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Quick Guide to Major Transfer at SCUT ​

Authors:

SCUT Major Transfer Discussion Group 2 (QQ): 372518671

Major transfer is not mysterious, and it's certainly not a privilege reserved for a select few. Three-quarters of applicants successfully change their major, and even for popular majors, the rate is no lower than half. Most people who prepare seriously end up with satisfying results.

You don't need to figure everything out right now -- this guide will help you quickly build the basic understanding.

SCUT's major transfer comes in several types: secondary selection (early screening), assistance-based transfer, strong-base class augmentation, and the May university-wide voluntary transfer [1]. However, most students -- including the authors of this article -- go through the May university-wide transfer, so the following content revolves around that. Meanwhile, this article's experience leans toward non-International Campus programs and STEM fields, so some parts may only be selectively applicable. We welcome students with experience in other transfer types to contact us for additions.

I. The Current Major Transfer Mechanism (Subject to Change) ​

Timeline ​

Each year, the university opens one regular major transfer window, concentrated in May. In April, each school publishes its intake plan and requirements on its official website notice board. At the end of April, the academic affairs system opens for unified registration. May brings the assessment and results.

Basic Rules ​

You can only apply to one major in one school -- no调剂 (adjustment) opportunities. The university generally doesn't restrict transfers out. The first year is the main window; second-year students have limited slots but often need to drop a grade level. After transferring, courses already taken in the original major that the new major doesn't recognize are converted into general elective or cross-major elective credits, which are basically useless and won't count toward the GPA needed for graduate recommendation.

Slots ​

Determined by each school, generally ranging from single digits to a few dozen.

Selection Method ​

The process is unified, but selection methods vary greatly by school. Two things matter: thresholds and assessment.

Thresholds determine if you can even apply. Lenient schools only require no failed required courses (some even allow failures!) plus basic disciplinary requirements. Strict schools additionally require specific scores in first-semester math and English -- miss them and you're disqualified outright (currently, no school uses GPA as a threshold). Assessment generally comes in only two forms: pure interview, or written exam plus interview. Schools with strict thresholds are more likely to add a written exam. Written exams typically cover math, physics, or C++, set by the school. Interviews usually assess field knowledge and overall quality, possibly with an English oral component.

Beyond regular programs, a small number of teaching reform classes (note: this doesn't include卓越 classes or other key classes) are available for transfer during the May window. These classes are often highly experimental, offered irregularly, not recruited through Gaokao, and filled entirely with students from other majors. Their conditions vary greatly and are subject to frequent change. Some have completely independent processes, so this article's reference value for them is limited -- always check the latest announcements.

In 2026, some teaching reform classes directly factored first-semester GPA into their transfer assessment scores, though this remains a very small minority of cases. Still worth noting.

Below are the 2026 May transfer rules for four schools and one teaching reform class:

School of Electronic and Information Engineering (Strict Threshold + Written Exam + Interview) ​

Calculus score no lower than 87, Linear Algebra no lower than 86 -- miss either, and you're disqualified. The written exam covers math and physics, with a minimum per-subject line (subject average x 0.7). Failing either subject means no interview. The interview assesses STEM background knowledge, learning ability, and psychological fitness. Final score = written exam x 40% + interview x 60%. The Schools of Physics, Automation, and Computer Science use similar models.

School of Electric Power (Strict Threshold + Pure Interview) ​

Does not accept those with monochromatic color recognition deficiency. Requires no failed required courses and an Advanced Mathematics score no lower than 80 -- otherwise, disqualification. The interview is a 5-minute PPT personal presentation covering: academic status, research/competition experience (if any), subject awareness, personal potential, and future plans. Academic status is especially important -- focus on weighted average, math, and linear algebra scores. Strong university English scores are also preferred. Assessment is interview only, no written exam. Also see the experience article: Transferring to Electrical Engineering.

School of Software Engineering (Strict Threshold + Pure Interview) ​

Registration only requires no failed courses, but the school ranks applicants by math x 70% + English x 30%, filtering at a 1:1.5 ratio for interview slots. If your score isn't high enough, you're eliminated -- this is a dynamic threshold that moves with competition. The interview assesses professional fundamentals (math and programming) at 40%, overall quality at 40%, and English listening/speaking at 20%.

School of Materials Science and Engineering (Lenient Threshold + Pure Interview) ​

No extra threshold -- no failed courses is enough to register. Interview only. Common in less popular schools.

For first-year students who took physics in Gaokao. No failed first-attempt required courses is sufficient to register. No more than 30 slots. Admission score = first-semester required course 100-point average x 40% + interview x 60%. Interview scores below 60 result in automatic rejection.

Rules may change every year. Always check the target school's official website notice board for the current year's plan. Previous years' announcements can be referenced but are not fully reliable -- go by the current year.

II. Choosing a Major Transfer ​

Choosing to transfer depends on three things: difficulty, cost, and reward.

Difficulty ​

Using STEM fields as an example, competition levels roughly fall into three tiers (for reference only):

  • Fierce competition: Software Engineering, Computer Science, Intelligent Science, Automation, Electrical Engineering, etc.
  • Moderate competition: Mathematics, Physics, Mechatronics, Functional Materials, etc.
  • Virtually no competition: Polymer Materials, Chemistry, Biology, etc. Applicant numbers usually don't exceed intake slots and there are no thresholds -- most get in.

But note: each school evaluates whether a student fits its needs, and there's no unified quantitative difficulty standard. Things fluctuate a lot. This article won't attempt to precisely predict any major's difficulty [2].

