Transferring college credits overseas—possible?

I've been thinking about studying abroad next year. Has anyone managed to transfer their college credits internationally, and if so, what was involved in that process?

When studying abroad, most credits from the courses taken do get transferred back to your home institution, which take into account the effort you put in your studies abroad. Universities often have established exchange programs with partner institutions overseas that allow for credits to be transferred more easily.

However, the process can be complex and highly variable since it depends hugely on the policies of both the home and host institutions (as well as the relevancy of the courses studied abroad to the student's major, in many cases). Here's a possible process:

1. Prior Approval: You will need to seek approval from your home institution before you leave for your studies abroad. You should list down the courses you intend to take abroad and get them pre-approved for credit transfer by your academic or study abroad advisor. They might ask for syllabi to determine how the course aligns with or replaces a course at your home institution.

2. Taking the Courses: Try to take only courses that have been pre-approved to avoid confusion later on.

3. Transcript: After your study abroad period, you'll need to request your transcript from the international institution. This transcript will record your grades and the courses you completed while abroad.

4. Submission: Upon your return, you’ll submit your transcript from the abroad institution to your home institution for transferring the credits.

5. Credit Transfer: Generally, only courses in which a grade equivalent to a "C" or better was earned may be transferred. Further, some schools evaluate the courses on a "Pass/Fail" basis.

6. Follow Up: After you submit your transcript, follow up with your adviser to ensure that the credits have been processed and applied correctly toward your degree.

Remember that every institution has a unique process, so make sure to start this conversation with your academic advisor or study abroad office early to understand what you'll need to do. Sometimes, you might need to provide course syllabi, or other supporting documents, to prove the content and level of the courses you took.

Just be prepared to advocate for yourself and your credits throughout this process, because sometimes it can take a bit of effort to ensure all your credits are accurately transferred. But if you've done your due diligence ahead of time, you're far more likely to be successful. Good luck!