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Transfer to Kuwait University | VD Student Affairs

Transfer to Kuwait University

Transfer applications to the University should include the following documents:

  1. A certified sealed copy of the transcript.
  2. A certified copy of Secondary School Certificate.
  3. The descriptions of courses studied in the previous educational institution.
  4. A passport copy.
  5. A valid Civil ID and a copy.
  6. Other documents to prove the admission category of the applicant (for non-Kuwaitis).
  7. Two recent colored photos of the applicant.
  8. A signed letter confirming that the applicant is a full-time student, or an approval letter that the applicant is a part-time student.
  9. A letter of salary transfer from any local bank (for Kuwaitis and children of Kuwaiti women). 

Transfer Regulations

In addition to the general admission regulations, accepting applications of transfer applicants are subject to the capacity of the University, while taking into consideration that accepting an application does not necessarily imply admission in the University.

  1. Applicants who already studied atKuwaitUniversitymay transfer back to the University, provided that they did not graduate from it, were on academic probation for their low GPA in the last semester of their study, or got expelled from the University for disciplinary or academic reasons. The major sheet in place at the time of transfer will apply to the applicant, and all courses he/she previously attained at the former University will not be considered. The University graduates seeking to join any College of the Center for Medical Sciences are exempted from this condition.
  2. The Deanship of Admission and Registration determines the outcome of transfer applications, in accordance with the general and College-specific transfer regulations. Applicants are admitted at the College level or to a group of desired specializations as specified within the transfer application. Once a  transfer applicant is admitted in the University, the Deanship of Admission and Registration determines the subspecialties of the applicants in collaboration with the University Colleges, in accordance with the rules set for determining the subspecialties of Secondary School graduates.
  3. The term “Kuwaiti applicants” in all admission and transfer regulations includes children of Kuwaiti women of determined nationality who hold a Kuwaiti Civil ID, whereas the term “non-kuwaitis” includes applicants from other nationalities who are allowed to join the University in accordance with the rules set.
  4. Transfer of non-Kuwaiti applicants is restricted to the following categories: spouses of Kuwaiti citizens, spouses and children of Faculty Members and Language Teachers, spouses and children of University staff, members and children of diplomats. The number of transferred applicants among these categories should be within the ratio of admission of non-Kuwaitis set for every College.
  5. To consider any course that the applicant studied abroad, the course should be equalized by the concerned department, provided that the applicant passed the course with a minimum grade of “C” (two points in the four-point system or its equivalent in other systems), unless the College stipulates a higher grade to equalize the courses. If the College decides that a course has no equivalent course available, the course cannot be re-submitted for equalization to the College.
  6. An applicant desiring to transfer to a science Colleges hould have a Secondary School Certificate, Science Major or its equivalent.
  7. Kuwait University awards undergraduate degrees for transferred applicants from other universities or Colleges, provided that they pass at Kuwait University, after being admitted, at least 30 credits, 15 of which, at least, are major’s courses, with a minimum GPA and major average of no less than 2 Points, in addition to satisfying the other graduation requirements.
  8. An applicant is admitted with the condition that he/she studies in the semester in which he/she is admitted, and admission is canceled if the applicant does not study in that semester. The applicant can postpone the acceptance once (other than those who have University staff (grants)) for the following semester, by applying for postponement within the period set for considering postponement applications, in accordance with the rules set by the Student’s Affairs Committee at the University. 

