Major Transfer

Content Based on 2023 Policy Documents

This page is compiled from Qingdao University's 2023 major transfer work documents (policy release, registration and admission notices, and grade-specific transfer regulations). Major transfer policies may be adjusted annually, and different grades follow different documents. This page is for reference only. Please refer to the latest notice from the Academic Affairs Office for the current year.

~~Full of hope, you enrolled in a major that even dogs wouldn't study — but there's still a chance to save yourself~~ (Whether you succeed depends on your grades and whether the receiving department accepts you)

One-Sentence Summary

Major transfer gives current undergraduates one chance to change their major. Generally, you need good grades, no disciplinary record, no prior major transfers, and must meet the target major's "admissions requirements." Spots are limited every year, and the competition is fierce — start building your grades early if you want to transfer.

Policy Basis (By Grade)

Major transfer divides students into "new rules" and "old rules" by grade. Before applying, first determine which document applies to you:

Grade	Applicable Document
Class of 2021	"Qingdao University Undergraduate Major Transfer Work Management Measures" (Document No. QDU-Jiao [2019] 14)
Class of 2022	"Qingdao University Undergraduate Major Transfer Work Regulations" (Document No. QDU-Jiao [2022] 5)

In the 2023 registration notice, the Class of 2021 and Class of 2022 followed the two documents above respectively. Which document applies to your incoming class follows the Academic Affairs Office's notice for that year.

Who Can Apply

Standard Requirements (Using Document No. [2022] 5 as an Example)

Full-time regular undergraduate second-year students may apply at the beginning of the third semester
Excellent academic performance, no failing grades (including retakes)
Exam course weighted average GPA ranking in the top 20% of the major

Special Circumstances (Not Counting Against Receiving Quota)

The following situations also allow applications and do not count against the receiving plan quota:

Student soldiers resuming studies after military service who wish to change their major
Students whose original major was adjusted or discontinued during their leave of absence, making it impossible to continue in the original major upon return
Students with genuine special difficulties (illness, physical disability, academic difficulties, etc.) making it unsuitable to continue in the original major

Who Cannot Apply

The following individuals may not apply for major transfer:

Students admitted through special admission categories such as arts, sports, high-level athletes, paired training programs, or comprehensive evaluation
Students who have received disciplinary action during their enrollment
Students currently on leave of absence or with suspended enrollment status
Students who have been enrolled for less than one semester
Students who have already transferred majors (each person gets only one chance; once transferred, it's gone)
Students who should be dismissed
Students transferred from another university
Others deemed unsuitable for major transfer by university review

Quota and Proportions

Both receiving and outgoing student numbers for a major must not exceed 10% of that major's current-year enrollment
National-level first-class undergraduate program construction sites and majors that have passed professional certification have an outgoing limit of 5%
Special circumstance major transfers do not count against the receiving plan quota

Gaokao Score Threshold

In principle, your gaokao score must not be lower than the admission cutoff for the same year and source region of the target major:

Shandong Province students: Your gaokao score must not be lower than the minimum admission score for the target major at our university
Students from outside Shandong Province: If the target major had an admission plan in your appropriate region that year, follow the above principle
If the target major had no admission plan, compare the minimum admission scores of your current major and the target major in Shandong Province, ensuring yours is not lower than the target major's
For provinces that have not yet implemented the new gaokao system, refer to item 3 for comparison

Note

This hard threshold was the 2023 policy. It seems to have become more relaxed compared to before. Before transferring, it is recommended to follow the current year's notice and the receiving department's explanation.

Admission Method

The primary admission criterion is the percentile ranking of exam course weighted average GPA (the registration system, ranking, and disciplinary records are all synced to the academic affairs system, and the system automatically filters eligibility during registration).

