Does Queen's University give transfer credit for IB Psychology HL?
Kingston, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PSYC 102 + PSYC 103 (6.0 units)
💡Expert's Take
A valuable elective credit in most faculties — but a barrier if you want to major in Psychology. Queen's grants transfer credit for IB Psychology HL (score of 5+) across all faculties, but the type and strategic value of that credit varies significantly depending on your program. The credit is genuinely useful for Engineering students and those who don't plan to pursue Psychology as a concentration. However, students aiming for an Honours Psychology plan face a real constraint: they must still take PSYC 100 at Queen's, which excludes the IB transfer credit from their transcript.
The credit you receive depends on your faculty:
In Arts, Science, Commerce, Computing, and Nursing, IB Psychology HL grants PSYC 102 (3.0 units) — a transfer-credit-only course equivalent covering part of introductory psychology. Some faculties may also award PSYC 103 (an additional 3.0 units), bringing the total to 6.0 units. Your official offer letter and SOLUS record will confirm the exact award. The key comment on these tables reads: "Students who wish to pursue a Psychology Honours degree Plan must take Queen's PSYC 100."
In Health Sciences (BHSc), the credit is awarded as PSYC 1UNS (6.0 units) — an unspecified credit. The Health Sciences table explicitly states this credit "cannot be used to access upper year PSYC courses." This is a stricter limitation than other faculties.
In Smith Engineering, the credit is categorized as Humanities and Social Sciences (6.0 units), counting directly toward the mandatory Complementary Studies requirement that every Engineering student must fulfill.
What to watch for:
- The Honours Psychology barrier is real, but the reason is specific. According to the Queen's Academic Calendar, "PSYC 100/6.0 must be taken at Queen's for admission into an Honours Psychology plan." This applies to all Honours-level plans: Specialization, Major, Joint Honours, and Minor. Since PSYC 100 is excluded with PSYC 102 and PSYC 103, taking PSYC 100 at Queen's means your IB transfer credit is automatically voided by the exclusion rules. You don't need to formally "forfeit" it — the exclusion is handled by the system.
- The IB credit can waive PSYC 100 as a prerequisite for individual upper-year courses. The same Academic Calendar page states: "PSYC 100/6.0 is a prerequisite for all other psychology courses. It can only be waived if a student has completed a similar advanced high school (AP, IB) or college level introductory psychology course and official transfer credit is noted on the student's Queen's transcript." So if you don't plan to pursue an Honours Psychology plan, the IB credit does open doors to upper-year elective PSYC courses — it is not a complete "dead end."
- The General BA in Psychology (non-Honours) is a different story. The General BA is a 3-year degree that does not carry the "must take PSYC 100 at Queen's" restriction for Honours plan admission. However, most students at Queen's pursue 4-year Honours degrees, which are required for graduate school and most professional pathways in psychology.
Strategic advice by faculty:
- Smith Engineering: This is arguably the highest-value IB Psychology credit at Queen's. The 6.0 units of Humanities and Social Sciences credit count directly toward your mandatory Complementary Studies requirement, clearing a non-technical requirement without adding to your already demanding course load.
- Arts & Science (not pursuing Psychology): Keep the credit. It functions as elective space and — because the IB credit waives the PSYC 100 prerequisite — it also opens the door to upper-year Psychology electives if you want to explore the subject without committing to a plan.
- Arts & Science (pursuing Honours Psychology): You will need to take PSYC 100 at Queen's regardless, which will exclude your IB transfer credit. The silver lining: your IB background will give you a strong foundation for PSYC 100, which can help you secure the competitive GPA needed for plan selection at the end of first year.
- Health Sciences: The PSYC 1UNS (6.0 units) credit counts as elective space but cannot unlock upper-year PSYC courses. It is useful as general credit toward your degree requirements but has no pathway value for further psychology study.
- Commerce & Nursing: The credit serves as useful elective space. In Commerce, it can help you free up room in a tightly structured degree program.
Bottom line: If you never plan to study Psychology at the Honours level, this credit is genuinely valuable free elective space (and a Complementary Studies win in Engineering). If you do want to pursue Honours Psychology, you'll need PSYC 100 at Queen's — but your IB preparation will give you an edge when you get there.
Official award line (IB Psychology HL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted varies by faculty:
— Arts, Science, Commerce, Computing, Nursing: PSYC 102 (3.0 units). Some faculties may also award PSYC 103 (3.0 units) for a total of 6.0 units. Comment: "Students who wish to pursue a Psychology Honours degree Plan must take Queen's PSYC 100."
— Health Sciences: PSYC 1UNS (6.0 units). Comment: "This transfer credit cannot be used to access upper year PSYC courses."
— Smith Engineering: Humanities and Social Sciences (6.0 units). No restrictive comment.
Queen's University — High School Transfer Credits (IB) Queen's Academic Calendar — Psychology Department
Need help preparing for IB Psychology HL?
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 Psychology HL at Other Universities
See how Psychology 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
Psychology 1011.03 + Psychology 1012.03 ...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,830
McGill University
Montreal, QC
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PSYC 1XX (3 or 6 credits)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$2,520
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Student-reported: PSYCH 1X03 + 1XX3 (6 u...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,200
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC
Min Grade
4/7
Credit Granted
SFU PSYC 100 (3), B-Soc; SFU PSYC 102 (3...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,398
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Min Grade
6/7
Credit Granted
PSYCH 104 (3 units) + PSYCH 105 (3 units...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,302
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Psychology 201
(3 credits)
Est. Savings
$597
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PSY 1101 + PSY 1102 (6 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,320
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PSY1**H (0.5 cr, A&S No/No/No) · PSY1**Y...
(1 credit)
Est. Savings
$659
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC
Min Grade
4/7
Credit Granted
PSYC 100A (1.5 units) and PSYC 100B (1.5...
(3 credits)
Est. Savings
$555
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PSYCH 101 + PSYCH 1XX (1.0 units)
(2 credits)
Est. Savings
$900
Western University
London, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Psychology 1002A/B (0.5 cr) + Psychology...
(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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