The Application Process

The application through BYU Pathway-Worldwide to earn a degree online follows the general process below. Move as quickly as you can!

  1. One by one, complete each part of the online application form. The rest of this document explains two steps that can take more time: the ecclesiastical endorsement and transcripts (for U.S. students only).
  2. Pay any remaining balance (money) that you owe.
  3. If you are accepted, you will receive an offer of admission.
  4. Accept the offer.
  5. Any transcripts you have sent in are now evaluated. It may take a few weeks for this process to be completed.
  6. You are sent information on where to go to register for classes for the upcoming semester. Use your planning from this course to help you know which classes to take. Note that some classes might not be available due to various circumstances. Do your best to be flexible and take what you can.

      7. Click here to access the Application

      Ecclesiastical Endorsement

      Part of the application is an ecclesiastical endorsement. An ecclesiastical endorsement is a certification from your bishop and member of your stake presidency that you are worthy and ready to live the honor code. If your leaders do not understand the ecclesiastical endorsement process, you may share with them the document called Endorsement Instructions. Students who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are still required to obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement. Specific instructions are given as part of the application process.

      Honor Code

      As a student in the PathwayConnect program, you have been asked to strive to live the honor code. You have not yet been asked to commit to live it. Gaining an ecclesiastical endorsement involves committing to live the honor code. To earn a degree through BYU Pathway-Worldwide from BYU-Idaho or Ensign College, you must keep that commitment.

      The Process

      A typical process for getting an ecclesiastical endorsement is as follows. Note that depending on the size of your ward or branch, you might obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from a branch president and mission or district president.

      1. Complete the “Start Endorsement” section of the application (get a check mark in the “Start Endorsement” circle) and then submit the application.
      2. Do everything you can starting now to live the honor code.
      3. Obtain an interview appointment with your bishop.
      4. When you meet with the bishop, inform him that there is an ecclesiastical endorsement waiting for him to complete. He accesses it through his online tools.
      5. After the bishop completes his portion, you then obtain an interview appointment with a member of the stake presidency.
      6. When you meet with the member of the stake presidency, inform him that there is an ecclesiastical endorsement waiting for him to complete. He accesses it through his online tools.
      7. Once the member of the stake presidency completes his portion of the ecclesiastical endorsement, this requirement will appear as complete in your application.

      If you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click the appropriate link in the application and follow those steps that result.

      Move Quickly

      Meet as quickly as possible with your bishop and member of your stake presidency. Make appointments soon, and follow through with them. If you need to, remind these leaders of their responsibility to complete their portion of the ecclesiastical endorsement.

      Transcripts and Transfer Credit Evaluation

      A transcript is a record of the academic credits you earned at a university. If you earned credits at another university or institution of higher learning, you may be able to transfer those through your application. Successfully transferred credits can help you earn certificates and degrees faster because they may fulfill some of the requirements. Please be aware that if you used a different name (like a maiden name) at another institution from which you request a transcript, you should tell the institution so they can find your records. Note: If you have completed credit at another university outside of the United States, you are not required to submit transcripts from these universities. Doing so can be expensive, and many of the credits may not transfer and fulfill certificate and degree requirements. Also, you do not need to include transcripts from secondary schools like high school.

      Official Transcripts

      Transferring credits begins by having universities or other institutions of higher learning send official transcripts. This process is automatic and happens from school to school after you complete your application.

      The Process

      A typical process for getting official transcripts sent from another university is as follows:

      1. You contact the other university to request an official transcript. Depending on the university, this can be done in person, by phone, email, or by accessing the official transcript section of the university's website.
      2. When you make contact, the university will need to verify who you are and that you were a student there. They may ask you to provide a student number or other form of identification.
      3. Once they verify your identify, you will be able to request an official transcript. Fulfilling this request usually costs a small amount of money and takes one or more weeks.
      4. The university will also ask where the official transcript is to be sent. Depending on the university, it can be sent either using paper or electronic means.
      5. Once you receive and accept an offer of admission, your transcripts will be evaluated to see which credits from elsewhere will transfer.
      6. You will receive a notification when the evaluation of your transcript is complete. This notification will explain which credits successfully transferred.

      Move Quickly

      As with the ecclesiastical endorsement, move as quickly as you can. Requesting official transcripts requires time and some money. Make the time to complete these tasks so they do not delay the evaluation of your credits.