By the tiswa editorial team, from the official sources listed at the end of this guide. How we write our guides
Two students sit in one college. The first wants a different department in the same college, the second wants an entirely different college. They assume the procedure is the same, but the King Faisal University regulation separates the two cases. The first needs the department council’s approval, the second the college council’s, and the second also has a credit-hour floor. Knowing that before starting saves you a refused request.
What does internal transfer mean at King Faisal University?
It means moving inside the university: from one college to another, one department to another, or one specialisation to another inside a department. The Deanship of Admission and Registration says the college council may approve college-to-college requests under rules the university council sets,1 and those rules rest on the study and examinations regulation with its executive rules.2 The university keeps every earlier course, grade and GPA on your record. Moving from another university is a different matter, covered in the guide to transferring between universities.
What are the conditions for moving between colleges at King Faisal University?
| Condition | Published wording |
|---|---|
| Number of times | Once during the whole undergraduate period |
| Time studied | At least two semesters in the college you are leaving |
| Credit hours | No fewer than 24 hours registered on your record |
| Student status | Not discontinued from study |
| Cumulative GPA | Not below the college council’s threshold, and not below 2 out of 5 at transfer |
| Preparatory-year students | Pass the programme; 3 out of 5 for non-health colleges, 3.5 out of 5 for health colleges |
| Application | Electronic, within the dates in the deanship calendar |
| Decision | Approval of the college council |
Two notes. The 2 out of 5 floor is only the general minimum, and many colleges raise it. And a preparatory-year student has a higher figure of their own, so do not read the general row and assume it applies to you.1
How is moving between departments different?
Moving from one department to another, or one specialisation to another inside a college, needs the college dean’s approval first, then you must meet the admission requirements of the specialisation you want and any extra conditions the college council sets.1 It is also allowed once during the degree. The published text gives no minimum hours or GPA for this type, so the real reference is the target department’s own requirements. Read its plan on the college site before you apply.
How many credit hours do you need, and how do you count them?
The condition is 24 registered hours on your record and two semesters in the college you are leaving.1 Count from your transcript, not from memory. An example: a student registered 12 hours in the first semester and 9 in the second, which makes 21. She has finished two semesters but does not meet the condition. She must register a third semester before applying, or take a heavier load early. Two semesters alone are not enough when registration is light.
How do you apply for the transfer step by step?
- Decide which transfer you need
Between colleges, between departments in your college, or between specialisations in a department. Each has a different approval.
- Check your numbers
Two semesters or more, 24 registered hours, GPA of at least 2 out of 5, higher if you came from the preparatory year.
- Read the target college’s conditions
It may require a higher GPA, a test or an interview, and some colleges do not accept transfers at all.
- Check the academic calendar
The request is electronic within the registrar’s dates. One regulation asks for applications at least five weeks before the semester starts, so do not leave it late.
- Submit the request
Submitting is not acceptance. The college council decides between colleges, the department council between departments.1
- Look at your record after the decision
Earlier courses and grades remain on your record after the move.1
What mistakes do students make before applying?
The first is counting the two semesters but not the hours. The 24 registered hours is the condition that catches many, especially those who kept their load light in the first two semesters. The second is mixing up a college transfer with a department transfer and asking the college council for something that belongs to the department council. The third is applying with one college in mind, so a refusal burns the only chance.
A fourth mistake is quiet: assuming the college you want accepts transfers at all. The page notes that some colleges are closed to transfers, so confirm that before you gather papers. Finally, do not leave the request to the last moment. Applications are electronic within the deanship calendar, and a missed date does not come back.
Are there exceptions?
The page says the college council may waive some conditions for a female student in exceptional circumstances, if she has completed a semester, holds a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 out of 5, and submits an official document proving her circumstances and new residence.1 The exception belongs to the council; it is not a right, so have your papers complete before asking. If you are thinking of moving because of performance rather than circumstances, there is a guide to raising your GPA and a walk-through of how GPA is calculated so you can confirm your real number.
What if the request is refused?
For a college-to-college move you have used your one chance, and the result shapes your plan. If a department move remains available, it may be an alternative. If nothing remains, read withdrawing and reapplying and compare the costs. Before any decision, read your degree plan to see how much is left before you graduate.
Check the registrar’s page at the start of every semester, because the calendar decides your real chance.
