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. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Est. Savings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 117 (6.0 units) | $1,398 | → | |
| 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 | → | |
| 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 | → | |
| 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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Save Your Transfer Plan
Download a PDF of this transfer credit information for Physics HL at McGill University.