*** Subject to change ***
How Credits are Awarded
The University of Virginia College of Arts & Sciences offers advanced standing credit and/or advanced placement for many international college-level examinations. What follows describes the College’s policy regarding these examinations. We encourage you to contact us and the appropriate Departmental Undergraduate Director if you have questions about receiving advanced standing credit or advanced placement for any of these examinations. You may also locate departmental phone numbers by calling University directory assistance at (434) 924-0311.
The College of Arts & Sciences grants advanced standing credit and advanced placement for qualifying examination scores in the
- Higher-Level International Baccalaureate
- British A-Level
- French Baccalaureate
- German Abitur
- Swiss Maturity Certificate
We award advanced standing credit or placement based upon qualifying examination scores (and, where applicable, subject coefficients or value) and the recommendation of the appropriate Arts & Sciences departments. Equivalencies are listed in the Undergraduate Record.
Credit and advanced placement are generally determined on a case-by-case basis, on the student’s initiative, by the Dean’s Office in the College of Arts and Sciences and by the Director of Undergraduate Programs in the appropriate departments. We do not award credit based upon the length of study of a particular program. Since approved credit is advanced standing credit, not transfer credit, we base the award of credit solely on examination results and not on completed courses.
Advanced standing credit is included among “non-U.Va. credits” on students' transcript and, along with transfer credit, is limited to a total of 60 semester hours. The College of Arts and Sciences and individual departments may limit the number of advanced standing credits awarded to an individual. Students may receive at least one, and not more than two, semesters of introductory-level credit per qualifying examination score. Departments have their own policies on the use of advanced standing credit for their major or minor requirements.
NOTE: We do not award credit for foreign language subject examinations of English language or literature.
The College reserves the right to change these policies at any time prior to the student’s matriculation. Credit awarded may change as the College and departments review examinations and related material. Please check this web site often to verify credit award policy.
Requesting Credit
The College does not automatically award credit for international college-level examinations. To receive credit, students must provide an official copy of their examination certificate, including an official English translation if requested. The certificate should be sent directly to:
Erin O'Donnell
College of Arts & Sciences
P.O. Box 400133
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4133
or, should be delivered in person to Ms. O'Donnell, 201 C Monroe Hall, in a sealed envelope.
Students must be prepared to provide the following to the departmental undergraduate directors:
- Official course descriptions
- Syllabi
- Copies of examinations
No special form is required from the department to verify the award of credit. Recommendations, however, should be made on departmental letterhead stationery. Students should request that the undergraduate directors call Ms. O'Donnell at (434) 924-8880 or Dean Ozment at (434) 924-3350 if they have questions.
We are pleased to assist students with the review of international college-level examinations. Questions may be directed to Ms. O'Donnell at (434) 924-8880 or Dean Ozment at (434) 924-3350.