Does Simon Fraser University give transfer credit for IB Psychology HL?
Burnaby, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
SFU PSYC 100 (3), B-Soc; SFU PSYC 102 (3), B-Soc
💡Expert's Take
SFU grants PSYC 100 (3) and PSYC 102 (3) for IB Psychology HL — 6 credits total, both carrying B-Soc (Breadth–Social Sciences) designations. This is one of the cleanest IB transfer credit outcomes at SFU: you clear the entire introductory psychology sequence with no course exclusion complications, satisfy prerequisite requirements for upper-division psychology courses, and knock out two breadth requirements in the process. If you are heading into a Psychology major, Behavioural Neuroscience, Criminology, or Cognitive Science, this credit gives you an immediate head start on the coursework that matters most.
What these courses cover: PSYC 100 (Introduction to Psychology I) focuses on methodology and research design, physiological psychology, perception, learning, and motivation. PSYC 102 (Introduction to Psychology II) covers learning, cognition, social psychology, and abnormal psychology. Together, they form the two-part introductory survey that every psychology student at SFU must complete.
The grade threshold depends on your IB status. If you complete the full IB Diploma, SFU awards transfer credit for all HL and SL subjects passed with a grade of 4 or higher. If you are a partial IB or IB Certificate student (not completing the full Diploma), the minimum rises to 5 for HL courses only, and SL courses receive no transfer credit at all.
Why this credit matters strategically: The single most important gateway course for psychology students at SFU is PSYC 201W (Introduction to Research Methods), which requires either PSYC 100 or PSYC 102 as a prerequisite. With IB credit for both, you can move directly into PSYC 201W in your first semester — a significant advantage, because the Psychology department reserves 100% of its 300- and 400-level courses for declared psychology majors, minors, and honours students. The faster you clear the lower-division sequence (PSYC 100, 102, 201W, 210), the sooner you can declare and access the courses you actually want to take.
What to watch for:
- PSYC 201W is the real bottleneck: This writing-intensive research methods course is required for every psychology program at SFU — major, minor, honours, and the Behavioural Neuroscience BSc. It requires a grade of C (2.0) or better, and students who cannot achieve this grade cannot graduate with a psychology major. IB credit does not cover PSYC 201W — you must take it at SFU. But having PSYC 100 and 102 already cleared means you can enrol in PSYC 201W from day one.
- No course exclusion complications: Unlike some IB transfer credits at SFU (e.g., Physics or Mathematics), PSYC 100 and PSYC 102 have no mutual exclusions with other courses. Accepting this credit will not block you from any other course at SFU. This is a genuinely clean award.
- Breadth-Social Sciences, not Quantitative: Both PSYC 100 and PSYC 102 carry B-Soc designations only. They satisfy breadth requirements but do not count toward the Quantitative (Q) requirement in SFU's WQB framework. You will still need to complete separate Q-designated courses elsewhere in your degree. (The first Q-designated course in the psychology sequence is PSYC 210, Introduction to Data Analysis.)
- Behavioural Neuroscience students: This joint program between the Department of Psychology and BPK requires PSYC 100 or PSYC 102 (one of the two) as part of its lower-division core. Your IB credit satisfies this requirement and gives you an extra 3 units of elective credit from the second course. However, Behavioural Neuroscience also requires science-stream courses (BISC 101, CHEM 121/122, PHYS 101/102, and calculus), so the psychology credit is only one piece of a much larger lower-division puzzle.
Actionable strategy:
- Psychology major or minor: Accept the credit without hesitation. Enrol in PSYC 201W in your first semester and PSYC 210 (Data Analysis) as soon as you can. The department strongly recommends completing PSYC 100, 102, and 201W as early as possible — with two of those three already done via IB, you are well ahead of schedule. Use the freed-up course slots for electives, a minor, or Co-op preparation.
- Psychology honours: The same logic applies, but with a higher bar. Honours declaration requires 75 units with a 3.33 CGPA, completion of PSYC 300W and 301 with a B or better, and a faculty review. Starting PSYC 201W early gives you more time to build the GPA and complete the upper-division prerequisites before the June 1 application deadline. Note that IB transfer credit is ungraded — it will not help or hurt your GPA.
- Criminology–Psychology joint major: Both PSYC 100 and 102 are required for the psychology side of this joint program, and CRIM 103 (Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour) recommends them as background. Your IB credit satisfies these requirements and lets you start the criminology stream in parallel from semester one.
- Non-psychology students (taking PSYC as electives): The 6 credits count as B-Soc breadth and free elective units. If you are in a Faculty of Science or Applied Science program, the B-Soc designation is especially useful because your required courses tend to satisfy B-Sci and Q requirements but leave you short on social sciences breadth.
- Partial IB (no Diploma): You need a 5 or higher, not 4. If you scored exactly 4 but did not complete the full Diploma, you receive no Psychology credit. Plan to take PSYC 100 and 102 at SFU.
Official award line (IB Psychology HL):
Minimum score: 4 (IB Diploma holders) · 5 (partial IB / certificate)
Credit granted: PSYC 100 (3), B-Soc and PSYC 102 (3), B-Soc — 6 credits total
No course exclusions · Satisfies prerequisites for PSYC 201W (Research Methods)
SFU Undergraduate Admission – International Baccalaureate SFU Calendar – Psychology Courses (Spring 2026) SFU Calendar – Psychology Major (BA)
What about Standard Level (SL)? IB Diploma holders are also awarded three units of general credit for transferable SL courses — for example, Psychology SL = PSYC 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 Psychology HL?
Your Potential Savings
Units Earned
6
International
~$1,214-$1,435/unit
~$7,284 - $8,610
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 Psychology HL at Other Universities
See how Psychology HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Each school has different grade requirements and savings potential.
Dalhousie University
Halifax, NS
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Psychology 1011.03 + Psychology 1012.03 ...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,830
McGill University
Montreal, QC
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PSYC 1XX (3 or 6 credits)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$2,520
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Student-reported: PSYCH 1X03 + 1XX3 (6 u...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,200
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PSYC 102 + PSYC 103 (6.0 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,398
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Min Grade
6/7
Credit Granted
PSYCH 104 (3 units) + PSYCH 105 (3 units...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,302
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Psychology 201
(3 credits)
Est. Savings
$597
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PSY 1101 + PSY 1102 (6 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,320
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PSY1**H (0.5 cr, A&S No/No/No) · PSY1**Y...
(1 credit)
Est. Savings
$659
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC
Min Grade
4/7
Credit Granted
PSYC 100A (1.5 units) and PSYC 100B (1.5...
(3 credits)
Est. Savings
$555
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PSYCH 101 + PSYCH 1XX (1.0 units)
(2 credits)
Est. Savings
$900
Western University
London, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Psychology 1002A/B (0.5 cr) + Psychology...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,440
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 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
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