You should apply as a transfer student if you meet all of the following requirements:
- You have finished secondary school and completed some college study.
- You want to be considered for admission with advanced standing at Washington University.
- You are interested in enrolling full-time in an undergraduate degree program.
- You have never attended any of Washington University’s full-time, degree-granting schools.
Your Academic Preparation
The strongest candidates for admission present at least a B+ average from a two-year or four-year college in courses across a broad academic curriculum. You must leave your current institution in good standing.
If you have been away from a formal academic setting for more than two years, we require you to complete at least one year (30 hours) of work at another college or university before submitting your application for transfer admission.
If you are in your first year of college, you must present at least one completed semester of full-time college work with your application for transfer admission or submit a completed Mid-Semester Progress Report.
All our undergraduate divisions consider transfer applicants with relevant qualifications for a limited number of spaces each fall and spring semester. Some of our schools have specific requirements. Students with interests in engineering, business, or the physical or biological sciences should present a strong background in science and mathematics (calculus).
College of Arts & Sciences: Transfer applicants to the College of Arts & Sciences who have further questions should contact either Assistant Dean Warren J. Davis at (314) 935-6806 or wjdavis@wustl.edu, or Assistant Dean Carolyn Herman at (314) 935-8076 or cherman@wustl.edu (for students interested in studying science and pre-health science).
Olin Business School: Transfer applicants to the Olin Business School must have completed Calculus II at the college level. If you have questions about applying to the business school, please contact Assistant Dean Lanna Skadden at (314) 935-4758 or skadden@wustl.edu.
School of Engineering & Applied Science: Transfer applicants to the School of Engineering should have completed two semesters of calculus-based physics, sufficient calculus to be prepared to take differential equations, and have satisfied the English Composition requirement. Applicants interested in biomedical or chemical engineering should also have completed sufficient chemistry to be prepared to take organic chemistry. If you have questions about applying, please call Ms. Jaydee Amoloza, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Engineering Admissions, at (314) 935-6100 or by e-mail at jamoloza@wustl.edu.
Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts: Transfer applicants to the College of Art and College of Architecture are required to submit a portfolio for review by the faculty. The slide or digital portfolio should include 12-15 pieces showing a variety of art experiences, including drawings, work utilizing design principles, and some work in color.
Slide Portfolio
Submit good quality 35mm slides in a plastic slide sleeve. Each slide must be labeled with your name and Social Security Number or Applicant ID number. The slide portfolio will be returned only if you provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Digital Portfolio
Submit images in a simple, non-timed PowerPoint presentation. Also include all of the work in the presentation, in a separate folder, as jpegs saved at 72 dpi resolution and at a size of 600 pixels in the longest direction. Write your name and Social Security Number or Applicant ID number on the CD/DVD—do not use a stick-on label. Remember to include an accompanying inventory/contact sheet showing thumbnails of all work on the CD/DVD. The inventory sheet must include your name and Social Security Number or Applicant ID number. If preferred, you may include additional information such as title of work, medium, dimensions, and date completed.
If you have questions about applying to the College of Architecture or the College of Art, please contact Georgia Binnington, Associate Dean of Students for the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, at (314) 935-6532 or gbinning@wustl.edu.
Transfer Credit
Washington University awards academic credit for course work that resembles, by official description, a comparable course offering from one of its five undergraduate schools. To assure proper transfer credit, please submit a copy of the catalog description for any course whose nature is not immediately clear by title or course number. Credit is awarded if pass or grades of C or better appear on your transcript. The Washington University transcript will only include grades earned at Washington University. Grades earned at your previous institution will not be recorded or included in the grade point average.
Advanced Placement
Most departments at Washington U. will accept for credit and placement a score of 4 or 5 on the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) tests or a score of 5 or better on the higher-level International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. Official score reports should be sent to the appropriate dean’s office after admission has been granted. No credit is granted for CLEP exams, standard-level IB exams, correspondence work, or departmental placement exams given by another institution.
Additional Requirements
Students admitted to Architecture, Art, Arts & Sciences, or Business may transfer a maximum of 60 semester hours of credit toward the degree at Washington University. Engineering has no maximum limit.
If you plan to enroll in Architecture, Art, Arts & Sciences, or Business you must complete the final 60 hours and a minimum of four consecutive full-time semesters in residence in order to earn a degree. If you plan to enroll in Engineering in order to complete a Bachelor of Science degree, you will need to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of junior- or senior-level course work.