Does Queen's University give transfer credit for IB French B HL?
Kingston, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
FREN 150 (6.0 units)
💡Expert's Take
Yes: Queen's grants FREN 150 (6.0 units) for IB French B HL with a score of 5 or higher, and this is one of the strongest IB French credits you can receive. Unlike French A: Literature HL (which only earns unspecified credit), French B HL earns a specified course equivalent that the Department of French Studies explicitly recognizes for prerequisite access. This applies across Arts, Science, Computing, Health Sciences, Nursing, and Smith Commerce .
French B HL earns the same specified credit, FREN 150, as French A: Language and Literature HL. This is a meaningful distinction from French A: Literature HL, which only receives FREN 2UNS (unspecified). With FREN 150, your transfer credit maps directly to a real course in Queen's catalogue and can serve as a prerequisite for upper-year French courses.
There is one important faculty-level variation to be aware of. In most faculties (Arts, Science, Computing, Nursing, Smith Commerce), a score of 5 is sufficient both to receive the FREN 150 credit and to use it for prerequisite access to upper-year FREN courses. Health Sciences is the exception: that faculty's transfer credit table specifies that students must have received a score of 6 or higher to access upper-year FREN courses that require FREN 150 as a prerequisite. Students with a score of 5 in Health Sciences still receive the 6.0 units of credit on their transcript, but the prerequisite gateway is locked until the higher threshold is met.
Smith Engineering treats this differently altogether. French B HL (grouped with French A) earns 6.0 units of "Performance Arts and Languages" credit, which counts toward the faculty's Complementary Studies requirements rather than as a specified French course equivalent.
What to watch for:
- FREN 150 is no longer offered as of 2025–26. The Department of French Studies has discontinued FREN 150 and replaced it with FREN 151 (3.0 units) + FREN 152 (3.0 units). Your transfer credit still appears as FREN 150 on your transcript, but the department explicitly recognizes IB French B HL (5+) as qualifying for FREN 151 and FREN 152 credit. The new gateway course for all French degree plans is FREN 152, so your IB credit effectively satisfies this gateway requirement.
- The placement test still matters if you plan to continue in French. Even with FREN 150 credit, students who want to take additional French courses should complete the French Studies placement test. The department uses placement results to determine whether you start at FREN 152, FREN 219, FREN 230/231, or higher, and if you're placed above the level your IB credit covers, you keep the transfer credit as elective units while beginning your actual coursework at the appropriate level. Students with IB French backgrounds are encouraged to email francais@queensu.ca for personalized guidance on course sequencing.
- Don't confuse this with French A: Literature HL. A common misconception is that all IB French A and French B courses earn the same credit. They don't. French B HL and French A: Language and Literature HL both earn FREN 150 (specified). French A: Literature HL earns only FREN 2UNS (unspecified, no prerequisite access). The difference can affect an entire course sequence.
- Credit deadline: IB results must be submitted to Queen's by the end of fall term of your first year. Students who miss this deadline are considered to have declined transfer credit, and this decision is irreversible.
Strategic advice: If you are not continuing with French at Queen's, this is one of the cleaner IB transfer credits you can receive, 6.0 units of specified elective credit with no complications. Accept it and bank the units toward your degree.
If you are planning to study French (Minor, Major, or Specialization), take three steps early. First, accept the transfer credit. Second, complete the placement test as soon as it becomes available. Third, email the Department of French Studies at francais@queensu.ca with your student number, IB score, and French background, the department handles manual enrolment for students placed into FREN 152 or higher, and they can confirm exactly how your FREN 150 credit maps to the new FREN 151/152 structure within your specific degree plan. Given that the course structure changed in 2025–26, getting departmental confirmation before your enrolment appointment can save real headaches during registration.
Health Sciences students specifically: If you scored a 5, your credit still counts toward your unit total, but you will not be able to use it to access upper-year FREN prerequisite chains. If you scored a 6 or 7, you have full prerequisite access. Either way, the 6.0 units count as an option course in the BHSc degree plan.
Official award line (IB French B HL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted (Arts, Science, Computing, Nursing, Smith Commerce): FREN 150, 6.0 units
Credit granted (Health Sciences): FREN 150, 6.0 units (score of 6+ required for upper-year prerequisite access)
Credit granted (Smith Engineering): Performance Arts and Languages, 6.0 units (Complementary Studies)
Arts Science Computing Health Sciences Nursing Smith Commerce Smith Engineering
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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 French B HL at Other Universities
See how French B HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Est. Savings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | FRSL 1XX (6 credits) | $2,520 | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | FREN 1999.06 = 6 credit hours | $2,052 | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | FREN Jr.6 = 6 credit units | $1,554 | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | FR 1*** 6.0 (6 credits, unspecified level 1) | $1,458 | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | French 1020 TRN, 1.0 credit (generic transfer cred… | $1,440 | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU FREN 1XX (6), or SFU FREN 1XX (3) + WL 1XX (3)… | $1,398 | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | FREN 1XXX (1.0) | $1,365 | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | FREN 1501 + FREN 1502 | $1,350 | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | FLS 1XXX (6 units) | $1,320 | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | FREN 100-level (6 units) | $1,302 | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | 6 units of unspecified Level 1 French | $1,200 | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | FSL1**Y / FRE1**Y / FREA**Y (1.0 FCE) — varies by … | $659 | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | FREN 213 | $597 | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | FRAN 180 (3 units) | $555 | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | FR 1XX (0.5 units) — Elective credit | $450 | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, 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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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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