Does Queen's University give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Kingston, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHYS 117 (6.0 units), Arts/Sci/Commerce/Nursing; 3.0 units Health Sci; No credit Engineering
Excludes Smith Engineering: The Engineering IB transfer credit table lists Physics HL as "No Credit." Engineering students must take APSC 111/112 regardless of IB score.
Physics & Astronomy majors: Students pursuing a Physics degree plan must take PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 (calculus-based). PHYS 117 is an exclusion to both; accepting this credit bars you from the courses your major requires.
💡Expert's Take
IB Physics HL earns PHYS 117 (6.0 units) in Arts, Science, Commerce, and Nursing, but this is the algebra-based introductory sequence, not the calculus-based PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 that a Physics degree Plan actually requires. Smith Engineering students get no credit whatsoever.
PHYS 117 is the year-long, algebra-based introductory course for students who need physics as a supporting science. Students who want to pursue a degree Plan in Physics must take PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 instead, and Queen's allows no more than 6.0 units from PHYS 104, PHYS 106, and PHYS 117. Queen's defines an exclusion as courses similar enough that credit is granted for only a subset, and states that holding credit for an excluded course will usually prevent registration in the others. It does not say that registering cancels the transfer credit, so treat this as a registration block to resolve with your faculty rather than an automatic forfeit.
Health Sciences is the exception. The BHSc transfer credit table awards only 3.0 units of PHYS 117, half the weight granted elsewhere, but that credit counts as an option course toward the BHSc degree and satisfies upper-year prerequisites that require PHYS 117.
If you are considering Physics as a major, the credit will not carry you into the courses your Plan requires, because you will need PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 regardless. Everyone else keeps a full year of introductory physics fulfilled before they arrive. Queen's posts eligible transfer credit to SOLUS automatically by September 15th and publishes no procedure for removing a credit once it is posted. The end-of-fall-term deadline applies to requesting additional credit that was missed, not to declining credit you already hold. If your plan needs the excluded Queen's course, ask your faculty how to resolve it before you register.
Official award line (IB Physics HL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted (Arts / Science / Commerce / Nursing): PHYS 117 / 6.0 units
Credit granted (Health Sciences, BHSc): PHYS 117 / 3.0 units, option course for BHSc; satisfies PHYS 117 prerequisites for upper-year courses
Credit granted (Smith Engineering): No credit
Exclusion (all faculties): No more than 6.0 units from PHYS 104/6.0; PHYS 106/6.0; PHYS 117/6.0. Students pursuing a Physics degree Plan must take PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 instead.
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Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
6
unit (1 course = 3 units)
Ontario Resident
~$207-$503/unit
~$1,241 - $3,021
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts and Science to Commerce)
Out-of-Province
~$259-$630/unit
~$1,553 - $3,779
Potential Tuition Value
International
~$1,494-$1,844/unit
~$8,962 - $11,062
Potential Tuition Value
(varies by faculty)
*2026-27 tuition-only rates. 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 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 | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 1107 (0.5) & PHYS 1108 (0.5) | View estimate | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | View estimate | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | Physics 1280.03 + Physics 1290.03 = 6 credit hours | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | PHYS 101 + PHYS 102 (8 credits; B.Sc.Arch. PHYS 10… | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | PHYSICS 1A03 + PHYSICS 1AA3 | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | Physics 1020 + Physics 1021 | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU PHYS 101 (3), Q/B-Sci; SFU PHYS 102 (3), Q/B-S… | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | Individual evaluation (HL 5 or higher); no publish… | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | PHYS 124 + PHYS 126 (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | PHYS_V 100 (3) + PHYS_V 1st-year level (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Physics 221 (3 units) and Physics 223 (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 9110 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | PHYS 1020: General Physics 1 (3) & PHYS 1030: Gene… | View estimate | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 6/7 | Fredericton: 1000-level Physics (6ch) Saint John: … | View estimate | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHY 1121 + PHY 1122 (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | PHYS 109 + PHYS 119 | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | PHYS 115.3 + PHYS 117.3 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | PHY1**H + PHY1**H (1.0 cr, A&S, equivalent to PHY1… | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 6/7 | PHYS 102A (1.5 units) and PHYS 102B (1.5 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | PHYS-1300 + PHYS-1310 (Introductory Physics for Li… | View estimate | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Physics 1501A (0.5 cr) + Physics 1502B (0.5 cr) = … | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/PHYS 1411 3.0 + SC/PHYS 1412 3.0 (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | N/A | Not yet verified | — | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → |
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 Physics 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 Queen's University
Related subjects you might be interested in at Queen's University
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Biology HL
Chemistry HL
Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from Queen's University 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: July 2026
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