Overview of the transfer process to a US University from a University outside of the US

The transfer institution needs to consider a number of factors when granting credit for the courses you have taken at a non-U.S. institution. You may consider the following factors on which U.S. colleges and universities typically make decisions:

• Is your university or college recognized by the ministry of education in your country? - U.S. colleges are looking for institutions that are recognized by a ministry of education; however, if some other authority approves your college, it may still be acceptable. Decisions vary from college to college and often depend on what the situation would be for a similar college in the United States.
• How similar is the nature or character of the courses you have taken to those offered at the transfer institution? - U.S. schools usually assess similarity by looking at information from course descriptions, syllabi, or catalogs. If your institution is not well known in the United States, the college may have to do a more detailed evaluation with you when you arrive, and only then decide whether and how to grant transfer credit.
• How applicable are your courses toward the degree, and in particular the major, that you wish to pursue? - This will often involve evaluation of the courses by both the admissions office and the academic department to which you wish to be admitted. They will look at whether courses can be accepted for transfer credit first, and then at whether they can count toward the requirements for a specific major.

Applying courses toward a particular major is most difficult for professional programs such as engineering, architecture, or journalism, where course requirements are carefully structured and often dictated by accrediting bodies for the profession.

To make the transfer process run as smoothly as possible, you are advised to make sure all academic records provided are official and bear the original stamp or seal of the issuing institution. Submit course descriptions in English for all post-secondary courses taken.

These academic records should also include:

• Summaries or outlines of the major topics covered in each course (If an outline is not available, write a summary yourself and have it certified by your school as accurate.)
• The number of units or hours required in lecture and laboratory for each course on a weekly basis
• The length of the term or academic year, and, if it is not given elsewhere, the year in which you took the course
• Prepare a list of textbooks used in each course as this will help in any decisions that are made after you arrive at the campus about whether to grant credit for particular courses
• Provide information on the total number of courses, credits, or units required for the diploma or degree program from which you are transferring

 Students who transfer into a U.S. institution may also be able to receive credit for their secondary school work if it is considered to be comparable to introductory college-level work in the United States. Ask each college about its own policy on this issue.

[ Source - EducationUSA ]