Does University of Guelph give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Guelph, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHYS 9110 (0.50 credits)
💡Expert's Take
Guelph awards Physics HL (5+) as PHYS*9110, a generic (unspecified) transfer credit rather than a named equivalency to any first-year Guelph physics course. The leading “9” in the course code signals a placeholder, which shapes how the credit behaves on your transcript and in your program.
Per Guelph’s transfer policy, “generic credits are electives and may or may not count towards the graduation requirements for the degree program you’re entering”. That is conditional, not automatic, so the 0.50 is best treated as potentially useful rather than as guaranteed degree progress until confirmed by your program counsellor.
Separately, the gate on Guelph’s named first-year physics courses is secondary-school preparation plus math, not the Guelph transfer code you receive. The published prerequisites list “4U Physics or equivalent” (or PHYS*1020 / PHYS*1300) together with a math requirement for PHYS*1500, PHYS*1510, PHYS*1010, PHYS*1130, PHYS*1070, and PHYS*1080. In other words, PHYS*9110 is not what blocks or unlocks those courses. Whether IB Physics HL counts as “equivalent” for enrolment purposes is a departmental determination.
What to watch for:
- SL Physics: no credit. Guelph’s IB table awards credit only for HL scores of 5 or higher (IB & AP admission page).
- IB transfer credit is capped at 2.00 credits total across all HL subjects combined. Because the IB Diploma itself allows a maximum of 4 HL subjects and each HL awards 0.50 credits at Guelph, a typical 3-HL profile tops out at 1.50 credits and a 4-HL profile reaches 2.00 exactly. For standard IB Diploma candidates the Guelph cap and the IBO’s 4-HL maximum coincide, so the cap rarely constrains achievable credit.
- Total credits to graduate vary by program. The Mechanical Engineering program, for example, lists 22.50 total credits (25.00 with co-op), so the relative value of a 0.50 elective depends on your program’s overall structure.
Before you plan around PHYS*9110, confirm two things with your program counsellor: whether the generic credit can sit in your program’s elective structure, and, if you are entering a physics-intensive stream (Physics, Engineering, life sciences), whether your IB Physics HL score is accepted as “4U Physics or equivalent” for course-enrolment purposes. Those are separate questions.
Guelph’s published decline pathway is limited: “If you receive specified transfer credit, you may request to change to unspecified credit on an individual basis within the first 30 days of your first semester.” Because PHYS*9110 is already unspecified, that specific conversion route does not apply to Physics HL, and no further removal procedure is published on the IB page.
Summary of the published Guelph values used here (paraphrased, not a single verbatim institutional line):
Minimum HL score: 5 or higher
Award on Guelph’s IB table: Physics → PHYS*9110 (0.50 credits at Guelph’s standard course weight)
SL Physics: no transfer credit
Overall IB cap: maximum of 2.00 credits across all HL subjects combined
University of Guelph: IB & AP admission page (source of the HL 5+ rule and the Physics row)
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Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned
1
Tuition per Credit*
~$720
Est. Savings*
~$720
*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with University of Guelph'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 | → | |
| 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 | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 1107 (0.5) & PHYS 1108 (0.5) | $1,365 | → | |
| 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 | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Physics 221 (3 units) and Physics 223 (3 units) | $1,194 | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 117 (3.0 units) | $699 | → | |
| 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 | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, 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 University of Guelph 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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