PYP Waiver Guide for Transfer Students
Transfer-student PYP waiver follows a different logic from freshman-student waiver. It is based mainly on previously completed university credit hours, together with certain approved English qualifications for English-course waiver.
In general, English courses may be waived according to specific thresholds, while the remaining non-English PYP courses are treated as grouped packages. These remaining courses are not waived one by one.
The transitional period for the previous rules has ended. All current applicants are subject only to the rules shown on this page. Students admitted in or before the first semester of Academic Year 1448 AH (Fall 2026) who believe the previous rules apply to them should contact the Deanship of Admission and Registration.
The updated waiver rules for transfer applicants from Preparatory Year Program requirements are shown below.
A transfer student may be waived from PYP English courses upon meeting one of the approved minimum thresholds shown below.
| Scope of Waiver | Academic IELTS | TOEFL iBT (0–120) For tests taken before January 21, 2026 | TOEFL iBT (1–6) For tests dated January 21, 2026 or later | IGCSE English | Previous University Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 English Courses ENG010 - ENG020 |
Overall: 5 | Overall: 50 | Overall: 3 | Grade: B | Completed 12 university credit hours successfully in an institution located in an English-speaking country. |
| All English Courses ENG010 - ENG020 ENG030 - ENG040 |
Overall: 5.5 | Overall: 66 | Overall: 3.5 | Grade: A or A* | Completed 24 university credit hours successfully in an institution located in an English-speaking country. |
- English-speaking country: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
- Remote/online Academic IELTS and TOEFL iBT results may be accepted.
The remaining non-English PYP courses are treated as integrated packages. A transfer student may be waived from the relevant package according to previously completed university credit hours.
CMP011
PDS001
PE001
A transfer student may be waived from all of these courses provided that they have completed at least 12 university credit hours prior to enrolling at Prince Sultan University. The first course in the package depends on the student’s program requirements.
CMP012
PDS002
PE002
A transfer student may be waived from all of these courses provided that they have completed at least 24 university credit hours prior to enrolling at Prince Sultan University. The first course in the package depends on the student’s program requirements.
These remaining courses are treated as an integrated package at each level, and no course may be equated or waived separately.
Below are the main basic conditions for considering university-level course equivalency for a transfer student. For full details, please refer to the dedicated course equivalency page.
- The student’s cumulative GPA at the previous university must not be lower than 2.00 out of 4.00 or 3.00 out of 5.00.
- The maximum number of credit hours that may be equated at Prince Sultan University is 50 credit hours, and this applies only to courses after the Preparatory Year Program.
- Equivalency is limited to courses at the 200 level or below, according to the student’s approved study plan at Prince Sultan University.
- If the student is transferring from an applied college, technical college, community college, or military college, equivalency is limited to University requirements only.
- The course must have been taught in the same language of instruction as the equivalent course at Prince Sultan University, unless an exception is approved by the competent authority.
- For a course to be considered for equivalency, the student must have earned a minimum grade of Good (C) or higher in that course.
- The course must match at least 75% of the content, and its credit units must not be less than those of the equivalent course at Prince Sultan University.
- The course must also be equivalent in contact hours and semester duration.
- In some cases, one course at Prince Sultan University may be equated based on two previous courses taken together, if the competent academic authority finds that the combined content and credit hours satisfy the equivalency requirements.
- University-level course equivalency is a separate track from waiver of Preparatory Year Program courses, and one does not affect the other.
- Equated courses are not counted in the cumulative GPA, but they do appear in the academic record, and their hours are counted within the passed and graduation-required hours.
- This page is for guidance only and is based on the transfer-student rules governing waiver of PYP courses.
- The first course listed in each non-English package depends on the student’s program requirements.
- Students should always consult the study plan of their major to understand which PYP courses actually apply to them.
- In case of any discrepancy between a student’s personal understanding and the university’s implementation, the approved policy and related executive rules remain the reference.