Skip to main content

Accessibility menu

Skip to main content Skip to footer

Transferring credits

A page within International Education & Engagement

Before you start this process, meet with your academic advisor to start planning. Every program will have different requirements for study abroad, but they will guide you on those and help you decide what courses you should save for your term abroad and which should be taken at UWL instead.

It is your responsibility to choose your courses from your program abroad/away, find the UWL equivalent you want it to come back as, and complete the correct approval process, not your academic or education abroad advisors.

Before You Go

National Student Exchange (NSE)

Studying away at another institution in the United States (including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands) through NSE? Visit this Records and Registrations webpage for their off-campus course transfer process.

If your placement through NSE is in Canada, follow the Education Abroad process below. 

Education Abroad

To receive specific UWL credits for your study abroad experience, you MUST submit an Education Abroad Academic Plan. If you do not submit an Academic Plan and have approvals for courses abroad, they will transfer back to UWL as elective credits.

Only plans completed through the DocuSign process will be accepted, no e-mail approvals will be allowed.


  1. Before you start your plan:
    • Have syllabi/description of the course you want approval for. You must upload a file for each class.
      • All syllabi/descriptions must be in English. It is your responsibility to translate if needed.
    • For each course you’ll want to know your abroad course number (if available), abroad course title, which (if any) gen ed credit you want for the course, and the equivalent UWL course number.
    • Do not start your plan until you are ready with these materials.
    • See below for an example of the plan.
  2. Complete the Education Abroad Academic Plan DocuSign power form
  3. Review plan.
    • Once the plan is completed by the approvers, a copy will be sent to you to review and sign.
    • Save a copy of your Academic. 

Recommended Deadlines to Submit Your Academic Plan
Winter and Spring Programs: November 15
Summer, Fall, and Academic Year Programs: April 15


First page of academic plan detailing instructions and frequently asked questions.Page two of the academic plan showing where each of the materials need to be added.

Previously Approved Courses

IEE maintains a "Course Equivalency Database” you can visit with courses that have been previously approved for students to take abroad/away.

  • This database is not comprehensive and does not take the place of completing your academic plan or meeting with your academic advisor.
  • Even if a course is on this list you still must add it to an academic plan. If you take the course without submitting it on an academic plan it will transfer back as general elective credit.
Enrollment at UWL for Term Abroad

IEE will enroll you in the UWL 300 International Study Abroad course for the duration of your study abroad program.

If you are participating in a Faculty-led Program, you will be enrolled in the actual course(s) by IEE.

Potential UWL Registration Issues: HOLDS!

If IEE can't enroll you in the study abroad course for the semester abroad, it could be due to any of these issues:

  • Current balance must be paid in full.
  • Meet with your academic advisor to remove advising holds.

You can find instructions on how to determine what kind of hold you have and what to do on the WINGS webpage (click on "Holds and To Do List").

Follow all instructions above under the Education Abroad tab.
Do not begin filling out an academic plan until you have all your materials ready to submit, including course syllabi.

Course abroad will transfer back as general elective credit if you do not submit an academic plan.

While You Are Abroad

Courses Abroad

Update your Education Abroad Advisor with any changes in your schedule or courses. If you change a course abroad, you will need to submit a new academic plan for your new course to transfer back to UWL as specific credit. 

Make sure to attend classes and take final exams.
Sometimes you must register for finals.

Request Transcripts

In many cases, students will need to request their transcript be sent to IEE. Be sure to check with your institution abroad/away or program provider to ensure IEE will receive your transcript.  

We highly recommend students obtain original copies of their international transcripts if they plan on transferring or attending graduate school in the future.

All transcripts should be sent electronically by your HOST INSTITUTION OR PROVIDER to international@uwlax.edu or mailed to:

International Education & Engagement
1140 Centennial Hall
1725 State St.
La Crosse, WI 54601

It may take up to 90 days after the completion of your program for IEE to receive your transcript and then additional weeks to evaluate and process it; therefore, your courses may not show on your WINGS account for several months after your return.

