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Graduate Transfer Credit for Prior Coursework - Types of Transfer Credit

This document provides a summary of the graduate transfer credit course definitions and how it appears on a student's transcript.

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Graduate Transfer Credit Definitions

Graduate transfer credits appear on the unofficial transcript, official transcript, and GSTS Advisement Report.  Once transfer credits are entered into the Graduate Student Portal, they are automatically exported to the Student Information System (SIS). Courses are recorded as generic courses, all beginning with GEN ELCT with an assigned number based on specific attributes of the transfer course.

See Table 1 for the definitions of graduate transfer credit courses. Expand the "Graduate Transfer Credit Course Definitions" tab to access Table 1. 

While graduate transfer credits appear on GSTS Advisement Reports, users must submit a request for the transfer credit to satisfy a requirement in an Advisement Report. 

Table 1. Definitions of Graduate Transfer Credit
Course Definition Fulfills Minimum Graduate Degree Credit Requirement? Fulfills Minimum Residence Credit Requirement? Fulfills Minimum Graduate Coursework Credit Requirement? Fulfills Minimum GPA Requirement?
GEN ELCT X01* Graduate Course from Other Institution Yes No Yes No
GEN ELCT X02 Graduate Course from Other Institution Yes No No  No
GEN ELCT X03** UW Madison Undergraduate Course Yes No Yes No
GEN ELCT X04 UW Madison Undergraduate Course Yes No No No
GEN ELCT X05*** UW Madison Special Student Course Yes No Yes No
GEN ELCT X06 UW Madison Special Student Course Yes No No No
GEN ELCT X07* Undergraduate Course from Other Institution Yes No Yes No
GEN ELCT X08 Undergraduate Course from Other Institution Yes No No No
GEN ELCT X09**** UW Madison Professional Degree Course Yes No Yes No
GEN ELCT X40 UW Madison Professional Degree Course Yes No No No
  • *Course is equivalent to a UW Madison course with the Grad 50% attribute and / or numbered 700 or above.
  • ** Course is numbered 700 or above.
  • *** Course is numbered 700 or above and / or is taken as part of a capstone certificate program and has the Grad 50% attribute.
  • **** Course has the Grad 50% attribute and / or numbered 700 or above.

Helpful Tip

Save Table 1 in an area easy to reference. 

Transcripts

Transfer credit appears on a student's transcript. This accounts for the minimum total credits required to earn a graduate degree. Transfer credit for prior coursework entered before May 15, 2023 will not appear on transcripts. Usually, transfer credit is attached to the beginning of a student's graduate record (top left of transcript).

Engineering PhD Transcript of Transfer Credit

Transfer Credit on Transcript for MIPA

Recorded Training

The Graduate School presented a virtual demonstration on how to enter transfer credit into the Graduate Portal. Topics include:

  • History of process
  • Demonstration of transfer credit entry
  • Transfer credit and the Graduate Student Tracking System (GSTS)
  • Entry considerations. 

Watch the recorded version of the demonstration for review. 

See Also


Keywords:
graduate transfer credit, prior coursework, definition of transfer credit, types of transfer credit, transfer credit, transcript 
Doc ID:
131337
Owned by:
Lorena K. in Graduate School
Created:
2023-09-08
Updated:
2025-06-25
Sites:
Graduate School