Skip to main content
UMass Collegiate M The University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Give
  • Search UMass.edu
Graduate School Graduate School

Main navigation

  • Apply
    How to ApplyAfter you ApplyInternational ApplicantsNon-Degree Students
  • Academics
    Certificate ProgramsMaster's ProgramsDoctoral ProgramsCourses
    See all academic programs
  • Student Support
    Professional DevelopmentAppointments and FellowshipsInclusionFundingPolicies
    New Graduate StudentsGraduate Student GovernmentGraduate Student HandbookGraduate Student Forms & DocumentsResources
  • Faculty & Staff
    Program AdministrationAdmissionsMentoringCurriculum ChangesForm Library
    Our DeanCurrent GPDsGrad Office ContactStaff Directory
  • News & Events
    NewsEventsAnnual Report
    CommencementOrientation

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Graduate Student Handbook
  3. Education Records

Transfer Credit Policy & Forms


Transferring Credit to a Master's Degree Program

A limited number of graduate course credits taken at a regionally accredited institution in the United States may be transferred toward a master's program provided the Graduate Program Director recommends to the Graduate Dean that the credits be transferred and that request is approved (See Transfer of Credit Forms). No courses taken outside of the University of Massachusetts Amherst may be transferred toward a doctoral or an Educational Specialist program.

  1. Course Eligibility Requirements:
    • Course credits must be graduate level.
    • Course credits must have been earned at a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
    • Course credits may not have been used previously to fulfill the requirements for any other degree, certificate or diploma program.
    • Grades received for courses requested for transfer must be "B" (3.00) or better.
    • Course credits must have been taken no more than three years prior to the student's acceptance into the master's program.
    • An official transcript of the course(s) to be transferred is required 
  2. Number of Credits:
    No more than a total of twelve (12) graduate credits may be transferred. Of these, a maximum of six (6) credits may be from any one of the following sources:
    • Course(s) taken at another regionally accredited college/university within the United States
    • Course(s) taken at UMass Amherst as a non-degree graduate student (also see Non-Degree Students)
    • Course(s) taken at UMass Amherst as an undergraduate student over and above requirements for the baccalaureate degree
  3. Use of Courses to Fulfill Requirements: 
    • Non-University of Massachusetts Amherst transfer credits may be used to fulfill elective or departmental course requirements. These courses may not, however, be used to satisfy the 600-800 level requirement, nor can the grade received in a course taken at another institution be used to satisfy the university's requirement for letter-graded credits (see Master's Degree Requirements).
  4. Transfer Credits to Another Institution: 
    • Courses taken as a non-degree student are listed separately from the degree transcript. A course taken while enrolled in a degree program but not applied toward a University of Massachusetts Amherst degree may be transferrable. The Graduate School can, if necessary, certify that a course was not applied to any degree requirement at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was eligible for graduate credit when appropriate.

Transferring Credit to an Accelerated Master's Degree Program

Upon departmental recommendation, up to 12 credits may be transferred to the Accelerated Master's Degree program.  Those credits that are to be transferred must be taken as an undergraduate at UMass Amherst while enrolled in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Option.

Of those 12 transfer credits, 6 to 12 credits (depending on the number of credits required for the Accelerated Master's program) can be double counted toward both the baccalaureate and master's degrees.  Up to 6 credits can be double counted for accelerated master's degree programs requiring 30 - 32 credits, 9 credits for accelerated master's degree programs requiring 33 - 35 credits, and 12 credits for accelerated master's degree programs requiring 36 or more credits.

Transferring Credit from a Graduate Certificate to a Master's Degree Program

Should a graduate certificate student subsequently apply and be accepted to a degree-granting program, up to 15 credits earned as a UMass Amherst graduate certificate student may be applied to satisfy graduate degree requirements. Any application of such credit must be approved by the program/department and must be appropriate to the program.

Transfer of Credit Forms

Transfer of Credits, Accelerated Masters
Transfer of Credits, External
Transfer of Credits, Nondegree

Navigation

‹ Previous | Up | Next ›

Book Navigation Links

Graduate Student Handbook
Education Records
Transcripts
Enrollment and Degree Verifications
Replacement Diplomas
Graduate School Grading Policies
Transfer Credit Policy & Forms
Change of Major/Program
Change of Personal Data
Privacy of Records

  • Printer-friendly version

Site footer

Graduate School
  • X
  • Find us on Facebook
  • Find us on YouTube
  • Find us on Instagram
Address

Goodell Hall
140 Hicks Way, 5th Floor
Amherst, MA 01003
United States

Info for...

  • Current students
  • Faculty & staff

Admissions

  • How to apply
  • After you apply
  • International applicants
  • Non-degree students

The Graduate School

  • About
  • Our dean
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact Us

Student Life & Support

  • Professional development
  • Funding
  • Policies
  • Inclusion

Global footer

  • ©2025 University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Site policies
  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination notice
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of use