Effective Fall 2025, DGS will become the Division of Exploratory Studies. Same mission; new name.

Transfer Students

The Division of General Studies (DGS) is the Illinois home for freshman and sophomores who wish to explore their academic options before declaring a major. Our advisors are our best resource, providing one-on-one guidance focused on each student’s interests and talents. We are familiar with the requirements of all majors across campus and are excited to help students find the right one.

Benefits of DGS

  • Explore multiple majors before declaring

  • Take Illinois coursework in your area of interest before committing to a major

  • Pursue a professional program, like pre-med or pre-law, while exploring majors

  • Receive award-winning academic advising

Important Admissions Criteria

  • No more than 4 completed full-time semesters (not including summer semesters) prior to enrolling
  • No more than 50 transferable hours prior to enrolling (does not include test-based credit hours such as AP or International Baccalaureate exams). Preference is given to students with 30 hours or less.
  • Completion of the transfer course equivalency of the University's Composition I requirement (usually a 2-course English composition sequence at other institutions)
  • Application essay demonstrating how you would benefit from our explorative mission; your essay may include:
    • Subjects or fields that interest you
    • Academic programs you are considering
    • Career or pre-professional goals or relevant experiences that have influenced your academic and career interests

Check out the University’s transfer handbook for more information.

Our transfer-student admission decisions are based on a thorough review of your submitted application.

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Admissions
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Click on the commonly asked questions below to find answers from transfer students!

Yes, DGS does accept transfer students. Students are eligible to apply as a transfer student from another institution if they have completed less than four full time semesters at the time of application. Priority is given to students who will be bringing fewer than 30 transferable hours by the term of entry. More information on what will be reviewed at the time of application can be found on the Office of Admissions' Transfer Handbook.

You should use the website called Transferology. This site will tell you whether a class you have taken at your current institution will transfer to Illinois.

The Office of New Student Programs provides some additional resources specifically for transfer students.

University Housing has special housing options specifically for transfer students called the Transfer Cluster. More information can be found on the Housing website.

All new students (both incoming freshman and new transfer students) are required to take an Introduction to the University course (regardless of whether you took a similar class at your previous institution). In the Division of General Studies we have created a special section of GS 101 for transfer students. 

Notifications of admissions for transfer students are done on a rolling basis. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for official notification information. 

You should use the website called Transferology. This site will tell you whether a class you have taken at your current institution will transfer to Illinois.

This will really depend on which major(s) you wish to explore once you arrive on campus and what classes you have already completed. If you transfer to Illinois hoping to do a major but have not taken any classes in that subject area then you may delay your time to graduation.

Unfortunately we are not able to offer any scholarships to transfer students in the Division of General Studies. For information about other scholarship information for Illinois students, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid's website.

The Office of New Student Programs provides some additional resources specifically for transfer students.

University Housing has special housing options specifically for transfer students called the Transfer Cluster. More information can be found on the Housing website.

All new students (both incoming freshman and new transfer students) are required to take an Introduction to the University course (regardless of whether you took a similar class at your previous institution). In the Division of General Studies we have created a special section of GS 101 for transfer students. This class is taught online and is designed to help transfer students transition from their previous institution to Illinois.