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Transfer Students

Congratulations and welcome to American University. We can’t wait for you to join our community of changemakers.

Getting Started as a New Transfer

Before you begin your first term at AU, there are some things you need to do:

  1. Provide information to Office of Admissions

    Accept your offer of admission: Information about how to accept your offer of admission will be included in the letter of acceptance.

    Submit final official transcripts: Official transcript(s) or mark sheets enclosed in a sealed envelope from all colleges or universities attended should be sent to AU. Make sure that your full legal name and Social Security number (or date of birth) are on the transcripts. Please note, transcripts should be the final official transcript with your final grades and/or notation of any earned degrees or certificates. 

    Note: you will not be able to register for a second semester at AU until all final official transcripts have been received. Please have your physical transcripts sent to the following address: 

    American University
    Office of Undergraduate Enrollment - Spring Valley Building
    4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
    Washington, DC 20016

    Electronic versions of your transcripts can be sent to
    admissionsdocuments@american.edu

    Submit Course Syllabi: Please submit course syllabi for all courses you plan to transfer to American University as soon as possible. Syllabi will be used to determine course equivalency through the transfer articulation process. Word Documents or PDF versions of your syllabi can be sent to Record_Services@american.edu.

    Submit official exam scores: All exam scores must be received by the American University Office of Admissions no later than the end of the second enrolled term. Exam scores more than six years old will not be accepted for credit. Review Credit by Exam information on the Office of Admissions website for more details.

    AU exam codes
    SAT I & SAT II: 5007
    ACT: 0648
    AP: 5007
    TOEFL: 5007

  2. Prepare for your transition

    New student checklist: For more information and next steps in preparing for your start at AU, be sure to check out your personalized checklist. Your checklist will show a variety of required and optional items to complete before starting your first semester at AU.

    Orientation: Orientation at AU is a great opportunity for you to get connected with fellow transfer students, learn about the campus resources and meet university administrators. Transitioning to a new university can be overwhelming so we want to ensure you feel prepared and ready to start your journey at AU. No matter where you are in your academic journey, orientation is a great way for you to learn more about your new campus. Orientation is not required but is strongly encouraged and recommended. For more information about orientation, visit the orientation website.


  3. Meet with your academic advisor

    Shortly after submitting your enrollment deposit, you can expect to receive a personalized message from your academic advising unit with instructions for preparing for course registration.  

    Meet with your academic advisor to review transfer credits and discuss upcoming semester registration. Each school at AU assigns advisors to students after they have submitted their enrollment deposit. Click on your school below to learn who is your assigned advisor and to schedule an appointment.

    Kogod School of Business
    College of Arts and Sciences
    School of International Service
    School of Communication
    School of Public Affairs
    School of Education

    Visit the Registrar's Office Website to find information about the new transfer registration dates.   


  4. Explore additional resources

    Discover AU Academics: Review the University Catalog to familiarize yourself with the various majors and minors offered at AU.
    AU Core: Learn about the AU Core Curriculum and explore how it works.
    Academic Rules and Regulations: Familiarize yourself with the Undergraduate Academic Rules and Regulations.
    Academic Standing Requirements: Familiarize yourself with the Requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress (necessary if you receive financial aid).
    Academic Calendar: Review the University Academic Calendar.
    Transfer Articulations: Understand the transfer articulation process.

Students interacting in class

Personalized Transfer Checklist

Begin preparing for your start at AU.

Access Your Checklist

students inside SIS building

Transfer Credit Process

Have questions about the process of transferring in credits?

Learn more

international students on campus

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

For international students and U.S. Global Nomads, see your next steps.

Learn More

Academic Support and Access Center (ASAC)

Academic Support and Access Center (ASAC)

ASAC works with students with disabilities to provide equal access to university programs and services.

Get Started

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AU Core Curriculum

American University's inquiry-based liberal arts education, challenges students to put their curiosity to use inside and outside of the classroom.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

For more questions from transfer students click here.

Once you’ve activated your student account and set up your AU e-mail, your next step is to explore your personalized new transfer student checklist. Your checklist can be found on your AU Portal or by clicking here.

To activate your student account, visit this website.

All new transfer students are automatically assigned an academic advisor after paying their enrollment deposit. Your school will contact you after you’ve submitted your deposit to start the registration process. 

Click on your school below to learn who is your assigned advisor.

For questions about living on campus, please contact housing@american.edu for more details.   

All final transcripts should be directed to AU’s Office of Admissions. Please mall all final college transcripts to the following address:

American University
Office of Undergraduate Enrollment - Spring Valley Building
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016

Electronic versions of your transcripts can be sent to admissionsdocuments@american.edu.  

