Rice University awards transfer credits for various international examinations. The most common type of examination is the General Certificate of Education - Advanced Level Examination (A-Level). Credits are awarded for applicable exams that meet the following criteria:
- Advanced Level exam or H2/H3 (Singapore). Subsidiary, ordinary and H1 (Singapore) exams will not yield transfer credits at Rice.
- The student obtained a score of A(a) or B(b).
To receive A-Level credit, you will need to request an official A-Level score report be sent to the Office of the Registrar. Students will need to contact their testing authority, OCR or Cambridge, to request the score report. We cannot accept student copies of score reports and we must keep the score report in the student's file.
The following credits are awarded for advanced level exams with a grade of A or B.
A-Level EXAM
|
RICE CREDIT AWARDED
|
| |
COURSE |
COURSE TITLE |
CREDIT HOURS |
APPLICABLE DISTRIBUTION CREDIT |
| BIOLOGY |
BIOS 201
|
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY
|
3
|
D3
|
|
BIOS 202
|
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY
|
3
|
D3
|
CHEMISTRY
|
CHEM 121
|
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
|
3
|
D3
|
|
CHEM 122
|
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
|
3
|
D3
|
|
CHEM 123
|
GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB I
|
1
|
D3
|
|
CHEM 124
|
GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB II
|
1
|
D3
|
ECONOMICS
|
ECON 111
|
AP/OTHER CREDIT IN MICROECONOMICS
|
3
|
|
|
ECON 112
|
AP/OTHER CREDIT IN MACROECONOMICS
|
3
|
|
ENGLISH
|
ENGL 121
|
AP CREDIT IN ENGLISH
|
3
|
|
|
ENGL 122
|
AP CREDIT IN ENGLISH
|
3
|
|
MATHEMATICS
|
MATH 101
|
SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I
|
3
|
D3
|
|
MATH 102
|
SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II
|
3
|
D3
|
PHYSICS
|
PHYS 101
|
MECHANICS (WITH LAB)
|
3
|
D3
|
|
PHYS 102
|
ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (W/ LAB)
|
4
|
D3
|
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Students who have completed various international certificates other than the GCE A-Levels may receive course credit for corresponding Rice courses; however, each student's documentation will be reviewed individually and on a case-by-case basis. The Baccalaureate (France) and the Abitur (Germany) are eligible for review. Students should contact the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible to begin the review process. Processing times can be from 6 to 8 weeks. Additional exams and certificates may also be eligible upon review.
What if my A-Level credit does not show up when I log onto ESTHER and view my unofficial transcript?
First check with the Office of the Regitrar to verify if the scores were received. Next, check with the your testing authority to be sure your official scores were sent to Rice. Students should allow ample time for the credit to be posted. Processing and shipping times from international locations can vary greatly. Please allow up to 4 weeks for credits to be posted once they have arrived in our office.
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How long should I expect to wait for A-Level credit to show up on my academic record?
Generally, once you order the scores, you should allow 6 to 8 weeks. Peak periods may require a longer turnaround time.
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What if I took an A-Level exam that is not on the list of accepted exams?
Students should check with Office of the Registrar if they complete A-Level exams with acceptable scores in subjects not on the list above. In certain instances, the student can obtain department approval for transfer credit on that particular exam.
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I’m not sure I will need my A-Level credit. Could I have the scores sent to Rice later?
Even if you think you won’t need your A-Level credit, you should have the scores sent to Rice during your first semester.
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Will I be able to register for classes even if my A-Level credit has not yet been posted?
Yes. Your advisor, however, will want to see a copy of your A-Level scores. You can anticipate specific course credit as indicated on the list above.
Students should be aware that until their A-Level credits have been articulated to their Rice transcript, they may not be able to register online for some courses that require a prerequisite. In those instances, the student will need to obtain the instructor's approval signature via a Special Registration Form and submit that form to the Office of the Registrar.
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What will happen if I take courses at Rice which are equivalent to the A-Level course credit I received?
Both your A-Level credit and your Rice enrollment will appear on your transcript, but the A-Level credit will be excluded from your earned hours. You cannot, for instance, retain A-Level credit for PHYS 101 and complete Rice enrollment in PHYS 101, PHYS 111, or PHYS 125. The Physics department considers these courses equivalent and does not allow “repeated” credit. If you receive A-Level credit for the PHYSICS exam (PHYS 101 and 102), and then take PHYS 101 at Rice, your credit in A-Level PHYS 101 will be excluded after you receive a final grade for PHYS 101.
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What is the maximum amount of A-Level credit that can be awarded?
Currently, Rice does not limit the amount of A-Level credit that can be awarded. However, this policy could change in the future. Be sure to check the A-Level policies for the year of your matriculation at Rice.
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Does A-Level credit for English satisfy the English/Communication Composition requirement?
No. All students must take the English/Communication Composition exam, even if they receive A-Level credit for English.
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Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Please contact Erin Jones, Transfer Credit Specialist, erin.e.jones@rice.edu.
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