Does Queen's University give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Kingston, ON
No Transfer Credit for This Faculty
Smith Engineering explicitly grants no credit for this IB subject regardless of score. This is stated on Queen's Engineering IB transfer credit table. Other Queen's faculties may grant credit — check the Arts & Science or other faculty pages for this subject.
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHYS 117 (6.0 units) — Arts/Sci/Commerce/Nursing; 3.0 units Health Sci; No credit Engineering
💡Expert's Take
IB Physics HL earns PHYS 117 (6.0 units) across most faculties — but this is the algebra-based introductory sequence, not the calculus-based PHYS 104/106 that any student pursuing a Physics degree plan actually needs. The credit is real and non-trivial in Arts, Science, Commerce, and Nursing, but its value depends almost entirely on what you plan to study. Smith Engineering students get no credit whatsoever — one of the more counterintuitive outcomes in Queen's IB table.
The awarded course, PHYS 117, is a year-long (6.0-unit) algebra-based survey of mechanics, electromagnetism, waves, and modern physics. It is designed for students who need introductory physics as a supporting science — not for those who intend to specialize in the discipline. Students who want to pursue a degree Plan in Physics (or related fields such as Engineering Physics or Astronomy) must take the calculus-based PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 instead — and because of a mutual exclusion rule, registering in either of those courses cancels the PHYS 117 transfer credit. In practice, this means Physics-bound students in Arts and Science cannot bank on PHYS 117 being useful toward their program requirements.
Health Sciences is the exception that stands out. The BHSc transfer credit table awards only 3.0 units of PHYS 117 (half the weight granted to Arts, Science, Nursing, and Commerce), but crucially, that credit counts as an option course toward the BHSc degree and can be used to satisfy upper-year course prerequisites that require PHYS 117. The reduced unit value is a quiet catch — students should factor it into their credit-hour planning — but the functional prerequisite access is a genuine advantage for Health Sciences students who need it.
What to watch for:
- Engineering students receive no Physics HL credit at all. Smith Engineering's IB transfer credit table lists HL Physics as "No Credit," alongside HL Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, and English. The faculty awards complementary-studies credits in Humanities, Social Sciences, and Performance Arts and Languages — not core science credits. Students applying to Smith Engineering should not expect IB Physics HL to reduce their first-year course load.
- The Physics degree plan trap in Arts and Science. The official transfer credit tables for Arts and Science both note explicitly that students wishing to pursue a degree Plan in Physics must take PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 instead. Because those courses carry an exclusion against PHYS 117, accepting the IB transfer credit and then switching into a Physics plan is not a viable path. Students considering Physics as a major should be aware of this before deciding whether to claim the credit.
- Health Sciences awards 3.0 units, not 6.0. Every other faculty that grants credit awards PHYS 117 at its full 6.0-unit weight. The Health Sciences table grants only 3.0 — roughly half a standard course. The prerequisite access benefit is real, but the raw credit contribution to degree completion is proportionally smaller.
- The exclusion rule across all faculties. Queen's applies a mutual exclusion: no more than 6.0 units from {PHYS 104/6.0, PHYS 106/6.0, PHYS 117/6.0}. If you enroll in PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 at Queen's after receiving the PHYS 117 transfer credit, the credit is voided. Students who want to retain the credit should avoid those courses.
For students entering Arts, Science, Commerce, or Nursing who have no intention of majoring in Physics, the PHYS 117 credit is straightforwardly useful: 6.0 units of intro physics fulfilled without sitting through a full-year course. It satisfies science distribution or elective requirements and frees up schedule space for other priorities.
For students entering Health Sciences, accepting the credit makes sense if you anticipate needing PHYS 117 as a prerequisite later (e.g., for certain upper-year BHSc courses) — though you should budget for only 3.0 units in your degree credit tally, not 6.0.
For students interested in Physics as a major within Arts and Science, the PHYS 117 credit should likely be declined or at minimum carefully evaluated. You will need PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 regardless, and registering in those courses triggers the exclusion. Holding the PHYS 117 transfer credit provides little practical value and adds administrative complexity. Queen's allows students to decline transfer credit — worth considering if the PHYS 117 award would conflict with your intended course path.
For Smith Engineering applicants: plan accordingly. IB Physics HL contributes nothing to your Engineering credit count. The faculty's IB policy is focused entirely on Complementary Studies (Humanities, Social Sciences, and Performance Arts and Languages), capped at 6.0 units total toward those streams.
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.
Queen's IB transfer credit table — Science Arts Health Sciences Nursing Smith Engineering
Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned: 6.0 units (Arts/Sci/Commerce/Nursing) · 3.0 units (Health Sci) · 0 (Engineering)
Tuition per Unit*: ~$233
Est. Savings*: ~$699 – $1,398
*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with Queen's University's official sources before making decisions.
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Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned
6
= Full-year equivalent
Ontario Resident
~$200-494/credit
~$1,200 - $2,964
Est. Savings
Out-of-Province
~$200-600/credit
~$1,200 - $3,600
Est. Savings
International
~$1,126-1,844/credit
~$6,756 - $11,064
Est. Savings
(Commerce/Eng higher)
*Tuition rates are for 2025-2026 and vary by faculty. Always verify with Queen'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
McGill University
Montreal, QC
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PHYS 101 + PHYS 102 (8 credits)
(8 credits)
Est. Savings
$3,360
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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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: December 2025
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