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Transfer and mobility

About transfer and mobility

In ONCAT’s work with Ontario postsecondary stakeholders, we have encountered challenges in communicating about transfer and learner mobility topics due to the lack of a common vocabulary. While there are various resources with extensive definition sets, these occasionally conflict with one another or omit important terms. 

In response to the situation, we present a set of ONCAT-recommended definitions for key learner mobility concepts and associated terms intended for use across Ontario’s postsecondary sector. 

  • Learner Mobility: The ability of learners to transition between postsecondary programs of study or to begin/resume postsecondary study after a pause in their formal or informal learning. 
  • Mobile Student: A current postsecondary student who has transitioned between postsecondary programs of study or has begun/resumed postsecondary study after a pause in their formal or informal learning. 
  • Transfer: A mechanism of learner mobility whereby a student begins/resumes postsecondary study and receives transfer credit from their receiving institution. 
  • Transfer Student: A postsecondary student who has begun/resumed postsecondary study and received transfer credit from their receiving institution. 
  • Pathway: A route that postsecondary learners follow from one program of study to another. 
  • Transfer Pathway: A defined route that postsecondary students follow from one program of study to another that specifies eligibility requirements or how transfer credits will be accepted and applied at the receiving institution. 

ONCAT Principles of Learner Mobility

In 2015, ONCAT articulated a set of principles for learner mobility. These principles were endorsed by postsecondary institutions across Ontario.

Over the last 10 years, new insights about learner mobility have informed strategies and practices that make learner experiences more seamless and efficient. These insights, developed in collaboration with postsecondary institutions in Ontario and partner organizations across Canada, have informed the 2025 update of the ONCAT Principles of Learner Mobility.

Preface

These principles reflect ONCAT's commitment to supporting the sector-wide implementation of shared tools and evidence-based practices. Together, these efforts help learners receive appropriate academic recognition for previous postsecondary education and for knowledge and skills gained through workplace, non-formal and informal learning experiences.

The ONCAT Principles of Learner Mobility acknowledge that an institution’s policies and academic regulations govern all academic decisions. The principles are not intended to supersede institutional autonomy; ONCAT acknowledges that authority to determine equivalent learning rests solely with postsecondary institutions.

Rights of learners

  1. Learners have a right to clear and accurate information about pathways, transfer, credit equivalency, prior learning assessment and recognition and other forms of learner mobility via ONTransfer.ca.   
  2. Learners have a right to a system of learner mobility that ensures they receive appropriate recognition of their prior formal and non-formal learning and do not have to repeat learning that they have already successfully mastered.
  3. Learners have a right to have credit granted unless a substantial difference can be demonstrated.
  4. Learners have a right to transfer credit decisions that are fair, predictable and timely.
  5. Learners have a right to receive a clear rationale when a credit equivalency or prior learning assessment is denied.
  6. Learners have a right to supports that help them transition academically and socially into their new institution.

Institutional rights and responsibilities

  1. To promote transparency and support learner decision making, postsecondary institutions should share credit equivalency and pathway information with the provincial database of pathways and course equivalencies, ONTransfer.ca, on a regular basis.
  2. The right to make decisions regarding equivalent learning rests with postsecondary institutions exclusively. Institutions should record decisions to support fairness and consistency.
  3. Institutions should provide clear and accessible information related to learner mobility and credit recognition prior to application. This includes eligibility criteria, institutional policies, processes, timelines and a key point of contact to answer common transfer credit questions from learners and other stakeholders.
  4. Institutions should have clear policies and information on how prior work experience and non-formal learning is assessed for recognition.
  5. Institutions should provide recognition and credit assessment decisions in a timely manner.
  6. Institutions should provide learners with a clear rationale when a credit equivalency or prior learning assessment is denied.
  7. Institutions should strive to build pathways between credentials, where feasible, to help prepare graduates to meet labour market needs.

 

Click here to learn more about transfer and mobility.