The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) houses a range of opportunities for students to get involved on campus including Student Clubs, Student Government, Student Media, and Fraternity and Sorority Life. Students can get involved by connecting with organizations on Engage, your one-stop shop for the student activity experience. Engage is an online platform that allows students to find student organizations and discover events happening on campus. To get started, use your AU ID credentials to sign into Engage, and search through the student organizations and events! Click here to check out Engage website and discover unique opportunities at AU.

The credit articulation process begins when students apply to AU and have submitted all materials to complete their application for admission. Once the application is complete, credits are entered onto the student record which highlights the courses that do not yet have an articulation in the Transfer Articulation Database. Once admitted, the courses needing articulation are forwarded to AU faculty for review where they provide an equivalency based on scope, content, learning outcomes, rigor, and number of credit hours. The articulation is then added to the database as well as the student record where it can be used for many purposes such as satisfying some major/minor/AU Core requirements and potentially waiving students out of Habits of Mind. 

Any questions or concerns can be directed to transferarticulation@american.edu.

Helpful Office Contacts
Office Contact for Phone Email
Academic Support and Access Center Disability-related Accommodations, Academic Success Coaching, Math & Stat Lab, Student-Athlete Support Program, Supplemental Instruction, Tutoring Services, Writing Center 202-885-3360 asac@american.edu
Admissions Merit Award Questions, Final High School Transcripts 202-885-6000 admissions@american.edu
Athletics NCAA Division I Sports 202-885-3000 athletics@american.edu
AU Abroad Study Abroad 202-885-1320 auabroad@american.edu
AU Central Bill Payment Options, Payment Plans, Student Refund Information, Enrollment Verification, Tuition and Fees, Veterans Services, Tuition Refund Insurance 202-885-8000 aucentral@american.edu
AU Honors Program Honors Curriculum, Merit Scholarships, Living-Learning Community 202-885-6194 honors@american.edu
Campus Store Textbooks, School Supplies, AU Apparel 202-885-6300 american@bkstr.com
Career Center Internships, Career Counselor, Major Choice 202-885-1804 careercenter@american.edu
Center for Community Engagement and Service Community Service Opportunities, Alternative Breaks, Community-Based Learning, DC Reads, Explore DC 202-885-7378 volunteer@american.edu
Center for Diversity and Inclusion Summer Transitions Enrichment Program (STEP), First Generation, LGBTQ, Multicultural Students, Intergroup Dialogue, Diversity and Inclusion Programs and Training 202-885-3651 cdi@american.edu
Center for Student Involvement Student Programming, Student Organizations, Student Media, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Graduate Leadership Council, Student Government, Student Media 202-885-3390 studentinvolvement@american.edu
Counseling Center Individual or Group Counseling or Therapy, Referrals, Consultations 202-885-3500 Unlisted for confidentiality
Financial Aid Need-Based Financial Aid: Loans, Federal Work Study 202-885-6500 financialaid@american.edu
First Year Advising Course registration, advising, American University Experience (AUx) 202-885-7000 FYadvising@american.edu
Health Promotion and Advocacy Center Wellness resources, to promote healthy lifestyles, reduce high-risk behaviors, and offer a safe, non-discriminatory environment. 202-885-3276 hpac@american.edu
Housing & Residence Life Housing Assignments, Residential Experience, Off-Campus Housing 202-885-3370 housing@american.edu
International Student & Scholar Services Immigration Process, International Students, International Student Orientation, Visa Information 202-885-3350 isss@american.edu
Kay Spiritual Life Center Worship Services, Religious Life, Interfaith Dialogue 202-885-3320 kslc@american.edu
OIT Help Desk Network Issues, Printing Issues, System Status 202-885-2550 helpdesk@american.edu
One Card and Dining Programs One Card, Meal Plans, EagleBucks, Dining Venues 202-885-2273 idcards@american.edu
mealplans@american.edu
Orientation, Transition & Retention All American Welcome, Orientation, New Students 202-885-3303 orientation@american.edu
Parking and Commuter Services U-Pass, Parking Enforcement, Parking Permits 202-885-3111 No email available
Student Employment Federal Work Study, Part-Time jobs, Professional Jobs, Internships 202-885-2591 studentjobs@american.edu
Student Health Center Immunizations, Health Insurance, Primary Care, Psychiatric Care 202-885-3380 shc@american.edu
Undergraduate Education American University Experience (AUx), Complex Problems, Core Curriculum, First-Year Advising, Living-Learning Communities, Special Academic Programs, Undergraduate Research, Academic Policies, Learning disabilities, Academic Accommodations 202-885-3724 undergraduatestudies@american.edu
University Police Campus Safety, Lost Property 202-885-2527