Transfer Regulations from Other Universities

General Regulations

  1. The Applicant should not have earned a Bachelor’s degree from any other University. The applicant should be registered in a University or a College that follows the four-year system, and that is accredited from the relevant authorities according to the educational system. The study system should be similar to the system at Kuwait University, especially in terms of attendance, which is mandatory throughout all academic years. The University accepts applications of applicants who stopped attending the University for a period of no more than one academic year prior to the submission of the application.
  2. The applicant should have passed at least 45 credits in the two-semester system (or equivalent in other systems), or two academic years in an accredited University with a four-year system, with an aggregate average of no less than “B-” (2.67 points in the four-point system, or 80% in the percentage system, or very good in the term system), unless the College stipulates a higher average.
  3. The applicant must have passed at least 30 credits in the last University he/she was enrolled in, with an aggregate average of no less than “B-” (2.67 points in the four-point system, or 80% in the percentage system, or very good in the term system), unless the College stipulates a higher average.
  4. Applicants who wish transfer to the Colleges of Law, Sharia & Islamic Studies and Social Sciences, must obtain a GPA of no less than “B” (3 points in the four-point system, or 83% in the percentage system, or very good in the term system).
  5. In the event that the grading system of the applicant’s University is different from the grading system ofKuwaitUniversity, the general average for the applicant is calculated as follows:
  6. The applicant must have passed 15 credits that can equalized to courses offered by the College to be transferred to, except the College of Engineering & Petroleum and the College of Allied Health Sciences, where courses from the College of Science are accepted.
  7. It is possible to transfer an applicant who studied less than 45 credits in the two-semester system in another accredited University, as long as the applicant has passed a minimum of 30 credits, his/her GPA in the University upon transferring is no less than the minimum average required in the general regulations of transfer from other universities, and he/she has not stopped attending for more than one academic year. The applicant should complete the required credits in Kuwait University, according to the system of non-degree students, with no less than 15 credits and pass them with a GPA of no less than the GPA required in the College-specific transfer regulations. When the applicant is admitted, he/she may apply to evaluate whether the courses he/she passed in his/her University are equivalent to Kuwait University courses, with an average of no less than “C” for the transferred credits.
  8. If the applicant transfers from a University that applies the four-year system without course credits, and successfully passed one academic year, he/she may, abiding by all the general transfer regulations, study 30 credits at Kuwait University, in accordance with the system of non-degree students and the set rules, to complete the required two academic years.
  9. Previously-studied courses as non-degree students inKuwaitUniversityor any other University shall not be calculated within the applicant’s GPA or major’s GPA after he/she is accepted inKuwaitUniversity.
  10. It is possible to transfer Kuwaiti children of diplomats and delegates of the state on official missions who accompany their parents after the end of the mission of the parent, provided that they at least passed one academic semester in an accredited University with a four-year system, with an average of no less than the average required in the transfer regulations from other universities. The applicant should complete the required number of credits atKuwaitUniversity, in accordance with the system of non-degree students, and pass them with an average of no less than the average required in the transfer regulations from other universities. When the applicant is admitted, he/she may apply to evaluate whether the courses he/she passed in his/her University are equivalent toKuwaitUniversitycourses, with an average of no less than “C” for the transferred courses. The applicant should submit documents that verify that he/she accompanied his parent during the study period abroad.

Colleges-Specific Regulations

  1. The applicant should have completed 15 credits at least in science courses in the two-semester system (or its equivalent in other systems), with an average of no less than “B-” (2.67 Points). The courses should be in the College of engineering & Petroleum or theCollegeofScience, and required in the major sheet of the College of Engineering & Petroleum.
  2. To transfer to the Department of Architecture, the applicant should have passed two courses at least in architectural design in the two-semester system, or three courses in architectural design in the four-semester system, with an average of no less than “B-” (2.67 Points, or 80%). The courses should be required in the major sheet of the College of Engineering & Petroleum. These courses are counted among the 15 credits mentioned in condition 6 of the general transfer regulations from other universities.
  3. The applicant should successfully pass the academic aptitude tests in English (80% or higher) and Mathematics (75% or higher).
  4. It is possible to exempt an applicant from the aptitude tests if he/she successfully passed an English course equal to or higher than Introductory English or a mathematics course equal to or higher than Introductory Mathematics.
  5. If the applicant does not successfully pass the required aptitude tests, and the courses that he/she studied at the original University are not equalized for the two courses mentioned in the clause above, he/she may be admitted if he/she successfully passes the Introductory English and Mathematics courses or higher courses, in accordance with the system of non-degree students at Kuwait University. 

