In recognition of the need for student mobility, the Universities Act, Cap. 346 mandates the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) to establish procedures, provide guidance, and monitor criteria for the transfer of students between universities or academic programmes. These provisions for credit accumulation and transfer apply to students at all levels of study who have earned credits through the successful completion of courses or modules at institutions accredited either by the Commission or by other recognised national accreditation bodies worldwide.

A student wishing to transfer credits is required to initiate the process by submitting a formal request to the receiving institution along with the following documents: an official release letter from the releasing institution, certified official academic transcript(s), copies of previously earned lower education certificates, course syllabi or descriptions (if requested), and any other documents required by the receiving institution.

The receiving institution is required to evaluate the submitted documents by verifying the accreditation status of the releasing institution and programme, confirming the student’s entry qualifications, and assessing the equivalence of course credits earned with the curriculum of the receiving institution. This evaluation shall include an assessment of course content, learning outcomes, credit values, and grading scales. If the courses are deemed equivalent or sufficiently similar, the receiving institution shall approve the transfer of credits in line with the existing decision-making organs.

Both the student and receiving institution are advised to observe the quality criteria outlined in Standards 3.19 to 3.21, which among other things emphasise that:

  1. Core subjects, courses or modules earned from the releasing institution may not necessarily be core in the receiving institution;
  2. Approval of subject, module, or course equivalency and credit transfer is subject to the consent of the Senate of the receiving institution;
  3. The student seeking to credit transfer must be currently registered at the releasing university;
  4. A student who has been discontinued from studies for any reason is not eligible for credit transfer;
  5. Credits must be transferred within a period not exceeding five years from the time they were earned; and
  6. For the purposes of graduating from the receiving institution, at least 50% of the core credits must be earned at the receiving institution.

Upon completion of the approval process and within the timeline specified in the Commission’s almanac, the receiving institution must forward the list of students approved for credit transfer to TCU for auditing purposes. Additionally, upon receipt of the feedback from TCU, the receiving institution is required to communicate the Senate’s decision to the student in writing, including any applicable reasons and conditions.