Does McGill University give transfer credit for IB Chemistry HL?
Montreal, QC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
Course exemption: CHEM 110 + CHEM 120 (two 4-credit courses; program exceptions apply)
💡Expert's Take
This is a named-course equivalency, the stronger outcome: with a final result of 5 or better McGill exempts you from CHEM 110 and CHEM 120, General Chemistry 1 and 2, two 4-credit courses. That satisfies the stated general-chemistry prerequisite for introductory organic chemistry: CHEM 212 for most programs, or CHEM 242 for students in Chemistry and Biochemistry programs, since CHEM 212 is not open to them.
The award is not the same in every faculty. The two-course exemption applies only to the faculties named in McGill's chart, and Engineering entries are reduced: BEng Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical receive CHEM 120 only, and BEng (Software) receives CHEM 120 and either CHEM 110 or BIOL 112. If your program is not in the eligible faculty column of McGill's IB chart, do not count on the eight-credit figure shown on this page.
Do not retake a course you were exempted from. McGill states that if you receive an exemption for a subject but decide to take the course at McGill anyway, you will not receive credit for it and it will not be calculated into your McGill GPA.
These eight credits are not simply added to your total. Full IB Diploma students are granted up to 30 transfer credits, with the actual amount set by your HL combination, final results, and entering program, so Chemistry HL contributes to that ceiling rather than sitting on top of it. An exemption is also not the same thing as credit: McGill notes that an exemption on its own carries no course credits, and where one is granted without accompanying credit, the total credits you need to graduate are not reduced.
SL: Chemistry SL does not earn transfer credit at McGill. See the Chemistry SL page.
Official award line (IB Chemistry HL):
Minimum score: 5
McGill course exemption: CHEM 110 and CHEM 120 (two 4-credit courses)
Eligible faculty/program entry: AES, Arts, Architecture (B.Sc.Arch.), Arts & Science, Engineering, Education, Management, Nursing (B.Sc.N.), Science
Exceptions: BEng Computer, Electrical, Mechanical: CHEM 120 only · BEng (Software): CHEM 120 and (CHEM 110 or BIOL 112) (as of July 2021)
McGill Transfer Credit & Advanced Standing, International Baccalaureate
Need help preparing for IB Chemistry HL?
Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
8
credit (1 course = 3 credits)
Quebec Resident
~$104/credit
~$831
Potential Tuition Value
Out-of-Province
~$324-$548/credit
~$2,595 - $4,381
Potential Tuition Value
(Rate B / Rate A by admit year; top of range is B.Com.)
International
~$1,061-$2,390/credit
~$8,490 - $19,117
Potential Tuition Value
(varies by faculty and admit year)
*2026-27 tuition-only rates by admission cohort. Non-Quebec Canadians admitted Fall 2024+ pay Rate A; Management (B.Com.) has its own higher schedule, ~$548/credit for Fall 2026 admits. The Canada Award was last offered in 2025-26 and is not available to students admitted as of 2026-27. Values assume the award replaces tuition you would otherwise pay. Actual cash savings can be $0 under flat-rate or full-time billing unless credit reduces a billed term or time to completion.
📊 Compare Chemistry HL at Other Universities
See how Chemistry HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 1001 + CHEM 1002 (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | View estimate | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | CHEM 1011.03/1012.03 or 1021.03/1022.03 or 1041.03… | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | 5/7 | Chemistry 1110 and Chemistry 1130 | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 1A03 + CHEM 1AA3 (up to 6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 5/7 | CHEM 1050 + 1051 (St. John's) or CHEM 1810 + 1200 … | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 112 (6.0 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU CHEM 122 (2), Q; SFU CHEM 121 (4), Q/B-Sci | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | CHY 103 and CHY 113 | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | CHEM 101 (★3), Engineering: CHEM 103 (★4.3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | CHEM_V 121 (4 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Chemistry 201/203 or 209 (Engineering only) | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 1040 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | CHEM 1100 (3) & CHEM 1110 (3) & CHEM 112L (0) | View estimate | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 5/7 | Saint John: CHEM 1041 & CHEM 1072 (engineering: CH… | View estimate | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | CHM 1711 (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | CHEM 104 + CHEM 1XX (100-level) | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | CHEM 112.3 + CHEM Jr.3 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | CHM1**Y (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 5/7 | CHEM 101 (1.5 units) and CHEM 102 (1.5 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 120 + 120L + 123 + 123L (1.5 units ≈ 3 course… | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | CHEM-1100 + CHEM-1110 (General Chemistry I + II, 6… | View estimate | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Chemistry 1301A (0.5 cr) + Chemistry 1302B (0.5 cr… | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/CHEM 1000 3.0 + SC/CHEM 1001 3.0 (6 credits) | View estimate | → |
Tip: Open a university to compare same-province, out-of-province, and international tuition values. Flat-rate or full-time billing can make the immediate cash saving $0.
Taking more than Chemistry HL?
Add all your IB subjects and predicted scores to estimate your total transfer credit across Canadian universities, side by side.
Other IB Subjects at McGill University
Related subjects you might be interested in at McGill University
Computer Science HL
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL
Biology HL
Physics HL
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
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