Transfer from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training General Regulations

  1. Transfer of graduates from the Colleges of the authority to the Colleges atKuwaitUniversityis restricted to Kuwaiti applicants and children of Kuwaiti women (of the determined nationality), with priority to Kuwaiti applicants.
  2. The applicant’s GPA should not be less than 3.50 Points.
  3. The applicant’s major’s GPA should not be less than 3.50 Points.
  4. Colleges inKuwaitUniversitywill abide by the number of seats allocated to the graduates of the authority’s Colleges.
  5. No more than three academic years should have passed since graduation.
  6. The applicant may not transfer from the College in which he/she is accepted into any other College.
  7. The Deanship of Admission and Registration will include the courses approved by the College of transferred to as long as the applicant passed them with a grade of no less than “B” (Very Good). The Colleges should provide the Deanship of Admission and Registration with the equalized courses for the previously-transferred students.
  8. The applicant should have a Secondary School Certificate (Science Major) or its equivalent.

College-Specific Regulations

  1. Graduates of the College of Technological Studies may be admitted at the College of Engineering & Petroleum (except Architecture).
  2. Transfer to the College of Engineering & Petroleum is limited to ten students at most per year (7 students in the Fall semester and 3 students in the Spring semester).
  3. The applicant should pass the aptitude tests in English (80% or higher) and mathematics (75% or higher).
  4. An applicant may be exempted from the condition of passing either of the aptitude tests or both if he/she has successfully passed Introductory English or a higher course, and Introductory Mathematics or a higher course, according to the system of non-degree students at Kuwait University. 
Transfer from Ali Al-Salem Academy for Military Sciences
  1. The candidate should be a Kuwaiti citizen that graduated from the Academy, in accordance with the Cooperation Agreement between the Army Chief of Staff and Kuwait University on10/4/1995.
  2. Application to the University is through a nomination by the Ministry of Defense in a letter from the Chairman of the Board of Military Education.
  3. All transfer regulations from other universities, in addition to College-specific regulations, are applied to the candidate after studying under the system of non-degree students.
  4. The applicant may not transfer from the College in which he/she is accepted in to another College except by an official letter from the Ministry of Defense.
  5. The applicant who satisfies all requirements of graduation will be awarded a University degree in the major he/she specialized in.
  6. The number of candidates each academic year should not exceed 40 candidates.
  7. The applicant will be exempted from the courses he/she successfully passed with a grade of “C” or higher, according to the system of non-degree students atKuwaitUniversity, but these grades do not count towards his/her GPA at the University.
  8. All courses passed by the applicant prior to their nomination will not count. 
National Guard Enrollment

National Guard Applicants are admitted in Kuwait University under the following two categories:

  1. Applicants that satisfy the minimum admission percentage of Kuwait University

    a. 5 seats are allocated per academic year.

    b. The applicant major is determined based on the nomination of the Chairman of Military Education.

    c. The applicant must obtain the minimum percentage or Equivalent Grade Point Average of Kuwaiti applicants in the nominated College.

    d. No more than three academic years should have passed since graduation from Secondary School.

  2. Applicants that do not satisfy admission regulations are nominated according to the following rules:

    a. All transfer regulations from other universities, in addition to College-specific regulations, are applied to the candidate after studying under the system of non-degree students.

    b. The applicant may not transfer from the College in which he/she is accepted in to another College except by an official letter from the Ministry of Defense.

    c. The applicant who satisfies all requirements of graduation will be awarded a University degree in the major he/she specialized in.

    d. The number of candidates each academic year should not exceed 15 candidates.

    e. The applicant will be exempted from the courses he/she successfully passed with a grade of “C” or higher, according to the system of non-degree students at Kuwait University, but these grades do not count towards his/her GPA at the University.

    f. All courses passed by the applicant prior to their nomination will not count.  

