This week, universities across the nation are recognizing National Transfer Student Week, highlighting the important contributions of students who begin their academic journeys at one institution and continue at another. At the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), transfer students make up a significant portion of the student body, with 65% of degree-seeking undergraduates starting their education elsewhere.

UHD offers Transfer Merit Scholarships, two-year awards available to students transferring with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. This year, 36 students are attending UHD on full-ride scholarships through the program, providing both financial support and opportunities to succeed in a four-year academic environment.

Eboni Watkins

 

Among UHD’s transfer students is Eboni Watkins, who came to the university through the Ted Bauer Scholarship, funded by the C.T. Bauer Foundation. Watkins, a Human Resources major, chose UHD for its small class sizes, affordability, and close-knit student community, making it an ideal fit after transferring from Houston City College.

Denilson Fernandez

 

Another transfer student, Denilson Fernandez, a Finance major, credits UHD with opening doors to career opportunities. Born and raised in Houston with Salvadoran roots, Fernandez began his higher education at Wharton County Junior College. After transferring, he became involved in the campus community through the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) UHD chapter, a national organization focused on developing professional and soft skills for career advancement. Fernandez is set to graduate this December and begin work as a commercial banking analyst with Wells Fargo next year.

UHD’s transfer students reflect a diverse and growing community of learners. These stories represent just a portion of the roughly 9,000 transfer students at UHD, each contributing to the university’s mission of accessibility, affordability, and student success.

For more information about transferring to UHD, visit uhd.edu/admissions/transfer.