program, students who successfully complete International Baccalaureate (IB) courses may be considered for transfer credit for approved courses. An official IB transcript must be sent directly from the issuing body to Admissions, Mount Royal University.