We will be moving in Jan to BC with daughters aged 19 18 and 14. The oldest two are beginning to apply to Uni's in Vancouver for a Sept 2012 start and they are being asked to produce transcripts for the courses they have done before they will accept their applications

What are transcripts and where can I get them from does anyone know please? I spoke to their old school who said the only thing they could suggest (as British schools and exam boards dont produce transcripts) was to give the unis their old school reports and A level certificates, but that isnt what uni's are wanting to see I dont think.

Is this something I'm getting my knickers in a twist about- nobody here seems to know what to say about it, any suggestions please?

Hi

I just had to apply for a 'degree' transcript. I had no idea what they were really but rang my old uni and they sent me it. It's basically a break down of each year at uni and how many credits it provides and what the overall mark was.

So I would imagine certificates of GCSE's etc would be enough. I don't see what else you can provide? I would provide GCSE and A'Levels if you can.

Hope this helps.

Hi
Our 18 year old daughter started at SFU this year. She was also offered places at UBC, UFV and Okanagan. The school had to send certified copies of her GCSE certificates and a letter signed by the head of sixth form with her predicted grades for A Levels.
She now has to produce evidence of her actual A Level results to continue on the course, which the exam board have sent this week.
If your daughters have already started at Uni in the UK I would imagine they would still need the above, plus an outline of the course content which they are currently studying.
Any questions just let me know and I'll check with Eleanor (if she ever answers her phone)
Good luck
Sally

My daughters both have their A level results (they are both doing gap years atm). I take it then that they would have to go to the exam boards direct for documented evidence of results at A levels?

Also did you have to get separate copies for each of the unis your daughter applied for?
(mine will be applying to UBC SFU Kwantlen and Douglas College) We are going to live in Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam

I guess you got your info on this from the uni's?

Sorry to ask so many questions!!

Thanks, Cath

Hi
I have checked with Eleanor and she had to send results to all of the universities. I presume your daughters would have to get copies of their A level certificates certified by the school or the examination board. You can also email the exam boards and they will send a confirmation directly to the university for a small fee.
Hope this helps
Sally

Many thanks for your help

"Transcripts" are considered a "record of performance" at school or university. They list all of the courses that you've taken, as well as any periods of absence / notable events that may have interfered with your period of study. They sometimes list awards and prizes, but not always.

Typically, North American universities either use a 4 point scale, or a 12 point scale. I'm not sure what's common for high school. When I came to Canada, (about 12 years ago) "transcripts" were not at all common in the UK, and it wasn't possible for me to get one which contained the information requested so I brought certified letters with me, and also provided contact information of people from whom questions could be asked. I found that this actually worked out just fine. Nowadays, there's more of a familiarity.

Most departments in Canadian Universities have good undergraduate counsellors, and many schools have international students officers whose job it is to help people coming from aboard to navigate the admissions process, as well as to help people to become acclimatised - it might be worth contacting them? I know that UBC does - I'm not sure about the other schools that you mention.

Thanks flyboy 74, I will get in touch with the unis concerned and have requested certified copied of their exams from school. Transcripts still largely unknown in the UK!

Hi Catsteve
Just remembered, one of the unis (SFU I think), wanted the certificates in an envelope, which had been stamped and signed on the seal!!!! We then picked them up from the school and posted them ourselves.
Sally

How strange!, thank you for that

Cath