An important point is alignment between your profile and the school's needs. Math scores are the most universal and critical factor. Students with strong IT skills can prioritize Computer Science or Software. Those confident in overall quality and expression can prioritize schools that use pure interviews.

We recommend picking a target in your first semester and preparing with full effort. After first semester ends, evaluate whether to adjust based on actual performance. After all, you only get one choice -- we don't recommend overly aggressive applications.

Cost ​

Major transfer isn't guaranteed. When applying, you must consider the possibility of failure. If you fail, don't get discouraged -- there will still be many opportunities ahead. Graduate school and future careers offer many chances to pivot, as long as you keep a learning mindset. The biggest cost of transferring is catching up on courses. Switching to a very different major might mean making up a dozen credits. If you don't drop a grade level, the subsequent course load can be heavy, potentially affecting your grades and development. Dropping a grade level means an extra year. But for those aiming for graduate recommendation, dropping a grade level isn't necessarily bad -- an extra year of preparation could actually give you an advantage in the competition.

Reward ​

The most direct reward of transferring is entering a field you genuinely want to study, or leaving one that clearly doesn't suit you. But don't judge a major's value solely by its Gaokao cutoff, competition intensity, or employment prospects -- these only reflect current student preferences and the present situation. They have no necessary causal relationship with whether you'll enjoy working in that field or what your career prospects will be. Choosing a major should consider personal interest, career planning, and industry trends -- a complex and highly individualized question this article won't expand on [3].

III. Timeline and Pace ​

First Semester of Year 1: Focus on Core Required Courses ​

For students aiming at popular majors, our advice is: don't rush into specialized transfer preparation in the first semester. Put your energy into required courses, especially math and English. Six reasons: First, most popular majors have thresholds -- miss them and you can't even apply. Second, even without explicit GPA-based assessment, our statistics show a clear correlation between first-semester grades and interview performance. Third, after first-semester exams end, there are still nearly 5 months until the May assessment -- plenty of time for transfer preparation; doing it early has little benefit. Fourth, first-semester grades are one of the best indicators for assessing which competition level to target -- often you need these grades first to roughly know your options. Fifth, required course GPA is inherently crucial, especially for those planning further study. Finally, many students enter university feeling disoriented -- spending a few months learning more, thinking more, and adapting before deciding where to go is perfectly fine.

Prepare well for final exams and major assignments while also ensuring your平时成绩 (ongoing assessment score). Core courses like math and linear algebra typically have final exams worth 60%-70% -- prepare seriously. Homework accuracy directly affects your ongoing score, so don't slack off. For political education, English, and similar courses, actively participate in class -- presentations, answering questions. Complete online content on MOOC, Rain Classroom, etc., on time.

After First Semester: Formally Choose Your Target ​

First and most importantly: spend enough time understanding what each major actually is, and what you really need. Second, understand past transfer situations -- threshold requirements, application-to-admission ratios, competition intensity, and assessment content. Manage your expectations. Evaluate difficulty and risk based on your first-semester performance. Finally, the direction you want may correspond to more than one major -- don't lock yourself into a single option, so you're not caught off guard by changes (e.g., a school raising its threshold scores, or Software Engineering reducing enrollment while adding an Industrial Software major) [4]. Combine your personal preference for each major with your risk assessment to arrive at a primary target and potential alternatives (preferably not too far apart in field, while still remembering what's primary and secondary).

Once You Have a Target, Take Action ​

Specific transfer requirements are only published in April, but January to April is a precious 4-month window -- don't waste it. After determining your general direction, proactively learn about your target school's assessment format and content early, and plan your preparation. Then, self-study relevant content based on the assessment focus -- for example, if targeting CS, start getting familiar with high-level languages, algorithms, and AI; if targeting information engineering, study more math and physics. At the start of the second semester, appropriately shift some study time from your current major toward transfer preparation. Finally, try to participate in projects -- ideally some competitions -- as this is very useful for interviews. If aiming for CS or Software, try self-studying neural networks and building simple deep learning projects. Seeking help from seniors who've successfully transferred is very valuable -- make sure to reach out. Contacting them directly in transfer groups or finding their materials in group files are both viable approaches.

Overall, after roughly understanding SCUT's transfer policies and your personal pathway, the core question is whether you can manage expectations and maintain execution. Don't get overly anxious during the nearly year-long period of uncertainty. Stay balanced and move forward steadily. But also remember: transfer is not everything. Beyond what we've discussed, there are many other things you need to do. What exactly depends on you, but maintaining your physical and mental health should always come first.

Finally, the transfer groups bring together many excellent students. If you encounter confusion or need help in your studies or life, remember to come and exchange ideas here -- you'll gain a lot. The key to university life is communication and collaboration, something you'll appreciate more deeply over time.

Notes ​

[1] Secondary selection happens in September, right after enrollment, for key classes. It typically tests math, English, and interviews. Question types can be found in group files. Secondary selection used to be very popular, but last year's teaching reform classes were limited to the International Campus. We'll see how it goes this year -- interested students can still prepare in advance. For details on other transfer types, consult seniors who've been through them.

[2] Because well-known predictions can self-fulfill or self-reverse -- I (Hu Tao) made this mistake in the past.

[3] So also consider: will changing majors actually benefit you? Should you really transfer? Don't transfer just for the sake of transferring.

[4] I (Hu Tao) transferred in the 2021 cohort. Before us, transfers always started in September of the second year. That year, without any warning, it moved up to May of the first year, disrupting many people's plans. Opening a few slots for second-semester second-year students came even later. The point is: transfer policies change frequently -- manage your expectations.

This article was completed on July 16, 2026. Written by non-professionals, inevitably with omissions. For reference only. If errors are found, please contact the authors.

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