Rules for Transferring Between Colleges

College of Engineering and Petroleum (except the Department of Architecture)

  1. The student should have a Secondary School/Science Section Certificate.
  2. The student should pass 30 credits at least, but no more than 45 credits.
  3. The student should pass the following courses with a grade no less than C (2.00 points) in each:
Code Course
101    Calculus (1)
101    General Physics (1)
102    Calculus (2)
102    General Physic (2)
101    General Chemistry (1)
123    English Language or its equivalent
  1. The students of the Center for Medical Science are exempted from the previous condition, but the student’s GPA in the preparatory year courses should be no less than B- (2.67 points).
  2. For class 2007 and after, the student’s GPA should be no less than 2.67 points. 
Conditions of transfer to the Department of Architecture
  1. The student should have a Secondary School/Science Section Certificate.
  2. The student should pass 30 credits at least, but no more than 45 credits.
  3. The student should pass the following courses with a grade no less than C (2.00 points) in each:
Code Course
101    Calculus (1)
123    English Language or its equivalent
  1. At least 6 credits of the Department of Architecture’s elective or compulsory courses:             
Code Course
121 History of Architecture
131 Introduction to Architecture
181 Appreciation of Art
182 Art & Artist
281 Oil Painting
241 Structural Analysis
284 Ceramics (1)
286 Principles of Graphic Design
222 Traditional Architecture
232 Architecture and Architects

  1. The students of the Center for Medical Science are exempted from the previous condition, but the student’s GPA in the preparatory year courses should be no less than B- (2.67 points).

  2. For class 2007 and after, the student’s GPA should be no less than 3.33 points.  

Transferring among the departments of College of Engineering and Petroleum (except Architecture):

Conditions of transferring:

  1. The number of passed units shall not be less than (27 credits), and not more than (60 credits).
  2. GPA must not be less than 2.33.
  3. It is allowed to transfer between the departments once only. 

Important notes:

  1. The number of transferees is generally related to the vacant seats in each scientific department. In the case that the number of applications to the vacant seats increased, the applicants shall be arranged according to the efficient number according the following equation and the priority shall be given to those who passed more units if they are equal in the equivalent number.

    The equivalent no. = (1/117 * (passed units-27)) + (1/5 * (3*GPA – 7))

    This equivalency can be applied on those who passed 60 credits in the case that there are available vacant seats after giving the priority for those passed this limit.

  2. The vacant seats conditions shall not be applied on the students who apply for transferring for those who obtaining GPA 3.5 or more in the 4points system.

  3. The major sheet of the university graduation year in which the student has transferred to the department shall be applied on him.
  4. The cases of the students passing more than 60 credits shall be presented to Student’s Affairs Committee to study the possibility of accepting their transferring so that the student shall not, because of his transferring, lose more than 12 academic units and consult the scientific department to which the student shall transfer. 
Second: Transferring from Architecture department to Engineering and Petroleum program:

Conditions of transferring:

  1. The student shall not be on the probation list.
  2. The passed units shall not be more than 45 credits.
  3. This transferring shall be considered as transferring among the departments of the college and the student shall not be allowed to transfer again.
  4. The major sheet of the university graduation year in which the student has transferred shall be applied on him.
Third: Transferring from the Engineering and Petroleum program to the Architecture Department:

Conditions of transferring:

  1. The number of passed units shall not be less than (15 credits), and not more than (45 credits), depending to the number of vacant seats.
  2. The student should not pass more than three regular academic courses.
  3. GPA must not be less than 2.33.
  4. The student should pass the following courses with a grade no less than C (2.00 points) in each course: 
Code Course
101 Calculus (1)
123 English Language or its equivalentn

At least 6 credits of the Department of Architecture’s elective or compulsory

Code Course
121 History of Architecture
131 Introduction to Architecture
181 Appreciation of Art
182 Art & Artist
281 Oil Painting
241 Structural Analysis
284 Ceramics (1)
286 Principles of Graphic Design
222 Traditional Architecture
232 Architecture and Architect

Important notes: 

  1. The number of transferees is generally related to the vacant seats in each scientific department. In the case that the number of applications to the vacant seats increased, the applicants shall be arranged according to the scientific average calculated from the courses mentioned in condition 4, if the scientific average is equal, the priority to those who pass more credits.

  2. The best grade shall be taken to count the scientific average.

  3. In the case that the student passes more than 45 credits, his application should be presented to the Student Affairs Committee to study the possibility of accepting him.

  4. In the case that there are no vacant seats available, the college can consider the application of the applicants who have GPA not less than 3.5.

  5. The major sheet of the university graduation year in which the student has transferred to the department shall be applied on him.