A Letter of Permission (LOP) is a request to take a course at another Institution and have it transfer back to be used towards your UNBC degree. In order to ensure the course you would like to take will work within your degree, we encourage you to speak to your Student Advisor. They know the ins and outs of your program and can help you determine which courses you can take on a LOP.
As transfer credit can change from semester to semester, requesting and receiving a LOP guarantees that you will receive the transfer credit noted on your letter for the semester you requested the LOP for.
In order to receive permission to take coursework at another institution, you must meet a few conditions:
- You must have completed 9 credits hours at UNBC;
- You may not be in your first semester of admission or re-admission;
- You must be in good academic standing (i.e.: not on Academic Probation);
- You must not have any outstanding obligations to the University, which may include, but is not limited, to the following:
- tuition fees owing;
- library or other fines owing;
- outstanding library loans;
- outstanding equipment or other loans
- outstanding grades (ie; DEF).
Things to keep in mind:
- LOPs are only issued in advance of taking coursework – they cannot be backdated
- LOP requests will only be processed for the next three semesters (i.e., the current semester and the next two, 12 months total)
- Letters of Permission will not be processed for the current semester after the withdrawal date of that semester
- LOPs are delivered to your UNBC email address. If the institution you are taking coursework at requires a copy of your letter (i.e., for admission or registration), it is your responsibility to send the LOP.
- Please remember that coursework taken on an LOP does not count towards your UNBC GPA, and it will not remove the grade from your UNBC transcript if you have already taken the course at UNBC. However, if you need the course as a prerequisite, the grade you receive while on a LOP will count for the prerequisite purposes.
Instructions for completing the LOP form:
- Detailed course syllabi (outlines) from institutions that are out of province or from another university must accompany this form, and will require additional time for review (approx. 4-6 weeks). Courses listed in the BC Transfer Guide (www.bctransferguide.ca) do not require course outlines.
- Pay your $12.00 LOP application fee at your campus Cashier or by credit card through your myUNBC Student Account.
- Submit the completed form to transfercredit@unbc.ca. It normally takes up to two (2) weeks to process an LOP; at certain times of the year, it may take up to four (4) weeks.
- Letter of Permissions are valid only for the semester for which they are issued; they will not be processed for the current semester after the withdrawal date for that semester. Extensions will require another request for a Letter of Permission which may or may not be granted. If approved, Letters of Permissions may be mailed to the institution if requested.
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You have responsibilities. As a UNBC student completing an LOP form please ensure you have done the following:
- Consult with your Student Advisor prior to applying for the LOP
- Check your UNBC email account regularly as the LOP will be sent to that account
- If the institution you are attending requires a copy of the letter, it is your responsibility to send it. If they need it to be sent by UNBC, please let us know at the time of submission
- Request that your final official transcript be sent to UNBC as soon as you have completed the coursework and your final grade has been received
- Notify your Student Advisor if you did not complete the coursework requested on a LOP
It normally takes up to 2 weeks for your LOP to be processed and at certain times during the year, it may take up to 4 weeks.
Questions? Please ask!