A transfer student is a university student who moves from one institution to another after completing some credits at their first institution.
Students may transfer for many reasons: to access a better-ranked programme, for financial reasons, because their circumstances changed, or because they were not admitted to their preferred institution as a freshman.
Transfer admissions is a separate process from freshman admissions at most universities. Transfer applicants are typically evaluated on university transcripts and GPA rather than (or in addition to) secondary school records and standardised tests. Some universities have limited transfer spaces; others actively seek transfer students.
In Pakistan, transfer between universities is uncommon and difficult — credits often do not transfer between institutions. However, transferring from a Pakistani public university to a private one (or vice versa) is sometimes possible. For students aiming at international universities, some US and UK institutions offer transfer pathways from Pakistani universities, particularly for students who have completed 1–2 years with strong academic records.
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