Does University of Saskatchewan give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Saskatoon, SK
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHYS 115.3 + PHYS 117.3 = 6 credit units
💡Expert's Take
IB Physics HL earns two named course equivalencies at USask, not generic junior credit. The award of PHYS 115.3 and PHYS 117.3 is editorially significant: both are specific, named first-year courses rather than unspecified physics credit, which means they appear on your transcript with course titles and carry full prerequisite weight.
PHYS 115.3 and PHYS 117.3 serve different audiences within the university. PHYS 115 is the standard first-semester intro physics for Arts and Science students; PHYS 117 continues the sequence with a health and life sciences emphasis, covering fluids, waves, thermal physics, optics, and introductory quantum and nuclear physics. Neither is the engineering-track version: students admitted to the College of Engineering take a separate sequence (including PHYS 156, which is restricted to Engineering students). IB credit for PHYS 115/117 does not automatically satisfy Engineering program physics requirements, and Engineering applicants should confirm their transfer credit assessment with the college directly.
What to watch for:
- PHYS 115 unlocks the upper-level physics sequence. PHYS 252.3 (Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics) lists PHYS 115.3 as an explicit prerequisite, meaning HL students can move directly into 200-level physics in their first year without repeating intro material.
- PHYS 117 is not the only second-semester option. PHYS 125.3, which has a physical sciences and technology emphasis rather than a biomedical one, also requires PHYS 115 as a prerequisite. Students entering Physics, Chemistry, or physical science programs should confirm with their college which second-semester course best fits their degree requirements, since holding credit for PHYS 117 means they cannot also earn credit for PHYS 125 (the two are noted as mutually exclusive).
- Physics SL earns PHYS 115.3 only (3 credit units, minimum score 5), which still satisfies the PHYS 252 prerequisite but leaves the second semester of intro physics to be completed at USask.
Students targeting life sciences, kinesiology, or health-related programs will find PHYS 115 + PHYS 117 a clean fit: both courses are commonly listed or accepted in those paths, and the biomedical emphasis of PHYS 117 aligns well with those curricula. Students targeting a Physics or physical sciences major should verify with their department whether PHYS 117 satisfies their second-semester requirement or whether they will need PHYS 125 instead; if the latter, they may want to consult an academic advisor about the implications of holding existing PHYS 117 credit. If the awarded courses do not fit your specific program, USask's policy allows you to consult an academic advisor in your college and complete the Decline Transfer Credit Form.
Official award line (IB Physics HL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted (HL): PHYS 115.3 + PHYS 117.3 = 6 credit units
Credit granted (SL, minimum score 5): PHYS 115.3 = 3 credit units
Need help preparing for IB Physics HL?
Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
6
credit unit (1 class = 3)
Saskatchewan Resident
~$269-$409/credit unit
~$1,612 - $2,454
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Edwards Business)
Out-of-Province
~$269-$409/credit unit
~$1,612 - $2,454
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Edwards Business)
International
~$1,300-$1,979/credit unit
~$7,801 - $11,877
Potential Tuition Value
(domestic rate times 4.84)
*2026-27 tuition-only annual program totals divided by a standard 30-credit-unit load; Engineering sets the upper end. 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 and 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 | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 117 (6.0 units) | 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 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 University of Saskatchewan
Related subjects you might be interested in at University of Saskatchewan
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL
Biology HL
Chemistry HL
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Computer Science HL
Save Your Transfer Plan
Download a PDF of this transfer credit information for Physics HL at University of Saskatchewan.