Does McGill University give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Montreal, QC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHYS 101 + PHYS 102 (8 credits)
💡Expert's Take
McGill grants 8 credits for IB Physics HL (score of 5+), exempting you from both PHYS 101 and PHYS 102. This is McGill's non-calculus introductory physics sequence. For most faculties this is generous and straightforward—but if you're heading into a Physics major or Engineering, the implications are worth understanding.
McGill runs two parallel introductory physics streams. PHYS 101/102 is the non-calculus track (described officially as "an introductory course in physics without calculus"). PHYS 131/142 is the calculus-based track taken by Physics majors and Engineering students. IB Physics HL grants credit for the non-calculus stream only. However, once you hold PHYS 101 credit, you are restricted from enrolling in PHYS 131—the calculus-based version covers the same introductory material and cannot be taken alongside or after PHYS 101.
What to watch for:
- Engineering students: McGill's IB transfer credit page explicitly states that Engineering students (including B.Sc.Arch.) who receive credit for PHYS 101/102 are not required to complete PHYS 131/142. You proceed directly into upper-level coursework. The mathematical physics gap is real, though—your next physics course will assume comfort with calculus applied to mechanics and electromagnetism.
- Physics majors: The Physics Major program lists PHYS 131 and PHYS 142 as required courses. Your IB credit for PHYS 101/102 satisfies these requirements, but your next course, PHYS 230 (Dynamics of Simple Systems), uses a calculus-heavy textbook (Morin's Introduction to Classical Mechanics) and will expect you to apply differential equations to mechanics problems from day one.
- Architecture: B.Sc.Arch. students receive PHYS 101 credit only (4 credits, not both courses).
- Non-STEM faculties (Arts, Management, Education, etc.): The 8 credits count cleanly toward your degree. No preparation gap to worry about.
If you're entering Physics or Engineering: The concern is not conceptual physics—IB HL covers that well. The gap is in applying calculus to physics. Before September, practice setting up and solving Newton's second law as a differential equation, using integrals for work and energy problems, and applying basic differentiation to kinematics. If your IB course didn't heavily integrate calculus into problem-solving, you'll want to bridge that gap before your first upper-year physics course.
Official award line (Physics HL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted: PHYS 101 (4 credits) + PHYS 102 (4 credits) = 8 credits
Eligible faculties: AES, ARCH (PHYS 101 only), AR, AS, ED, EN, MG, NU, SC
Note: Engineering (incl. B.Sc.Arch.) students who receive PHYS 101/102 credit are not required to complete PHYS 131/142.
Need help preparing for IB Physics HL?
Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned
8
Quebec Resident
~$101/credit
~$808
Est. Savings
Out-of-Province
~$420/credit
~$3,360
Est. Savings
International
~$1,050-1,700/credit
~$8,400 - $13,600
Est. Savings
(Sci/Eng/Mgmt higher)
*Tuition rates are for Fall 2025 and may vary by faculty and program. Always verify with McGill's official sources before making decisions.
📊 Compare Physics HL at Other Universities
See how Physics HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Each school has different grade requirements and savings potential.
Dalhousie University
Halifax, NS
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Physics 1280.03 + Physics 1290.03 = 6 cr...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,830
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PHYS 117 (6.0 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,398
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC
Min Grade
4/7
Credit Granted
SFU PHYS 101 (3), Q/B-Sci; SFU PHYS 102 ...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,398
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Min Grade
6/7
Credit Granted
PHYS 124 + PHYS 126 (6 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,302
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Min Grade
6/7
Credit Granted
PHYS_V 100 (3) + PHYS_V 1st-year level (...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,242
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Physics 221 (3 units) and Physics 223 (3...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,194
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PHY 1121 + PHY 1122 (6 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,320
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PHY131H1+PHY132H1 (1.0 cr, A&S) · PHY136...
(1 credit)
Est. Savings
$659
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC
Min Grade
6/7
Credit Granted
PHYS 102A (1.5 units) and PHYS 102B (1.5...
(3 credits)
Est. Savings
$555
Western University
London, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Physics 1501A (0.5 cr) + Physics 1502B (...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,440
Tip: Different provinces have different tuition rates. Use these comparisons to find the best value for your residency status.
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Save Your Transfer Plan
Download a PDF of this transfer credit information for Physics HL at McGill University.