Transfers

UPRM’s policies and general criteria on transfer students and transfer credits are published in the Academic Catalog. Any student who has approved courses taken at any college-level accredited institution outside the University of Puerto Rico or who is requesting transfer from one program to another within our campus is considered a transfer student applicant. Students may request transfer to the Chemical Engineering Program from any of the programs offered at UPR-Mayagüez (internal transfer) or from other college-level accredited institutions inside or outside of the UPR system (external transfer).

The institutional policies for the transfer of students from outside the UPR, within the Mayagüez campus, and from other units of the UPR are discussed below under each subject.

General Rules

The following rules apply to all cases requesting transfer:

  1. The Associate Dean of Engineering for Academic Affairs or its representative reserves the right to interview all interested applicants who would like to pursue studies in the College of Engineering.
  2. The final acceptance of the transfer is given by the Academic Affairs Office of the College of Engineering.
  3. Courses approved by advanced placement are not to be considered in the application of these rules, with the exception of Transfers from Articulated Engineering Programs.
  4. The College of Engineering reserves the right to limit the number of transfers due to the program’s seat limitations.
  5. The student must have approved the required number of credits at the moment of submitting the transfer application.
  6. Students could transfer internally up to three times through the ordinary procedure.   Under properly justified circumstances, a fourth transfer may be allowed. To apply for the fourth transfer, the student must request it in writing with its justification and obtain the pre-approval of the Director of the Program and Dean of the College to process the application.
  7. All applicants must have satisfactory academic progress as defined by Certification 18-105 of the UPRM-Academic Senate.

Internal Transfers (within UPRM)

Undergraduate students of the Mayagüez Campus may apply for transfer from one program to another program within campus. Transfer applicants must fill an application in the Office of the Registrar by February 28 for first semester transfers and summer session or by September 30 for second semester transfers. Application has a non-refundable cost of $25.00 (or late application of $35.00).  Candidates must have satisfactory academic progress and no pending disciplinary case.

Candidates with less than 24 credits approved (not counting those approved through advanced placement exams) must have a General Admission Index equal to or above the program’s IMI at the time of the student’s admission (Certification #63 2020-2021 of the UPR- Governing Board). Candidates that do not meet this condition must wait to have approved at least 24 credits before applying for transfer.

Candidates with 24 credits or more approved (not counting those approved through advanced placement exams) must show satisfactory academic progress and meet the departmental requirements.

The departmental requirements for 2021-2022 are:

  1. Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 (out of 4.00) and have approved at least 80% of the taken credits.
  2. Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 (out of 4.00) in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics or Engineering courses, with at least 17 credits approved from the following courses: Pre-Calculus (MATE3005) or Pre-Calculus I and II (MATE3171 & MATE3172), Calculus I (MATE3031), General Chemistry I and II (QUIM 3041 & 3042), Physics I and Laboratory (FISI3171 & FISI 3173), INGE3011, INGE3016 or its equivalents. Have approved at least 80% of the credits taken.

Departmental requirements are revised every year and a pamphlet for all departments of the College of Engineering is prepared and published at: https://www.uprm.edu/engineering/academic-affairs/.

Students that are considering applying for a transfer can schedule an appointment with the chemical engineering program’s academic counselor for pre-evaluation of their academic record. If the student does not meet the requirements, either of GPA or do not have the required courses, he/she may opt to make a Tentative Transfer Plan, coordinated with the academic counselor from his/her program of origin. This way the student can get pre-approval to take courses that are required for transfer to the Chemical Engineering Program but are not part of his/her current curriculum.

External Transfers Within the University of Puerto Rico System

Students from other units of the University of Puerto Rico may also apply for transfer. Applicants must apply for transfer to UPRM through the Office of the Registrar within the transfer dates established by the Central Administration of the University of Puerto Rico. Application has a non-refundable cost of $40.00 (or late application of $52.50). In addition, the applicant must submit to the Office of the Registrar at UPRM a Transcript of Conduct certified by the Dean of Students of the unit of the University of Puerto Rico of origin within the transfer dates established for the application.

Candidates with less than 24 credits approved (not counting those approved through advanced placement exams) must have a General Admission Index equal to or above the program’s minimum index at the time of the student’s admission (Certification #63 2020-2021 of the UPR- Governing Board). Candidates that do not meet this condition must wait to have approved at least 24 credits before applying for transfer.

Candidates with 24 credits or more approved (not counting those approved through advanced placement exams) must show satisfactory academic progress and meet the departmental requirements.

The departmental requirements for 2021-2022 are:

  1. Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 (out of 4.00) and have approved at least 80% of the taken credits.
  2. Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 (out of 4.00) in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics or Engineering courses, with at least 17 credits approved from the following courses: Pre-Calculus (MATE3005) or Pre-Calculus I and II (MATE3171 & MATE3172), Calculus I (MATE3031), General Chemistry I and II (QUIM 3041 & 3042), Physics I and Laboratory (FISI3171 & FISI 3173), INGE3011, INGE3016 or its equivalents. Have approved at least 80% of the credits taken.

Transfers from Outside the University of Puerto Rico System

Any student who has approved courses taken at any college-level accredited institution outside the University of Puerto Rico shall be considered a transfer student applicant.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates for admission with advanced standing by transfer from accredited colleges or universities must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Be free of any disciplinary process pending for resolution at the previous institution.
  2. Have completed at least 48 credit hours with a minimum 3.00 GPA (out of 4.00), or its equivalent.
  3. Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 (out of 4.00), or its equivalent, in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics or Engineering Science courses, and must have approved the following courses or its equivalents: Pre-Calculus I and II (MATE3171 & MATE3172), Calculus I (MATE3031), and General Chemistry I and II (QUIM 3031 & 3033),
  4. Have approved more than 80% of the credits taken.

Application Deadlines: Applications must be filed by February 15 or late March 15 for the summer session (June) or for the first semester (August), and by September 15 or late October 15 for the second semester (January).

Application Procedure: Applications must be accompanied by the following documents:

  1. Two official transcripts of all courses previously taken in any post-secondary level institution.
  2. A copy of the catalogue or announcements of the institutions attended, describing the courses offered. This applies only to institutions outside Puerto Rico.
  3. A certified check or money order for $50.00 payable to the University of Puerto Rico. Late fee $75.00.

All documents should be mailed to:

UPR Mayagüez Campus
ADMISSION OFFICE
Call Box 9000
Mayagüez PR 00681-9000

Transfer Credits

All credits taken within the UPR system are transferrable to UPRM. Courses offered at any UPR unit with the same codification are considered equivalent. In the case of courses with different codification, the departments offering the courses at UPRM must evaluate the content and recommend equivalencies. The Dean of the College approves equivalencies. General education courses without equivalencies may be accredited.

UPRM reserves the right to accept as transfer credit those courses taken at other institutions of higher education. Only those courses with a grade of C or better will be evaluated for credit transfer. The maximum number of transferable credits is half of the total required for the degree.

Selection of Candidates

Applicants for a program will be evaluated by the department according to the minimum requirements established for that program. If a program does not have sufficient space to accommodate all qualified candidates, it will be filled with the best qualified applicants.

The Mayagüez Campus reserves the right to grant transfers according to the available capacity of each college, department, or program. Being the exception automatic transfer from articulated programs.