Minimum Credit Requirement

Students must complete the minimum credit requirement for their undergraduate Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Theology degree as specified in their letter of admission. Students transferring from another university must complete a minimum of 60 McGill credits in order to receive a McGill degree, per the Residency Requirement policy.

Students readmitted to McGill after a period of absence will be subject to the program and degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission (refer to Arts OASIS). If readmitted after an absence of five consecutive years or more, students may be required to complete a minimum of 60 credits and satisfy the requirements of their program. In this case, a new GPA will be calculated. The Associate Dean (Student Affairs), in consultation with the appropriate department, may approve a lower minimum for students who had completed 60 credits or more before interrupting their studies.

Recognition and Maxima for Advanced Standing Credits

Students are normally admitted to a four-year degree requiring the completion of 120 credits. At the time of admission to Arts, advanced Standing of up to a maximum of 30 credits may be granted based on pre-admission academic studies and satisfactory results in any of the following: the CEGEP Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC); International Baccalaureate; French Baccalaureate; GCE Advanced Levels; Advanced Placement exams; or other qualifications, including college or university credits completed in parallel to completion of a high school diploma. Advanced Placement examination results with a score of four or five must be declared at the time of initial registration at the University.

Course credits taken elsewhere which overlap in content with course credits the student has successfully completed at McGill will not be permitted to be retained toward their Arts degree. This also pertains to any advanced standing credit or course exemption accorded based on their previous academic studies.

The maximum permissible total aggregate number of pre-admission advanced standing credits to be accorded to a student—at the time of admission or interfaculty transfer to an Arts degree—is limited to 30 credits, and in adherence to the Faculty of Arts Online Education policy. Note that credits earned via intermediary study abroad organizations or companies will not be approved for advanced standing nor for transfer credit.

Students who wish to complete a four-year undergraduate program at McGill will be permitted to do so with the appropriate limitations on the repetition of courses for which they have received exemptions. This gives students with advanced standing the option of completing 120 McGill credits. For the University policy on advanced standing credits please see the Advanced Standing Transfer Credits page, and consult the Prospective Student page for information relevant to advanced standing and/or transfer credits. Additional information is available at the university Transfer Credit page and on the Arts OASIS FAQ for new students.

Please contact Arts OASIS for further assistance with an advisor.