Register for the Following Term

Don’t forget to register for your next semester at UWL during UWL registration period.

Remember, an override is required if you are taking a course abroad that is a prerequisite for a course you plan to enroll in the following semester. 

Grades & Credits

Grades come back as A, B, C, etc., and are NOT pass/fail.

If the grading system is different in the host country, your grades will be converted to U.S. letter grades. You can view common grading systems in your host country here.

Different countries around the world may use a different credit system than the United States.  Please consult an International Credit Equivalencies page to learn more about how your credits from abroad may transfer back.

Chemistry in the Cayman Islands Faculty-Led Program

Returned

How your Credits Transfer from Abroad
  1. It may take up to 90 days after you complete your program for IEE to receive your international transcript. Be sure to follow-up with your host institution or program provider to ensure your transcript is sent to IEE. In some cases students MUST request a transcript to be sent to IEE. 
  2. IEE will evaluate your transcript and match your courses to your course approvals on your Education Abroad Academic Plan. Courses that do not have approvals will transfer back as general education credit.
  3. Once the evaluation is complete, IEE will forward your transcript and evaluation to UWL Records & Registration.
  4. Records and Registration will process your transcript evaluation and courses will show up on your transcript record under transfer credits.

Remember:

  • Grades count and will come back as A - F letter grades.
  • Education abroad credits are considered transfer credits.
  • Education abroad grades will factor into your transfer GPA and cumulative GPA (see example below).
  • For faculty-led programs study abroad credits are considered UWL credits and grades will factor into the UWL GPA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don’t submit an Academic Plan?

Your Academic Plan determines how your courses from abroad will transfer to UWL. If you do not submit an Academic Plan, credits will transfer as GEL 000L.
If you need specific UWL credits, you MUST submit an Academic Plan.

How do I know what classes to take abroad?

It is your responsibility to find the classes you want to take at the program abroad and find the equivalents, but you should meet with your academic advisor to discuss your plans and how your courses fit into your program.

Each program has different requirements when it comes to education abroad so make sure to do your research and stay in contact with your advisors. 

What if I cannot complete my academic plan before I leave?

IEE is aware that students participating in certain programs might not be able to complete their plan by the deadlines. In some cases, students might not be able to complete it until they arrive at their host institution abroad or when they return to UWL after their semester abroad. If this is your case, you MUST communicate with your UWL international programs manager.

Do my grades count while I'm abroad?

Grades will factor into your Transfer GPA and Overall GPA. All international grades will be converted into the UWL/U.S. grading system. Grades from faculty-led programs will count towards the UWL GPA.

Can I take a class abroad that I failed on campus?

No. You cannot retake a failed course abroad. You must repeat the failed course on campus.

How many credits do I need to take?

All students abroad must still follow the undergraduate student credit load policy

Students must be enrolled in at least

  • 12 U.S. Credits during semester programs. Most students take 12-18 credits.
  • 6 U.S. Credits during summer programs. Most students take 6-12 credits.
  • Winter programs based on weeks abroad. Most students take 3 credits.
How do I know if I have enough credits?

International institutions have different credit systems. If you are unsure as to how many courses you need to be enrolled in, please consult this International Credit Equivalencies page and/or contact your International Program Manager/Education Abroad Advisor.
For Example: UK Programs: 5-6 ECTS = 3 U.S. credits. 15 British Credits = 3 U.S. credits. AUS Programs: 10-12 = 4 U.S. credits.

What if I don't get course approvals for courses I took abroad?

If you do not get approval for your courses, credits will transfer as GEL (general elective).

You should contact IEE regarding any course changes/additions for your courses abroad. You can submit a new Education Abroad Academic Plan with the new course(s) at any time.

If you need courses to transfer as specific UWL credits, you must get approval from the academic department through the academic plan.

 

Do classes I take abroad count towards the UWL tuition plateau?

No. Your education abroad courses will not count towards the UWL tuition plateau