Does Memorial University of Newfoundland give transfer credit for IB French A: Language and Literature HL?

St. John's, NL

Faculty: General Transfer Credit

Yes, Transfer Credit Available!

Minimum Grade Required

4or higher

Credit Granted

French 1501 + French 1502

💡Expert's Take

Memorial does grant transfer credit for IB French A: Language and Literature HL at a score of 4 or higher: FREN 1501 + FREN 1502 (six credit hours), per the official IB transfer credit chart. Once general admission is granted and the IB transcript is sent directly from the IB Organization, the Registrar's secondary-school transfer credit page states the listed credit "will automatically be granted."

The non-obvious layer is at the language department. MUN's French criteria chart states that "native speakers of French and students with near-native fluency will not normally receive credit for courses taken at the first year level in their native language," and instead requires consultation with the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures for placement. Taking IB French A: Language and Literature does not by itself establish that level of fluency, since the IB's Language A: Language and Literature course studies literary and non-literary texts and is offered in 17 languages. But for students who are in fact Francophone, MUN runs separate French Major and Minor for Francophones programs, and Francophone students "cannot register for 1000-level French courses or for FREN 3300," which materially changes how the FREN 1501 + 1502 award functions for that pathway.

What to watch for:

  • The HL award covers FREN 1501 and FREN 1502 only. FREN 1500 is the third course in MUN's first-year French sequence and is not awarded, so the award is six of the nine first-year credit hours.
  • Program caps in the St. John's French regulations can bind: no more than 6 credit hours at the 1000 level toward the Major or Minor; no more than 6 transfer credit hours toward the Minor; no more than 12 toward the Major, 24 toward Honours, or 18 toward Joint Honours. The IB award alone can fully consume the Minor's transfer-credit allowance.
  • The "may not register concurrently for more than one of FREN 1500, 1501 or 1502" wording sits in the St. John's course descriptions; the Grenfell calendar entries for these courses do not repeat it, so Grenfell students should confirm registration rules with advising.
  • FREN 2100 lists FREN 1502 as the prerequisite at both campuses; only St. John's allows department permission as an alternative. A pre/co-requisite waiver or department permission may be needed if the FREN 1501/1502 transfer credit has not yet posted at registration time.

For an HL French A student who is not a native or near-native speaker, the practical move is to let the credit post automatically after admission and aim for FREN 2100 in first year. Native or near-native speakers should book a placement conversation with the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures before registering, since the appropriate placement could be FREN 1502, FREN 2100, or a Francophone Major or Minor pathway rather than the chart's default 1501 + 1502 award. Students who want to delay or refuse the credit should contact the Office of the Registrar directly: because high-school IB transfer credit is described as automatic after admission, simply not asking is not a reliable opt-out.

Official award line (IB French A: Language and Literature HL):
Minimum score: 4
Credit granted: French 1501 + French 1502 (one Memorial recommendation, not split by campus)
Credit hours: 6 · SL: also eligible (French 1500 + French 1501, min 4)

Memorial University · International Baccalaureate transfer credit chart (last updated Feb 1, 2026)

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Your Potential Savings

Credits Earned

6

Tuition per Credit*

~$225

Est. Savings*

~$1,350

*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with Memorial University of Newfoundland's official sources before making decisions.

📊 Compare French A: Language and Literature HL at Other Universities

See how French A: Language and Literature HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.

UniversityMin GradeCredit GrantedEst. Savings
McGill UniversityMontreal, QC5/7FREN 1XX (6 credits)$2,520
Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS5/7ASSC 1999.06 (elective)$2,052
University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK5/7FREN 122.3 + FREN 125.3 = 6 credit units$1,554
York UniversityToronto, ON5/7AP/FR 1*** 6.0 (6 credits, unspecified level 1)$1,458
Western UniversityLondon, ON5/7French 1910 (1.0 credit)$1,440
Queen's UniversityKingston, ON5/7FREN 150 (6.0 units)$1,398
Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC5/7SFU FREN 1XX (6), or SFU FREN 1XX (3) + WL 1XX (3)…$1,398
Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON5/7FREN 1XXX (1.0 credit)$1,365
University of OttawaOttawa, ON5/7FRA 1710 + FRA 1720 (6 units)$1,320
University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB6/7FREN 100-level (3 units) + FREN 211 (3 units)$1,302
University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC5/7FREN_V 401 + FREN_V 402 (6 credits)$1,242
McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON5/76 units of unspecified Level 1 French$1,200
University of GuelphGuelph, ON5/7HUMN 9110 (0.50 credits)$720
University of TorontoToronto, ON5/7FRE1**Y (1.0 credit)$659
University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta5/7FREN 227$597
University of VictoriaVictoria, BC4/7FRAN 180 (3 units)$555
University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON5/7FR 1XX (0.5 units) — Elective credit$450
17 universities grant credit0 do notBest savings: $2,520

Tip: Different provinces have different tuition rates. Use these comparisons to find the best value for your residency status.

Data Disclaimer

This information is compiled from Memorial University of Newfoundland official sources and verified community reports. It is NOT a substitute for official academic advising. Always confirm with your advisor before making decisions.

Official University Website

Last updated: December 2025

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