Transcripts
The OGE can only accept transcripts directly from the host institution or program provider. We cannot accept transcripts from students.
Some institutions may require a transcript release form: be sure to check before you return home. Some institutions won’t release transcripts if you have a financial or disciplinary issue to resolve. It is your responsibility to attend to these matters before returning.
If you need your own official transcript from your study abroad program, you will need to contact your host institution or provider directly. If you need an unofficial transcript, OGE can provide you with one.
Transcripts will be sent directly to the OGE by the host institution. All courses taken abroad are entered into a student's BC record as if they were regular BC courses. Your grades will be translated according to our grade translation scale, and credit will be assigned based on the course and credit guidelines.
ECTS Credits
The most common credit system used by BC abroad programs in Europe is the ECTS system (European Credit Transfer System). Our standard rule for ECTS credits is 2 ECTS credit equal 1 BC credit. Since Boston College does not allow half credits, a 5 ECTS credit course will transfer back as either 2 or 3 BC credits depending on student’s full course load of credits. A course must equate to 3 BC credits to fulfill a BC major, minor or core requirement.
7.5 ECTS = 3 or 4 BC
6 ECTS = 3 BC
5 ECTS = 2 or 3 BC **
4 ECTS = 2 BC
** Courses worth 5 ECTS credits may not automatically fulfill a BC requirement. If you have any questions about credit translation, please contact oipreg@bc.edu.
If your program can send secure digital transcripts, please request that files be sent to: oipregistrar@bc.edu
If they can not send a secure digital transcript, students must request that their transcripts be sent to the address below:
Boston College
Office of Global Education
Hovey House Academic Operations
258 Hammond Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 USA
Grades earned on external programs are not translated; they will appear on your transcript as transfer credit, but will not factor into your GPA. Students must earn a grade C- or above to receive transfer credits, courses with a grade of D+ or lower are not eligible for transfer credits and will not appear on your BC record.