The receiving department comprehensively considers your gaokao score, subject selection, and admissions requirements for merit-based admission
If a major has only one class with no more than 30 students, and you rank first with an exam course weighted average GPA ≥ 85, admission shall be granted (Class of 2021 document)

2023 Registration Process (For Reference Only)

The following is the actual 2023 timeline, provided for understanding the process only. Timings change each year:

Time	Step
Early October	Academic Affairs Office issues the major transfer registration and admission notice
Registration Period (~2 days)	Eligible students register online; special circumstances register offline
After Registration	Outgoing department reviews, receiving department admits
Review Period	Academic Affairs Office reviews; those with violations are re-admitted
Results Announcement	Academic Affairs Office announces the proposed admission list (at least 3 working days)
Admission Confirmation	Accept enrollment; enrollment status transfers to the receiving department

How to Register (Online Operation)

Refer to the student operation manual released for the current year. The general steps are as follows:

Log in to the New Academic Affairs System: https://xjw.qdu.edu.cn/
Menu path: Enrollment Status & Grades → Excellent Student Transfer → Major Transfer Application
Click Query to find available majors you can apply to
After confirming you meet the admissions requirements, click Apply, fill in the information and save
Saving indicates a successful application; you can check the review status on this page

The registration system will automatically import your enrollment status, grade ranking, previous transfer records, and disciplinary records. If you don't meet the requirements, you simply cannot register. Fill in information carefully (each application can only be filled once).

Admissions Requirements (Target Major's Conditions for Screening You)

In addition to the university's general rules, each department sets its own admissions requirements (see the current year's receiving plan). Common requirements include:

Grade Ranking: Such as top 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%
Prerequisite Courses: For example, the School of Computer Science may require completion of "Advanced Mathematics I" and "C Programming" with qualifying grades
Gaokao Subject Selection: Such as science / physics selection
Grade Repetition Requirement: For cross-discipline transfers or insufficient credits, you may be required to repeat a year
Language / Certificates: For example, foreign language majors may have strict English grade requirements

Admissions requirements are published each year. Consult the department contacts listed in the current year's plan (each plan includes contacts and phone numbers).

What to Do After Successfully Transferring

Receiving grade is determined by the receiving department; curriculum, program duration, and tuition follow the new major's standards
Previously completed courses undergo credit recognition based on the new major's curriculum: courses with identical content and difficulty are directly recognized; similar courses are substituted for new major courses; other courses may be recognized as elective courses
You may need to make up required courses not yet taken under the new curriculum
The receiving department handles enrollment status, class scheduling, and daily guidance

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can sophomores or juniors transfer? A: According to Document No. [2022] 5, primarily second-year students apply at the beginning of the third semester; the 2021 version allowed first and second-year students. Students enrolled for more than one semester or in third year and above generally have no chance. Check the documents for your specific year.

Q: Can I transfer again after having transferred once? A: No. Those who have already transferred cannot apply again. You only get one chance, so choose your target carefully.

Q: Which majors cannot be transferred out of? A: Majors admitted through special categories such as arts, sports, high-level athletes, paired training programs, or comprehensive evaluation cannot be transferred out of.

Q: Can normal education / Sino-foreign cooperative / university-enterprise cooperative students transfer? A: Students in normal education, Sino-foreign cooperative, or university-enterprise cooperative programs can only transfer to programs with the same cooperative model. Publicly funded normal students can adjust within publicly funded normal education. You cannot freely transfer to other training models.

Q: Will I have to repeat a year after transferring? A: It depends. If the major span is large, prerequisite courses haven't been taken, or credits are insufficient, the receiving department will require repeating a year. For example, transferring from a 4-year program to a 5-year medical program, or from humanities to STEM without having taken Advanced Mathematics, usually requires repetition.

Missing the Deadline Means Missing Out

Major transfer registration and review have strict deadlines for each step. Late registration is considered automatic withdrawal; once enrolled after admission, you cannot transfer back. Hesitation is fine, but registering wrong or missing the deadline causes real trouble.

This page is compiled from 2023 major transfer documents. Specific policies follow the Academic Affairs Office's latest annual notice and each department's receiving plan for the current year.