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Pam Hendrix Center for Education Abroad

Academic Coursework

Receiving Credits from Abroad

The credit transfer process varies based on your program type.

Faculty-Directed Programs 

With a few exceptions, all courses on faculty-directed programs are Clemson courses. This means you don’t have to worry about transferring credit, and the grades you earn will be included in your Clemson GPA. 

Exchange, Third-Party, and Direct-Enrollment Programs 

You’ll be taking courses at a different institution, so you must have them approved by the relevant academic department at Clemson. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

  • Only approved courses are eligible for transfer. Some programs offer pre-approved courses you can choose from. For any other course, you must submit a custom course request. 
  • The approval process is outlined in your Clemson application portal.  We provide comprehensive resources, including written guides, flyers, and instructional videos, to ensure you submit your courses correctly. All of these materials are also easily accessible through our mobile-friendly information hub.
  • Processing times vary based on request volume and the timelines of the departments involved. Although we do not control those timelines, the average processing time is approximately two weeks.
  • Approval isn’t a guarantee of enrollment. Getting a course approved is the first step, but it does not guarantee you will be able to register for it at your host institution. The program will help facilitate your registration. 
  • Choose backup courses carefully. We recommend choosing 6–10 courses for a semester and 3–4 for a summer program to account for potential enrollment challenges. Avoid requesting an excessive number of courses to reduce unnecessary work for you and the academic departments. 

Credit Transfer Policy

Planning to study abroad is exciting, and we want to ensure your credits transfer smoothly! 

Key Policies for Credit Transfer 

  • Course Approval: All courses taken abroad must be listed and approved on your coursework approval request form. Coursework earned abroad will be added to your Clemson record once we receive your official program transcript and have matched the courses to your pre-approved coursework form.
  • Minimum Grade: You must earn the equivalent of a "C" or higher to receive credit. 
  • Graded Courses Only: Only courses with a letter or numerical grade are transferable. Courses graded on a pass/fail or audit basis are non-transferable. 
  • GPA Impact: Only credit hours transfer, not letter grades, so your Clemson GPA will not be affected. However, graduate and professional schools will request your study abroad transcript and consider your grades when you apply. 
  • Financial Aid: If your study abroad transcript is issued by a U.S. institution, the Student Financial Aid office may evaluate your grades to determine any impact on scholarship eligibility. Please discuss any concerns with them directly. 
  • Business Course Accreditation: For upper-level undergraduate business courses (3000 and 4000-level), Clemson will only accept transfer credits from AACSB and/or EQUIS-accredited institutions. The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business provide a list of approved programs. 

Understanding the Transcript and Credit Process 

  • Transcript Source: The type of transcript you receive (U.S. or foreign) depends on your specific program. Our office will provide this information. 
  • Credit Conversion: The academic credit systems of foreign universities often differ from the U.S. system. PHCEA will provide the official credit conversion rate. The Clemson Registrar's Office ultimately determines the number of credits transferred. Due to these conversions, the number of credits you receive may not be a whole number, such as 2.5 or 3.75 credits. 
  • Rounding Policy: Clemson does not round up credit conversions. For example, 2.5 U.S. credits will remain 2.5. 
  • Course Limits: Academic departments strictly follow the official conversion rate and adhere to Clemson's course catalog credit limits. 
  • Extra Credits: If a converted course results in extra credits (e.g., 0.75 for some Australian courses), the department approver will decide if these excess credits are applied as a subject-specific elective (e.g., MKT 3999) or as a general elective (ELEC 0001)

Course Equivalency

  • Exact Match: If a course has a direct Clemson equivalent, you will receive approval for that equivalent (e.g., PSYC 3830). 
  • No Direct Equivalent: If a course has no direct Clemson equivalent but fits within a department's offerings, it will typically be assigned a subject-specific elective (e.g., MATH 4999). 
  • Rejection: Departments can reject a course if it does not align with their offerings. In this case, the course will only transfer as a general elective (ELEC 0001) unless it can be applied to another department's offerings. 
  • Transfer Equivalency List (TCEL): Once a course has been added to the TCEL, it will transfer with the designated Clemson equivalent for all future students. 

      Fulfilling Degree Requirements 

  • Making up Credit Hours: A transferred course can generally fulfill a degree requirement in Degree Works if it accounts for most of the required credit hours. Most departments will allow you to make up the remaining credit hours with another course, often an elective, to fully satisfy the requirement. Be sure to confirm the specific policy with the department overseeing the course. 

     Your Responsibility 

  • Plan Ahead: Before you leave for your program, it's crucial to review the credit and transcript process to fully understand the implications for your academic record. 

Have more questions? Don't hesitate to reach out to us at abroadcourses@clemson.edu 

Ordering your study abroad transcript

To ensure you receive transfer credit for your study abroad courses, you must request an official transcript. If your program only issues a grade report, you'll also need to request an official School of Record (SOR) transcript. Please contact your third-party provider or host university for specific instructions on how to order these documents. 

Key Steps for Ordering Your Transcript 

  • Send your transcript directly to our office. Your program or host institution must send an official electronic transcript directly to us. Transcripts sent to you first are considered unofficial and will not be accepted. 
  • Use the correct email address. When ordering, make sure the transcript is sent to our official email address: abroadcourses@clemson.edu. 
  • Manually enter our email address. If you're using a transcript service like Parchment or National Clearinghouse, do not select "Clemson University" from the drop-down menu. Instead, you'll need to manually enter our email address to ensure it reaches the correct office. 
  • Mail paper transcripts. If an electronic transcript isn't an option, a paper copy can be mailed to: Pam Hendrix Center for Education Abroad E-301 Martin Hall Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634 

Processing your study abroad transcript

  • Timeline: It typically takes 10-16 weeks after your program ends for your official study abroad transcript to arrive. 
  • Verification: Once we receive your transcript, we will match it against your Coursework Approval Form. We can only process transcripts where all courses, including internships and personal enrichment courses, are listed and approved on this form. 
  • Notification: You will receive an email from our office once your transcript has been processed and sent to the Registrar. 
  • Final Check: A few days after receiving this email, check your iRoar transcript to confirm that the credits transferred correctly.

Important Information

  • Your transfer credits will be listed in the Transfer Credit section of your iROAR transcript, appearing before your Clemson coursework.
  • If you notice any discrepancies, please notify our office immediately.