Does Queen's University give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?

What to watch for:

• Smith Engineering — no credit at all. The Engineering IB transfer credit table explicitly lists "No Credit" for HL Physics. Engineering students must take their own physics sequence (APSC 111/112) regardless of IB score.
• Physics and Astronomy majors — do not accept this credit. The transfer credit tables state that students pursuing a Physics degree plan must take PHYS 104 or PHYS 106. All upper-year physics courses (PHYS 206, PHYS 242, PHYS 239, etc.) list "PHYS 104 or PHYS 106" as prerequisites — PHYS 117 does not satisfy these. Accepting the credit bars you from taking the courses your major actually requires.
• Chemistry majors — confirm with your department. The Arts and Science Online page for PHYS 118 (the online equivalent of PHYS 117 without labs) notes that PHYS 118 does not substitute for PHYS 117 in Chemistry programs, which suggests Chemistry may have specific physics requirements. Check your degree plan carefully before accepting.
• Biology, Geology, Psychology, Environmental Science — this credit works well. Biology degree plans list PHYS 115 + PHYS 116 (which together are equivalent to PHYS 117) as the recommended physics option. Physics is "highly recommended but not required" for Biology, so PHYS 117 transfer credit satisfies this recommendation and frees 6.0 units in your schedule.
• Life Sciences — accepted, with a calendar quirk. The Life Sciences major plan lists PHYS 104, PHYS 106, or PHYS 118 for its physics requirement but does not explicitly name PHYS 117. Since PHYS 117 is the in-person equivalent of PHYS 115 + 116, and all of these courses sit in the same exclusion group, PHYS 117 should be accepted — but if you want absolute certainty, confirm with the Life Sciences program office.
• Health Sciences (BHSc) — confirmed usable. The Health Sciences IB page specifically notes that this transfer credit can be used to access upper-year courses that require PHYS 117 as a prerequisite.
• Smith Commerce — counts toward your total degree units. PHYS 117 sits on your transcript as a non-Commerce course contributing 6.0 units toward degree completion.