The Federal University Otuoke (FUOTUOKE) has officially announced the opening of the Inter/Intra Faculty Transfer application process for the 2025/2026 academic session. This opportunity is designed to assist students who, for various reasons, wish to change their course or department either within the same faculty or to another faculty entirely.

The management encourages all interested students to take advantage of this window to align their academic pursuits with their interests, abilities, and long-term career goals. The transfer process, however, is guided by specific eligibility requirements and procedures to ensure transparency, fairness, and academic integrity.

Understanding Inter/Intra Faculty Transfer

The Inter/Intra Faculty Transfer process allows registered students of FUOTUOKE to officially change from their current academic programme to another, provided they meet the stipulated requirements.

• An Intra-Faculty Transfer occurs when a student moves from one department to another within the same faculty — for instance, from Political Science to Sociology, or from Electrical Engineering to Mechanical Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering.

• An Inter-Faculty Transfer, on the other hand, involves a move from one faculty to a completely different faculty — for example, from Computer Science (Faculty of Science) to Accounting (Faculty of Management and Social Sciences).

The purpose of this process is to ensure that students who discover a stronger interest or aptitude in another field can redirect their studies without having to withdraw and reapply for admission through JAMB. However, FUOTUOKE emphasizes that this process is strictly regulated to maintain the quality and standard of academic performance across departments.

Eligibility Requirements

Before initiating a transfer request, interested students must ensure that they meet the minimum eligibility criteria as set by the university. The key conditions are as follows:

1. Minimum CGPA Requirement:
   Every applicant must have attained a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.50 at the time of application. This requirement ensures that only students with satisfactory academic standing are eligible to transfer.

   The CGPA benchmark reflects the university’s commitment to academic excellence. It ensures that only students who have demonstrated a consistent level of performance are considered, while encouraging others to improve their academic results before applying in the future.

2. Good Academic and Disciplinary Standing:
   Students currently under any disciplinary action or academic suspension are not eligible to apply. The transfer opportunity is reserved for students in good standing with the university’s code of conduct and academic regulations.

3. Availability of Space in the Target Programme:
   Transfer into any department or programme is subject to the availability of space and the approval of the admitting department. Departments are not obliged to accept all applicants and will only approve transfers if their class size and resources permit.

Step-by-Step Application Procedure

The university has outlined a clear and straightforward procedure for students who wish to apply for transfer. Every step must be completed properly to ensure that the application is processed without delay.

Step 1: Payment of Application Fee

• Applicants are required to make an online payment of a non-refundable fee of ₦10,000 through the designated payment portal.

• After successful payment, students should proceed to the Bursary Department to obtain a stamped receipt as evidence of payment. This receipt must be attached to the transfer application form.

Step 2: Collection of Transfer Form

• With the stamped payment receipt, students should visit the Office of the Registrar to collect the official Inter/Intra Faculty Transfer Form.

• The form contains personal details, academic record information, current department and faculty details, and the preferred new programme of study.

Step 3: Completion and Departmental Approval

• Applicants must accurately fill out the form and submit it to their current Head of Department (HOD) for processing.

• The HOD will review the student’s academic performance, CGPA, and conduct, then make a recommendation to the Departmental and Faculty Boards.

• The form will also be reviewed by the receiving department to ensure that the applicant meets the course requirements and that space is available.

Step 4: Final Approval by the University Senate

• Once the transfer has been endorsed by the relevant departments and faculties, the final approval lies with the University Senate — the highest academic decision-making body of FUOTUOKE.

• The Senate Officer will then communicate the outcome of the application to each student officially.

• Students must not assume that their transfer has been approved until they receive official notification from the Senate.

Important Warnings and Regulations

FUOTUOKE’s management has issued a number of important guidelines and cautions for students applying for transfer:

• Approval is not automatic:
  The fact that an application has been submitted does not mean that it will be approved. Each case is carefully evaluated on academic merit, availability of space, and departmental recommendation.

• Unauthorized transfers are prohibited:
  No student should proceed to attend lectures, submit assignments, or register in a new department without official Senate approval. Doing so will result in disciplinary action and nullification of such registration.

• JAMB Regularization Requirement:
  All successful applicants must regularize their new programme with JAMB before graduation. This is to ensure that their new course of study aligns with their official admission record in the JAMB database.

Why Students Apply for Transfers

The opportunity for transfer is one of the most student-friendly policies in FUOTUOKE. Many students choose to apply for transfer for reasons such as:

1. Discovery of New Interests:
   Some students realize that their passion lies in a different field than the one they initially applied for during admission.

2. Academic Strengths:
   A student might perform better in courses outside their current programme and decide to move to an area that suits their natural academic strengths.

3. Career Aspirations:
   In certain cases, students find that their future career goals align more closely with a different department or faculty.

4. Health or Personal Reasons:
   Occasionally, health-related issues or personal challenges may require a student to transfer to a department with a lighter or more suitable workload.

5. Departmental Re-structuring:
   Rarely, university restructuring or course re-accreditation may prompt students to transfer to related programmes.

Benefits of the Transfer Policy

FUOTUOKE’s transfer policy provides numerous benefits to both students and the institution:

• Academic Flexibility:
  Students are not permanently locked into a single course. They can adjust their academic path based on performance and interest.

• Improved Academic Motivation:
  When students study in areas they are passionate about, their performance and engagement improve significantly.

• Optimal Use of Resources:
  Departments can balance enrolment by admitting students who truly desire to be in their programmes while reducing cases of course abandonment.

• Promotion of Institutional Integrity:
  The structured process ensures that all transfers are approved transparently and based on merit, preventing favoritism or irregularities.

Advice for Applicants

Students who intend to apply for a transfer should keep the following tips in mind:

1. Consult Academic Advisors:
   Before initiating the process, students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisers to discuss their decision, career implications, and academic readiness for the new course.

2. Research the Target Department:
   Understand the course content, workload, and requirements of the new department to avoid future regrets.

3. Prepare Academically:
   Some departments may request evidence of competence in certain prerequisite courses. Ensure that you have met those conditions before applying.

4. Observe Deadlines:
   Transfers are processed within a specific period. Late submissions will not be entertained, so students should begin early to avoid unnecessary stress.

5. Maintain Good Conduct:
   Discipline and academic diligence play a huge role in approval. Students with good academic records and positive recommendations from their current HOD have higher chances of success.

Conclusion

The Federal University Otuoke remains committed to providing a student-centered academic environment where learners can grow, explore, and achieve excellence. The opening of the Inter/Intra Faculty Transfer application reaffirms the university’s dedication to flexibility, fairness, and support for students’ academic development.

All interested students are therefore advised to strictly follow the official guidelines, maintain academic discipline, and ensure they meet all requirements before submitting their applications.

For further inquiries or clarifications, students may visit the Office of the Registrar or contact the Admissions and Records Unit during official working hours.

Signed:
Andabi Amangi-Edomo
Registrar, Federal University Otuoke (FUOTUOKE)