Does University of British Columbia (Okanagan) give transfer credit for IB Computer Science HL?
Kelowna, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
COSC_O 1st-year level (6 credits)
💡Expert's Take
Six credits, and it exempts you from nothing. The Okanagan table names no COSC_O course, so what you receive is what UBC's transfer credit glossary calls General Credit: a subject code, a year level and a credit value, with no course equivalency and no exemption attached. UBC Vancouver awards CPSC_V 1st-year level (3) for the same score, so the Okanagan figure is the larger, though six credits of General Credit and six credits of named courses are not the same asset.
The distinction bites at the first gate. Both the B.Sc. and B.A. Computer Science majors name one of COSC_O 111 or 123 plus COSC_O 121, and the Calendar sets the prerequisite for 121 as 60% or higher in COSC_O 111, COSC_O 123 or APSC_O 177. General COSC_O credit is not on that list, and COSC_O 210, 211 and 222 all sit behind 121, so the award does not by itself move you past the introductory sequence. Starting at 121 would need an approved substitution from the faculty, not the credit alone.
Where it does work is as weight. COSC_O is a designated Science prefix in the B.Sc., so the six credits count toward both the 120 credits for the degree and the 78 that must be Science. Read it as a head start on the total rather than as two courses struck off a Computer Science program.
What to watch for:
- The bar sits on the science scale. The Okanagan Calendar sets first-year credit at 5 for Higher Level Arts subjects and 6 for Higher Level sciences, and Computer Science is treated on the science side, so a 5 earns nothing here even though it would in most Arts subjects.
- Changing campus means reassessment, not forfeiture. UBC states that Okanagan transfer credit based on high school IB, AP or A-level work will be re-evaluated for UBC Vancouver and may result in changes. The credit is not lost in the move, but Vancouver publishes three credits for this subject, so the reassessed value can come out lower.
- Certificate candidates should confirm first. The Okanagan credit table introduces its IB list with students who completed the IB diploma, while the Calendar states the award for anyone reaching the score, with no diploma condition attached. The two do not say the same thing, so a certificate applicant should confirm eligibility with Admissions rather than treat the table as settled.
- Refusal is available, but do not assume you need it. UBC states you may "refuse the first-year credit and take the course anyway". Because this award names no course and carries no exemption, the COSC_O entries publish nothing that bars a student holding it from registering in COSC_O 111, so refusing may be unnecessary. Confirm with an academic advisor before surrendering six credits.
Official award line (IB Computer Science HL, UBC Okanagan):
Minimum score: 6
Credit granted: COSC_O 1st-year level (6)
UBC Okanagan first-year credit table, International Baccalaureate
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Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
6
credit (1 course = 3 credits)
British Columbia Resident
~$207-$306/credit
~$1,240 - $1,838
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Management)
Out-of-Province
~$207-$306/credit
~$1,240 - $1,838
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Management)
International
~$1,718-$2,223/credit
~$10,306 - $13,336
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Commerce; 2026 cohort)
*2026-27 tuition-only rates; international rates are cohort-locked. 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 | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU CMPT 1XX (3); SFU CMPT 120 (3), Q/B-Sci | 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 University of British Columbia (Okanagan)
Related subjects you might be interested in at University of British Columbia (Okanagan)
Physics HL
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL
Economics HL
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Chemistry HL
Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from University of British Columbia (Okanagan) 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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