BCCAT

This report examines transfer student pathways and performance from BC Transfer System institutions into BC’s public research-intensive universities: Royal Roads University, Simon Fraser University, Thompson Rivers University, University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia, and University of Victoria. On average, transfer students represent about one third of all student population at these universities in a given academic year; and thus are important to these institutions.

The data from the 2013/14 academic year through to the 2017/18 academic year support the findings of the previous similar reports, which were published for nearly 30 years, with the latest editions completed in 2010 and 2015. These studies compare transfer students’ performance with the performance of students who enter the universities directly from high school (“direct entry students”).

While the educational journeys of transfer students differ from those of direct entry students in a number of ways, most performance trends seen for direct entry students are echoed in the data from the transfer student population. Transfer students differ demographically: they are older, more often take slightly smaller course load in a given semester, and more often enrol in arts baccalaureate degree programs than their direct entry counterparts. However, the current analysis highlights the continued overall success of transfer students following their transfer to research universities. Their post-secondary success is demonstrated by their course and semester GPA, and degree completion.