Does Simon Fraser University give transfer credit for IB Computer Science HL?
Burnaby, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
SFU CMPT 1XX (3); SFU CMPT 120 (3), Q/B-Sci
Generic Credit: Unassigned credit, not a specific course. How it applies to your degree is determined by your faculty, and it may not replace a mandatory prerequisite for your major.
💡Expert's Take
Six units of computing science credit, including specific credit for SFU's intro programming course. IB Computer Science HL earns you CMPT 120 (3 units) + CMPT 1XX (3 units), skipping the first standard programming requirement and banking an additional general elective. A score of 4 or higher is required for IB Diploma holders; Certificate students need a 5.
Because SFU charges tuition per unit, skipping 6 units translates to real savings, roughly $1,300 for domestic students or $7,290 for international students (based on Spring 2026 normal fee rates), provided you don't simply replace them with additional electives. Actual rates are published each term in the SFU Calendar fee schedule and are subject to change.
CMPT 120 carries SFU's Quantitative (Q) and Breadth-Science (B-Sci) designations, which count toward the university's general education requirements. IB transfer credit can qualify for Q and B designations, but not the Writing (W) designation, so you'll need to complete a W course separately. For non-CS majors, this single course can satisfy both Q and B-Sci requirements instantly, making the CMPT 1XX elective a genuine bonus.
What to watch for:
- Your next course is CMPT 125 (Introduction to Computing Science and Programming II), and it comes with a mandatory lab partner. CMPT 125 requires CMPT 120 with a minimum C- as a prerequisite, which your IB transfer credit satisfies. However, CMPT 125 must be taken alongside CMPT 127 (Computing Laboratory, 3 units) as a corequisite, the two courses are paired and students are required to enroll in both during the same term. This means your actual course load for the "next step" is 6 units, not 3. Plan your first-term schedule accordingly.
- The language shift is real. CMPT 120 is taught in Python. CMPT 125 and its companion lab CMPT 127 use C++, covering memory management, pointers, manual allocation, and lower-level systems concepts that Python abstracts away entirely. Whether you learned Java or Python in IB, the algorithmic thinking transfers well, but the C++ toolchain does not. Students who invest time learning basic C++ syntax and memory concepts before their first term will have a significantly smoother experience.
- There's also a placement test option. SFU's Computing Science department offers a CMPT 120 placement test for students with prior programming experience, which can allow direct enrollment into CMPT 125 without taking CMPT 120 at all. If you hold IB credit, you already have the prerequisite satisfied, but the placement test is worth knowing about as an alternative pathway if your credit situation is complex.
- Credit removal is one-way. SFU will remove IB credit upon request if you haven't yet enrolled in the equivalent course, but they will not restore it after removal. This makes the decision to decline credit permanent, so consider your options carefully before requesting removal.
Take the credit. For CS majors, CMPT 120 covers introductory material that an IB HL student has already mastered, pseudocode, basic data structures, control flow, recursion, and file handling are all core IB HL topics. The more productive use of your time is preparing for the C++ transition that CMPT 125 and 127 will demand. Use the summer before your first term to work through a basic C++ tutorial covering syntax, pointers, and manual memory allocation, this is where IB students most commonly feel underprepared, regardless of whether they learned Java or Python in their IB course.
For non-CS majors, this credit is particularly valuable. CMPT 120's Q and B-Sci designations let you check off two general education boxes without taking a single additional course, and the remaining CMPT 1XX counts as an elective. There's no reason to decline this credit.
Official award line (IB Computer Science HL):
Minimum score: 4 (IB Diploma) / 5 (IB Certificate)
Credit granted: CMPT 120 (3), Q/B-Sci; CMPT 1XX (3), 6 units total
Standard Level: 3 units of general credit (CMPT 1XX) for IB Diploma holders at grade 4 or higher; no SL credit for IB Certificate students
SFU Undergraduate Admission, International Baccalaureate transfer credit table
What about Standard Level (SL)? IB Diploma holders are also awarded three units of general credit for transferable SL courses; for example, Computer Science SL = CMPT 1XX (3). SL credit is not available to IB Certificate students. See the full IB transfer credit table for details.
Need help preparing for IB Computer Science HL?
Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
6
unit (1 course = 3 units)
British Columbia Resident
~$221-$294/unit
~$1,324 - $1,765
Potential Tuition Value
(basic rate to Beedie Business)
Out-of-Province
~$221-$294/unit
~$1,324 - $1,765
Potential Tuition Value
(basic rate to Beedie Business)
International
~$1,263-$1,492/unit
~$7,577 - $8,953
Potential Tuition Value
(varies by program)
*2026-27 tuition-only rates. 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 Computer Science HL at Other Universities
See how Computer Science HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | View estimate | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | Computer Science 1100.03 + Computer Science 1101.0… | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | 5/7 | Computer Science 1_10, Unspecified First Year Half… | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | COMP 202 (3-credit exemption) | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | 3 units of unspecified Level 1 Computer Science | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | Computer Science 1000 (3 credit hours) | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | CISC 121 (3.0 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | CPS 109 and CPS 209 | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | CMPUT 174 (3 units) + CMPUT 175 (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | CPSC_V 1st-year level (3 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | CPSC 231 + 3 units junior Computer Science | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | CIS 9110 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | CS 110 + CS 115 | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | CMPT Jr.6 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | CSC1**Y (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | CSC 110 (1.5 units) and CSC 115 (1.5 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | CS 1XX (0.5 units), elective credit | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | COMP-1xxx (1st Year Computer Science Course) | View estimate | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Computer Science 1026A/B (0.5 cr) + Computer Scien… | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/EECS 1530 3.0 + SC/EECS 1*** 3.0 (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | N/A | Not yet verified | — | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, 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 Computer Science 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 Simon Fraser University
Related subjects you might be interested in at Simon Fraser University
Physics HL
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL
Chemistry HL
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Economics HL
Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from Simon Fraser 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: July 2026
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