TRANSFER POLICY

1.0 Definitions
1.1 The following words and expressions have the meaning hereby assigned to them:
1.1.1 Academic Advising: Interactions between a Student and an Academic Advisor that involve discussing the Student’s academic plan, making appropriate Course selections, academic progression, and learning outcomes.
1.1.2 Academic Credentials: A certification of Qualifications issued by a post-secondary institution, recognized by the State of Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education, indicating that an individual successfully completed a particular course of study at a specified degree level.
1.1.3 Academic Unit: An entity within the University that delivers Courses for Programs or for entry into Programs.
1.1.4 Admission: The process in which Applicants are evaluated for entry into a University Program.
1.1.5 Admission Requirements: The requirements for eligibility into a University Program.
1.1.6 Applicant: An individual who has submitted and completed an application to be admitted into a Program.
1.1.7 Block Transfer: Transfer of credit in the form of a block of Courses rather than on a Course-by-Course basis.
1.1.8 Challenge Examination: An examination that assesses a Student's existing knowledge that may exempt the Student from completing a Foundation Program Course.
1.1.9 Course: A set of Learning Sessions in a particular subject, with a defined scope and duration, and specific learning outcomes.
1.1.10 Course Exemption: An official waiver from a Course based on satisfying the Course Requirement granted through Internal/External Transfer Credit or PLAR, or by way of Challenge Examination for Foundation Program only.
1.1.11 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs): The knowledge, skills, and competencies a Student can demonstrate immediately upon completion of a Course.
1.1.12 Credit: A unit of measurement assigned to a Course based on the total amount of learning time that counts toward a Program or credential completion, at a particular level of the Qatar National Qualification Framework.
1.1.13 Cumulative GPA: The overall cumulative grade point average across multiple Semesters in a Student’s Program.
1.1.14 External Transfer Credit: Transfer of eligible Courses and Credit earned at another institution.
1.1.15 Foundation Program: A series of University Courses designed to prepare Students for their Program.
1.1.16 Grade Point Average (GPA): The average, on a four-point scale, of a Student’s total grade scores divided by the number of Credits taken.
1.1.17 Internal Transfer Credit: A transfer of eligible Courses and Credit earned in one University Program to another.
1.1.18 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR): A process through which Students can receive Credit for University Courses not taken.
1.1.19 Program: A prescribed set of Courses leading to a qualification.
1.1.20 Program Transfer: A transfer between Programs within the University.
1.1.21 Semester: A division of an Academic Year where a Student is enrolled in a Course(s) followed by an examination period.
1.1.22 Sponsor: An organization that pays all or a portion of a Student’s education-related expenses.
1.1.23 Student: A person who is presently enrolled at the University in a Credit Course or who is designated by the University as a Student.
1.1.24 Transcript: An official document of the University summarizing the entire academic records of a Student.
1.1.25 University: University of Doha for Science and Technology established by Emiri Resolution No. 13 of 2022.
1.2 Where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings.
1.3 Where the context requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.
2.0 Policy Purpose
2.1 The purpose of this policy is to define the regulations and standards relating to Program Transfer and awarding Internal and External Transfer Credit.
3.0 Policy Scope
3.1 This policy applies to:
3.1.1 Students transferring from one University Program to another.
3.1.2 Applicants applying to the University.
3.1.3 Applicants transferring to the University from another institution.
3.1.4 Academic Units.
3.1.5 Admissions and Registration Directorate.
3.1.6 Finance Directorate.
4.0 Program Transfer
4.1 Students are permitted to request a transfer from one Program to another.
4.2 Approval of transfer from one Program to another is dependent on the following:
4.2.1 The Student meeting the receiving Program’s minimum Admission Requirements.
4.2.2 The Student meeting Program-specific requirements.
4.2.3 The Student meeting Academic Standing Policy requirements.
4.2.4 Program capacity.
4.2.5 Approval from the receiving Academic Unit.
4.2.6 Sponsor approval, if applicable.
4.3 Satisfying the above criteria does not guarantee approval. Transfers are subject to competitive entry and seat availability.
4.4 The receiving Program must ensure appropriate Academic Advising is provided.
4.5 Students in the Foundation Program may not request a transfer until completion.
4.6 Students may request transfer to a lower-level Academic Credential Program where applicable.
5.0 Transfer Credit
5.1 Internal Transfer Credit
5.1.1 Upon Program Transfer, a Student’s Cumulative GPA is recalculated.
5.1.2 Credits earned in other Programs may fulfill requirements of the receiving Program.
5.1.3 Internal Transfer Credit may be granted on a Course or Block Transfer basis.
5.1.4 Applicable Courses are included in GPA recalculation.
5.2 External Transfer Credit
5.2.1 Students may apply for External Transfer Credit subject to Transfer Procedure (PR-ST-06).
5.3 General Conditions
5.3.1 Undergraduate Programs may accept up to 50% External Transfer Credit and/or PLAR.
5.3.2 Graduate Programs may accept up to 9 Credits.
5.3.3 Transfer Credit is recorded as Course Exemption (EN) with no GPA impact.
5.3.4 Requests must be submitted at application or two weeks prior to Semester start.
5.3.5 Foundation Program Course Exemptions may be granted via approved tests.
5.3.6 Exemptions may be granted for AP, IB, and GCE A Level Courses.
5.3.7 Exemptions may be granted via Challenge Examination.
6.0 Master’s Thesis
6.1 Credit for a Master’s thesis cannot be transferred.
7.0 Tuition and Fees
7.1 Students are responsible for all fees related to transfer requests.
7.2 Qatari Students may transfer Programs once before tuition is reassessed.
7.3 Sponsored Students require Sponsor approval for financial implications.
8.0 Timelines
8.1 Timelines are outlined in the Transfer Procedure (PR-ST-06).
9.0 Procedures
9.1 The Vice-President, Student Affairs will ensure procedures are developed and implemented.
10.0 Related Documents
PR-ST-06 Transfer Procedure
PL-ST-05 Academic Standing Policy
PL-ST-07 Admissions Policy
PL-ST-08 Final Grade Policy
PL-ST-09 Registration Policy
PL-ST-17 Graduate Admissions Policy
PL-ST-18 Graduate Academic Standing Policy
PL-ST-19 Graduate Final Grade Policy
PL-ST-27 Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition (PLAR) Policy

PL-ST-06 Transfer Policy ©
Aug 2025