Credits, Grades, and Transcripts

A study abroad experience is first and foremost an academic experience, which is why the Alliance takes the process of credit and grade conversion very seriously.

Credits

Academic credit for participation in an Alliance program is issued on an Arcadia University transcript at the completion of a student's term of study abroad.  Credit is issued in US semester hours, ensuring that students continue to make progress toward degrees and verifying the full-time academic load a student carries while abroad. 

The Arcadia University Undergraduate Academic Program Committee and Registrar work in conjunction with the Alliance's overseas staff and National Advisory Board to make sure our course credits accurately reflect a full-time course of academic study overseas.  Arcadia University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Any grades that appear on an Arcadia transcript must meet Middle States' standards.

To determine the credit hours for a specific program, please visit that program page. 

Grades

Students will receive a letter grade on a scale from A to F for every course they take while enrolled on an Alliance program. Although policies at students' individual home institutions may differ, the Alliance does not permit students to take courses on a credit/no credit basis.

For more information on grade equivalencies for China programs, please visit that section under the program heading. 

Transcripts

At the conclusion of a program, the College of Global Studies at Arcadia University sends an official Arcadia University transcript to a participant's home school and an unofficial copy to the participant. This transcript will list the course numbers and titles exactly as they appear on the original transcript from the university or program overseas.

Because overseas universities have different administrative structures, transcripts may take longer to issue than they do at U.S. institutions. While the timeline varies by program, a general timeline for transcript issuance is:

• Summer programs - transcript issued in early September.
• Fall program - transcript issued in late February.
• Academic year and Spring program - transcript issued in late September.

If you have a question about the process, please feel free to contact the program manager responsible for the program.

Participants can request additional copies of transcripts online or in writing at any time from the Arcadia University Registrar's Office.

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