Does Carleton University give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Ottawa, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHYS 1107 (0.5) & PHYS 1108 (0.5)
💡Expert's Take
Carleton awards IB Physics HL (minimum score 5) as PHYS 1107 (0.5) and PHYS 1108 (0.5), per the official IB advanced-standing table. The sharper question for STEM-bound students is whether those two awarded courses match what your degree actually requires, because PHYS 1107 and PHYS 1108 sit in a different course family from the first-year physics named in most Physics, Engineering, and physical-sciences programs.
The Calendar lists the IB-awarded courses as Introductory University Physics I and II, with applications "chosen in part from the life sciences." Per the Physics course calendar, PHYS 1107 precludes additional credit for PHYS 1001, PHYS 1003, and PHYS 1007, and PHYS 1108 precludes additional credit for PHYS 1002, PHYS 1004, and PHYS 1008. This is a duplicate-credit rule, not a registration bar: a student may still enrol in the parallel course on faculty advice, but will not earn credit twice. Contact hours differ as well: 1107 and 1108 list only "Lectures three hours a week," while 1007 and 1008 list "Lectures three hours a week, laboratory or tutorial three hours per week" and are tagged as including an Experiential Learning Activity.
What to watch for:
- Carleton's B.Sc. Physics program lists three first-year physics options: PHYS 1001/1002 (recommended), PHYS 1003/1004, or PHYS 1007/1008 "with an average grade of B- or higher." The IB-awarded PHYS 1107/1108 are not named on that list, so confirm with the Physics department whether the IB award satisfies the requirement or whether you should still take one of the listed pairs.
- Most Engineering streams (Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Biomedical, and others) list PHYS 1004 singly as a first-year requirement. The programs page does not indicate whether PHYS 1108 satisfies, substitutes for, or affects that requirement, so a faculty-specific transfer-credit assessment is needed before you rely on the IB award.
- IB awards count toward Carleton's 3.0-credit maximum for IB advanced-standing, and each award is "subject to the discretion of the appropriate faculty."
- The IB award gives a lecture-only credit for PHYS 1107/1108. Programs that explicitly require a lab-based or tutorial-based science course may not treat this as equivalent.
- SL: no credit. The IB table awards HL only.
Before registration, take the award line to your faculty advisor or the Physics department to confirm how it maps onto your specific degree audit. Carleton's IB advanced-standing policy does not publish a student-facing procedure for declining or suppressing an awarded HL credit, so any request to adjust what is applied should go through Admissions Services and your Registrar with faculty input. Students in Engineering or in a Physics major should treat the award as a starting point for that conversation, not as a final equivalence.
Official award line (IB Physics HL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted: PHYS 1107 (0.5) & PHYS 1108 (0.5)
Counts toward Carleton's maximum of 3.0 IB advanced-standing credits; award is "subject to the discretion of the appropriate faculty."
PHYS 1107
PHYS 1108
Carleton University, Transfer/Advanced Standing Credit, International Baccalaureate
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Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned
1
Tuition per Credit*
~$1365
Est. Savings*
~$1,365
*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with Carleton University's official sources before making decisions.
📊 Compare Physics HL at Other Universities
See how Physics HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Est. Savings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | PHYS 101 + PHYS 102 (8 credits) | $3,360 | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | Physics 1280.03 + Physics 1290.03 = 6 credit hours | $2,052 | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | PHYS 115.3 + PHYS 117.3 = 6 credit units | $1,554 | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/PHYS 1411 3.0 + SC/PHYS 1412 3.0 (6 credits) | $1,458 | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | PHYS-1300 + PHYS-1310 (Introductory Physics for Li… | $1,440 | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Physics 1501A (0.5 cr) + Physics 1502B (0.5 cr) = … | $1,440 | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU PHYS 101 (3), Q/B-Sci; SFU PHYS 102 (3), Q/B-S… | $1,398 | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | Physics 1020 + Physics 1021 | $1,350 | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHY 1121 + PHY 1122 (6 units) | $1,320 | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | PHYS 124 + PHYS 126 (6 units) | $1,302 | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | PHYS_V 100 (3) + PHYS_V 1st-year level (3) | $1,242 | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | Physics 1A03 and 1AA3 | $1,200 | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Physics 221 (3 units) and Physics 223 (3 units) | $1,194 | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 9110 (0.50 credits) | $720 | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | PHY131H1+PHY132H1 (1.0 cr, A&S) · PHY136H5+PHY137H… | $659 | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 6/7 | PHYS 102A (1.5 units) and PHYS 102B (1.5 units) | $555 | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → |
Tip: Different provinces have different tuition rates. Use these comparisons to find the best value for your residency status.
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Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from Carleton University official sources and verified community reports. It is NOT a substitute for official academic advising. Always confirm with your advisor before making decisions.
Last updated: December 2025
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