Transfer Credit

Through Trinity College Dublin coursework, credit from advanced-standing examinations such as Advanced Placement or the Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level Exams, or college coursework completed at an institution other than Trinity, Dual BA Program students will transfer up to 60 of the 124 points required for degree completion at Columbia University.

Students admitted to the Dual BA Program may transfer credit only from the institutions listed on their application for admission at the time the application is submitted. Coursework from institutions not listed on the application for admission will not be considered for transfer credit. Transcripts from all institutions previously attended must be listed on the application form and submitted to the School of General Studies. Failure to report and send transcripts from all schools previously attended is considered academic dishonesty and may result in disciplinary action including rescinding the offer of admission.

In all cases, transfer credit from all previous coursework must be finalized within six months of matriculation. For additional information on transferring credits, please visit the Transfer Credit section of the School of General Studies website.

During the first two years of the Program, Trinity will send student transcripts to Columbia for transfer credit evaluation. Before the start of their third year, Dual BA students will receive the maximum 60 allowable transfer credits toward the 124 credit minimum required for the Columbia undergraduate degree for coursework completed at Trinity.

Students will also have access to a Core Requirement Checklist which is updated yearly by advising deans. This checklist will detail which of the Core requirements have been satisfied by transfer credit.

Classroom hours are relatively similar at both Trinity and Columbia. Two (2) European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits are equal to one (1) Columbia credit (otherwise known as points), and Trinity students typically enroll in 60 ECTS credits per academic year.

Please note that Columbia accepts a maximum of 60 transfer credits; moreover, with respect to the Columbia bachelor’s degree requirements, all coursework completed at Trinity will be classified as transfer credit. Consequently, non-Trinity transfer credits may not accelerate degree completion

AP Credit

Although AP scores cannot be used toward exemption from Core Curriculum courses, scores may be used to satisfy other requirements, as noted on the GS website.

International Baccalaureate 

The School of General Studies awards transfer credit only for International Baccalaureate (IB) exams taken at the Higher level. No transfer credit is awarded for the "Theory of Knowledge" exam.

Students are awarded the equivalent of one semester of transfer credit (typically 3 points) in the relevant discipline for any Higher level exam in which they receive a score of 6 or 7. Any transfer credit received, as determined by Admissions, will appear on the student's ECR and will be considered part of the 60-credit transfer maximum. 

Although IB scores cannot be used toward exemption from Core Curriculum courses, scores may be used to satisfy other requirements, as noted on the GS website.

GPA and Grade Conversion

A student’s Columbia GPA is determined only by courses completed at Columbia. While students are required to pass their Trinity modules in order to progress to Columbia in year three, the grades earned in years one and two are not factored into their Columbia GPA. To determine an approximate GPA based on Trinity coursework, Dual BA Program students can use the Grade Conversion Chart below.

The following marking scheme applies in Trinity College Dublin:

The marks noted above translate approximately to the following in the U.S. system:

Students at Columbia are given both letter and numerical grades as follows:

• A+ = 4.33
   
• A = 4.00
   
• A- = 3.67
   
• B+ = 3.33
   
• B = 3.00
   
• B- = 2.67
   
• C+ = 2.33
   
• C = 2.00
   
• C- = 1.67
   
• D = 1.00
   
• F = 0.00

These grades are weighted for each class based upon the credit value.