Does Simon Fraser University give transfer credit for IB Economics HL?
Burnaby, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
SFU ECON 103 (4), Q/B-Soc; SFU ECON 105 (4), Q/B-Soc
💡Expert's Take
A major head start, 8 units of introductory economics cleared in one shot, but Beedie-bound students need to read the fine print. SFU awards ECON 103 (4) + ECON 105 (4) for IB Economics HL, covering both Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics. IB Diploma holders need a score of 4 or higher; students completing a partial IB or IB Certificate need 5 or higher on the HL exam.
WQB double duty. Both ECON 103 and ECON 105 carry Quantitative (Q) and Breadth–Social Sciences (B-Soc) designations. Under SFU's WQB rules, a single course can satisfy both a Q and a B requirement, but only if the B-Soc credit falls outside your declared major. So if you major in Economics, ECON 103/105 will count toward your Q requirement but not toward your breadth. For students in any other major, these 8 units pull double duty, ticking off both Q and B-Soc boxes at once.
What to watch for:
- Beedie internal-transfer letter-grade rule. If you plan to transfer into the Beedie School of Business from another SFU faculty, Beedie requires final, standard letter grades in each of its required admission courses, including ECON 103 and ECON 105. IB transfer credit appears on your SFU record as transfer credit, not as a letter grade. This means IB credit for ECON 103/105 may not satisfy Beedie's internal-transfer admission evaluation. Confirm this directly with Beedie advising before relying on IB credit for that pathway.
- No early access to upper-division ECON. SFU's Economics department allows students who earn an A− or higher at SFU in both ECON 103 and 105 to skip straight into ECON 301/305 after 30 units. Transfer credit carries no letter grade, so this accelerated route is unavailable to students who accepted IB credit.
- Course exclusions still apply. ECON 103 and ECON 200 are mutually exclusive, as are ECON 105 and ECON 205. If you hold IB credit for ECON 103/105, you cannot later take the corresponding alternative for additional credit.
Calculus is the real bottleneck. The natural next step for Economics students is ECON 201 (Intermediate Microeconomics), which requires ECON 103, ECON 105, and one of MATH 150, 151, 154, or 157, all with a minimum C−. Your IB credit handles the econ prerequisites; your priority in first year should be locking in that calculus course.
Thinking about Beedie? If internal transfer into the Beedie BBA is even a possibility, weigh the trade-off carefully. SFU will remove IB/AP transfer credit upon request, but only if you have not yet enrolled in the equivalent course. Deciding early keeps both doors open. Students entering SFU directly through Beedie from high school face a different admission pathway and should consult Beedie's BBA program requirements separately.
For everyone else, Arts, Science, Environment, Health Sciences, Communication, accepting the credit is a clear win: 8 fewer units of coursework, two Q-designated courses checked off, and the intro econ sequence behind you before classes even start.
Official award line (Economics HL):
Minimum score: 4 (IB Diploma) / 5 (IB Certificate/Partial)
Credit granted: ECON 103 (4), ECON 105 (4), 8 units total
ECON 103 ECON 105
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, Economics SL = ECON 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 Economics HL?
Your Potential Savings
Units Earned
8
International
~$1,214-$1,435/unit
~$9,712 - $11,480
Est. Savings
Premium Rate: Up to $288/unit
- Applies to: Upper-division (200+) courses in Business, Engineering, and Computing Science.
- Note: Since most IB credits replace 100-level courses, your savings will usually be at the $216 rate, but using the range covers all possibilities.
Tuition rates are for 2025. Always verify with SFU's official sources before making decisions.
📊 Compare Economics HL at Other Universities
See how Economics HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Est. Savings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | ECON 1XX (6 credits) | $2,520 | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | Economics 1101.03 + Economics 1102.03 = 6 credit h… | $2,052 | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | Economics 1010 + 1020 + three unspecified credit h… | $2,025 | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | ECON 111.3 + ECON 114.3 = 6 credit units | $1,554 | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | AP/ECON 1000 3.0 + AP/ECON 1010 3.0 (6 credits) | $1,458 | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Economics 1021A + 1022B (1.0 credit) | $1,440 | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | ECON 110 (6.0 units) | $1,398 | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | ECON 1001 + ECON 1002 (1.0 credit) | $1,365 | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | ECO 1102 + ECO 1104 (6 units) | $1,320 | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | ECON 101 (3 units) + ECON 102 (3 units) | $1,302 | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 5/7 | ECON_V 1st-year level (6 credits) | $1,242 | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | Economics 1B03 and 1BB3 | $1,200 | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | ECON 201 and ECON 203 | $1,194 | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | ECON 1050 (0.50 credits) | $720 | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | ECO1**Y (1.0 credit) | $659 | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | ECON 103 (1.5 units) and ECON 104 (1.5 units) | $555 | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | ECON 1XX (0.5 units) — Elective credit | $450 | → |
Tip: Different provinces have different tuition rates. Use these comparisons to find the best value for your residency status.
Other IB Subjects at Simon Fraser University
Related subjects you might be interested in at Simon Fraser University
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: December 2025
Save Your Transfer Plan
Download a PDF of this transfer credit information for Economics HL at Simon Fraser University.