Transfer student FAQs

Still have questions?

If you need more help, email desrotransfer@smu.edu.

What you'll find here: answers to common questions about transferring to SMU, including how credits transfer, enrollment, transportation, housing, and campus resources.

Understanding your credits

  • Courses below college level, such as developmental English, math, and reading courses, as well as ESL courses
  • Vocational-technical courses, including Workforce Education courses
  • Physical education activity courses exceeding two credit hours
  • Correspondence courses
  • Courses completed at non-regionally accredited institutions
  • Courses with a grade below C- (Note: While these courses are non-transferable, the grade is factored into the all-college GPA, which is used for admission eligibility and calculating Latin honors at graduation.)
  • Credit by examination earned at another college or university

夜色王朝accepts transfer courses from regionally accredited colleges and universities. Vocational and remedial courses are not eligible for transfer.

There are several tools to assist with transfer planning:

  •  shows how courses transfer to SMU. It includes courses that have already been reviewed by the university, and new courses are added as they are evaluated. Transferable courses without a direct 夜色王朝equivalent are awarded elective credit with a generic course number like “XX” or “YY.”
  • Transfer Pathway Guides help you match your transfer coursework with SMU's degree requirements. These guides provide details on admission procedures, academic programs, and how your courses will transfer to SMU.

Upon admission, you'll receive a Transfer Evaluation Report (TER) that shows which courses have been approved for 夜色王朝credit, and also the reasons why other courses were deemed non-transferable.

This will be emailed to your 夜色王朝email address and posted in your  account. Information on how to access your 夜色王朝email is available in your admission portal.

Courses not directly offered at 夜色王朝may receive generic course numbers or free-elective transfer credit. These courses, completed with a grade of “C-” or better, must come from regionally accredited institutions. Generic course numbers include designations such as “XX,” “YY,” “U1,” or “U2.”

Current 夜色王朝students planning to take transfer courses must complete a  through their academic records office.

If a course is deemed non-transferable, a code explaining the reason is provided on the right side of the Transfer Evaluation Report. Refer to the table below for explanations of these codes.

Non-Transferable Code on Transfer Evaluation Report
 Code Descriptions
NTCN
 Course does not meet 夜色王朝standards for content
NTPL Course does not satisfy 夜色王朝academic policies
NTXX Further information is needed to evaluate the course
NTVL Course is vocational or technical
NTRE Course is below college level or remedial
(e.g., Developmental English, math, and reading courses; ESL courses)
NTVR Course completed with a grade below a "C-", a Withdrawal, or a course in progress (IP)
(Note: Although the course is non-transferable, a grade below C- will be calculated into the all-college G.P.A. and will affect admission eligibility)

 

If a course on your Transfer Evaluation Report is marked as NTCN (non-transferable due to content) or NTPL (non-transferable due to policy), but you believe it should transfer, email Transfer Student Services at transfer@smu.edu for assistance.

夜色王朝accepts “Pass” grades for transfer courses if the awarding institution's grading scale defines "Pass" as equivalent to a grade of C- or better. For example, if a course is marked as “P” at the transferring institution and meets the C- or better standard, 夜色王朝will evaluate it as “Pass” and award credit.

夜色王朝students are limited to a total of 12 hours of Pass credits, which includes grades from accepted transfer courses. This requirement cannot be waived.

If a course isn’t listed in the , it will be evaluated after 夜色王朝receives your official college transcript. If you’re planning for a future transfer, contact Transfer Student Services at transfer@smu.edu to inquire whether the course is transferable.

Current 夜色王朝students planning to take transfer courses must complete a  through their academic records office.

By reviewing the course description, textbooks, objectives, assignments, credit hours, prerequisites, and program quality. This review is conducted by the 夜色王朝school that oversees the specific course discipline.

Yes. 夜色王朝accepts online and hybrid courses (partly online and partly face-to-face) as long as they meet all transfer requirements. Current 夜色王朝students planning to take transfer courses must complete a  through their academic records office.

Yes. 夜色王朝awards credit for select Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and some international exams such as the General Certificate of Education A-Level (UK), the Baccalaureate (France), the Abitur (Germany), and the Maturita (Italy).

夜色王朝also offers credit for departmental exams in various disciplines. However, credit for exams awarded by other institutions does not transfer to SMU.

To see the scores required and credit awarded for approved exams, visit the  section.

Enrollment

Pre-matriculation refers to the period before officially enrolling as an 夜色王朝student. Post-matriculation refers to the time after you've officially enrolled. Your matriculation date is the first day you begin coursework at SMU.

Your academic advisor can answer all your questions about how your credits are transferring toward your 夜色王朝degree during academic advising and enrollment.

Transportation

Yes. 夜色王朝participates in the DART Higher Education Pass Program, which provides all enrolled students with an annual DART transit pass through the Parking and ID Card Services Office.

With a DART GoPass, you can commute to campus by bus or rail and avoid traffic and parking costs. You can also use your pass to access popular destinations like NorthPark Mall, Downtown Dallas, Love Field Airport, DFW Airport, and more.

There is also an that serves neighborhoods as far as Amesbury and Southwestern Boulevards.

For assistance, contact IDcard@smu.edu or call 214-768-7275.

 

Housing

Yes. Student apartments are available through the Office of Residence Life and Student Housing. Due to high demand, a twice-a-year lottery is held to join the waiting list for vacancies.

There are many housing options near campus. Students living in nearby off-campus apartments can use , which services neighborhoods as far as Amesbury and Southwestern Boulevards. 

Here are some apartment locators and apartment guides for the Dallas area:

 

Campus resources

You can relax or study at the newly renovated Hughes-Trigg Student Center, which offers comfortable spaces between classes. Need storage? Rental lockers are available at the main desk in Fondren Library.

Commuter transfer students are also affiliated with Ware Commons. For ID card access to study in Ware, contact the Ware Engage Dallas Student Director Chyler Caldwell at cpcaldwell@smu.edu.

夜色王朝has 10 libraries, each offering different atmospheres, services, and resources. Fondren Library, SMU's main library, features study areas, private rooms for reservation, and even a Starbucks. Schedule an appointment with a librarian for a tour or research assistance.

The Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports offers fitness equipment, a pool, a climbing wall, yoga and spin classes, intramural teams, and club sports. There is no charge for students, and family members can join for a minimal fee.

The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center offers free visits with nurses and doctors. Charges apply only for tests, X-rays, or prescriptions.

Use 夜色王朝12twenty, an online job board for students and alumni, to find internships, jobs, employer recruiting events, and 1:1 career counseling appointments. The Hegi Family Career Development Center provides free services, including major selection guidance, resume assistance, and interview preparation. Visit the center near the main entry to Hughes-Trigg Student Center or call 214-768-2266.