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Transfer credit eligibility
If you have a previous postsecondary education, you may be able to apply for transfer credit toward SAIT courses within a program.
To be eligible for transfer credit:
- you must be fully accepted into a program and have paid your tuition deposit
- your previous course(s) must have been completed at an accredited post-secondary institution within the last ten years
- your previous completed credit course curriculum matches 80% SAIT course curriculum
- your external completed course weight is equal to or greater than the SAIT course credits
- you must have achieved a minimum grade of 63% in your previous education. "Attended," "Pass", or "Audited" grades will not be accepted for credit, including previously awarded transfer credit or prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR).
Transfer credit may be used up to a maximum of 50% of the courses required for a SAIT program. (For example, ten courses out of 20 for diploma programs.)
Non-credit courses cannot be used as transfer credit toward a credit course.
When no formal transfer agreement exists, junior courses may be eligible for transfer credit if you have been awarded a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an accredited Canadian institution, as determined by the Office of the Registrar when transfer credit is requested. Eligible courses include:
- Communication and Liberal Arts Studies
- Philosophy
- English
- Sociology
- Humanities
Credit for courses completed outside of Canada
You may still receive credit for courses completed at international institutions.
If your documents are issued in a language other than English, an official translation must be provided by certified members of the ATIA or CTTIC or translators with a translation authority from your home country, along with the original documents from which the translation was completed.
Credit for advanced placement (AP) and international baccalaureate (IB) courses
If you have completed advanced placement or international baccalaureate course(s) and want to know if they transfer to your program, please visit Transfer Alberta.
Eligibility:
- IB - Higher level courses are awarded provided a minimum grade of "5" or higher is achieved.
- AP - present grades of 4 or higher
Once you have accepted and paid your tuition deposit, you will receive an email invitation to request transfer credit.
Credit for a study abroad experience
If you have completed a study abroad program and returned to SAIT, you can apply for transfer credit by submitting an online request. This must be submitted as soon as you return.
Meet with a study abroad coordinator to learn more about available study abroad programs and courses.
Credit for courses offered elsewhere while attending SAIT (Letters of Permission)
If you're a current SAIT student and want to take a course at another post-secondary institution, you must submit an online request before you take the external course:
- to have it evaluated for transferability
- to ensure that the external course is applicable to your SAIT program
- to get approval from your academic chair.
If approved, you have one year to complete the approved course from the date your letter of permission is issued. Send your final transcript to transfer.options@sait.ca to receive credit. This must be done prior to graduation.
A letter of permission may be requested by the other institution as part of the admission process. Please contact transfer.options@sait.ca to request an official letter.
Program-specific agreements
Visit our program pages to see a list of pre-evaluated programs listed by partner institution.
This is a good way to explore transfer options if you're transferring to and from SAIT.
Transfer Alberta search tool
Visit the Government of Alberta's database to browse all transfer credit agreements between post-secondary institutions across the province.
This is a good way to explore transfer credit or transfer agreements if you’re transferring into SAIT or from SAIT to another institution.
Did you know?
You may be able to get credit for your prior work, volunteer or other types of learning experiences.
Find out if you're eligible and how to complete a prior learning assessment.
How to apply for course credit
If you're applying for credit for AP/IB courses or courses taken at another Canadian or international institution, follow this process.
If you are requesting credit for a study abroad experience or a letter of permission, please submit an online request.
Confirm your seat
Before you submit your transfer credit request, you must pay your non-refundable deposit and be fully accepted into your program.
Submit your transfer credit request
Watch your inbox!
Once you have accepted and paid your tuition deposit, you will receive an email invitation to request transfer credit.
Submit your request, along with all supporting documents.
Await the decision
Once you have submitted your transfer credit application, it will be reviewed by a transfer credit advisor and sent to a subject matter expert to assess.
The assessment may take up to 4-6 weeks. When it is completed, we will inform you of the outcome.
If your transfer credit is approved:
- A "CR" will show on your SAIT transcript. The credited course is not calculated in your grade point average (GPA).
- If you’re currently registered in the SAIT course, a transfer credit advisor will drop you from the course. If you receive credit for a course for a future semester, you are responsible for dropping yourself from the course.
Key dates and deadlines
To receive a tuition refund, the transfer credit request must be completed before the course add/drop date. You may still submit a request after the deadline up to the midpoint of the semester; however, you will not receive a tuition refund.
All transfer credit requests must be submitted by the end of your second semester of your program. This excludes study abroad and letters of permission.
| Term | Semester start* | Add/drop deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Sept. 2, 2025 | Sept. 12, 2025 |
| Winter 2026 | Jan. 6, 2026 | Jan. 16, 2026 |
| Spring 2026 | May 5, 2026 | May 15, 2026 |
*If your program begins outside the above semester start dates, your add/drop deadline will differ. Please contact your academic advisor to confirm your deadline.
If you are registered in a course that is being evaluated, you should continue to attend the courses until a decision has been made on your transfer credit request.
Costs
If your previous education was completed at a Canadian institution, there is no charge to have your courses evaluated.
To have your international education assessed a non-refundable fee of $155 per course will be charged regardless of the outcome of the evaluation.
Transfer credit frequently asked questions
If your transfer credit was denied, you can appeal within five calendar days of that decision with a written rationale for challenging the decision, supported by specific evidence to refute that assessment, to your academic chair.
For more information, refer to section 14 of policy AC.3.18.1- Recognition of Prior Learning - Credit Courses.
If you have previously completed a SAIT course that is required in another SAIT program you’ve begun, course credit will automatically be applied as long as it is within the time limits set out for your credential. The time limit is based on when you began the course. If the timeline has passed, please see your academic advisor to see if a timeline extension could be granted.
To determine if your completed SAIT course is equivalent to another SAIT course where the course code and name differ, reference the course in your new program on the program page and look for any listed equivalencies or check with your academic advisor.
Related policies and procedures
- AC.3.1.1- Grading and Progression Procedure - Credit Courses
- AC.3.18- Recognition of Prior Learning Policy
- AC.3.18.1- Recognition of Prior Learning - Credit Courses
- AC.3.18.1- Schedule A - Challenge Examination Process
- AC.3.18.1- Schedule B - Transfer Credit/Course Equivalency - Evaluation Rubric
- AC.3.18.1- Schedule C - Prior Non-Formal and Informal Learning Evaluation Rubric
- AC.3.18.3 Articulation
- AC.3.18.3 Schedule A - Roles and Responsibilities
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Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.