Grade 6+ Required: The University of Alberta awards transfer credit for IB grades of 6 or 7 only. A grade of 5 may satisfy admission requirements but does not grant course credit.
Tuition Note: Savings shown are for domestic students (~$238/credit). International students pay significantly more (~$1,000+/credit).
Does University of Alberta give transfer credit for IB Chemistry SL?
Edmonton, AB
Yes, Credit by Special Assessment Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
Credit by Special Assessment — CHEM 101 (★3) or CHEM 103 (★4.3 Engineering)
💡Expert's Take
Chemistry SL does not automatically grant transfer credit at UAlberta, but a formal path exists. SL students may apply to sit a Credit by Special Assessment (CSA) examination. If you pass, you earn the same credit as HL students: CHEM 101 (★3), or CHEM 103 (★4.3) for Engineering. Eligibility conditions and exam logistics are determined by the Department of Chemistry directly , contact undergrad@chem.ualberta.ca early, well before the term begins.
For context: UAlberta awards automatic IB transfer credit only for a final IB grade of 6 or higher on identified HL exams. Chemistry HL students who score 6 or 7 receive CHEM 101 (★3) without having to sit any additional exam. The CSA route available to SL students is a separate, department-administered process, and if you pass, the end result is equivalent credit.
Note: the minimum IB SL grade required to be eligible for the CSA is not publicly specified by UAlberta. The 2025–26 IB handbook simply states that SL students "may apply to write a CSA examination", confirm eligibility requirements directly with the Chemistry Department.
What to watch for:
- Engineering-specific caution: UAlberta's IB transfer credit page explicitly notes that IB courses do not cover the same content as first-year Engineering courses. Additionally, transfer credit for qualifying-year courses does not reduce the minimum load requirement of 37.0 units, meaning a full course load is still required even if you accept the credit. For non-Math and non-Chemistry IB courses, Engineering awards complementary studies elective credit only after admission to discipline in second year.
- Declining credit is a one-way door: if you are awarded CSA credit and later decline it, that decision is final and cannot be reversed. Initiate the process by contacting IBstudent@ualberta.ca before the Fall Term course registration deadline.
- IB Diploma bonus: if you complete the full IB Diploma, UAlberta grants an additional 3 units in an open 100-level elective, independent of any Chemistry credit earned.
Contact undergrad@chem.ualberta.ca as soon as possible, ask about exam format, timing, content coverage, and any eligibility conditions specific to your program. Do not wait until orientation week. If you are entering Engineering, also consider reaching out to engginfo@ualberta.ca or booking a faculty-specific advising session before deciding whether CHEM 103 credit is the right move for your degree path. For Science and most other faculties, CHEM 101 is a named prerequisite gateway course, passing the CSA is straightforward value if you are well prepared.
Prepare seriously: IB Chemistry SL covers less content than HL. Review the CHEM 101 syllabus before sitting the assessment and identify any topics that require additional self-study.
Official award line (IB Chemistry SL):
Minimum score: Not publicly specified, confirm with undergrad@chem.ualberta.ca
Credit granted (if CSA passed, main campus): CHEM 101 (★3)
Credit granted (if CSA passed, Engineering): CHEM 103 (★4.3)
Credit granted (Augustana/Camrose): CSA path applies; no direct Augustana equivalent listed for SL
UAlberta IB transfer credit page (official source) 2025–26 IB Advanced Standing Handbook
Completed the Higher Level instead? See our Chemistry HL page for that award.
Need help preparing for IB Chemistry SL?
Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
3
unit (1 course = 3 units)
International tuition is cohort-guaranteed by program. The displayed amount is an equivalent unit value, not a guaranteed refund per unit.
Alberta Resident
~$243-$384/unit
~$729 - $1,152
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Business)
Out-of-Province
~$243-$384/unit
~$729 - $1,152
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Business)
International
~$1,177-$1,552/unit
~$3,532 - $4,655
Potential Tuition Value
(cohort-guaranteed annual totals divided by program units)
*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 Chemistry SL at Other Universities
See how Chemistry SL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 5/7 | Chemistry 1010 (St. John's) or Chemistry 1810 (Gre… | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU CHEM 1XX (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | CHEM 1100: Introductory Chemistry 1 (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | CHEM-1100 or CHEM-1103 (General Chemistry I or Top… | View estimate | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | N/A | Not yet verified | — | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, 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 Chemistry SL?
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 Alberta
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Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from University of Alberta 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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Download a PDF of this transfer credit information for Chemistry SL at University of Alberta.