Does University of British Columbia (Okanagan) give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Kelowna, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHYS_O 1st-year level (6 credits) at a score of 5; PHYS_O 112 (3) and PHYS_O 122 (3) at a score of 6 or higher
💡Expert's Take
The award scales with your score, and the upgrade puts you in a specific stream. A 5 earns generic PHYS_O first-year credit. A 6 or 7 earns the named courses PHYS_O 112 and PHYS_O 122, Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I and II, written for majors such as biochemistry, biology, microbiology, pharmacy, human kinetics and psychology. Named credit is usually the better outcome. Here it also picks a lane for you.
The lane it picks is not the physical sciences one. PHYS_O 111 and 121 are Introductory Physics for the Physical Sciences, described in the Calendar as primarily for students majoring in physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, geology, physical geography or engineering. Credit is granted for only one of PHYS_O 111 or 112, and only one of 121 or 122, so holding the score-6 award closes off the physical sciences pair. If your intended major sits on that side, the generic score-5 outcome is arguably the more flexible one.
What to watch for:
- Engineering does not recognise this subject on its own. The School of Engineering's IB equivalency list pairs Chemistry HL with Physics HL for APSC_O 182, which is the chemistry course. Physics HL alone appears nowhere on it, and nothing there covers APSC_O 178, the first-year Engineering physics course. The School also asks you not to drop courses until it has confirmed your credit.
- If a move into Engineering is possible, decide before you accept. The BSc to BASc equivalency table recognises PHYS_O 121, not 122, as APSC_O 178. Since 121 and 122 are mutually exclusive, the score-6 award can work against that pathway. UBC does state you may "refuse the first-year credit and take the course anyway", which is the mechanism if you need the physical sciences sequence instead. Talk to an advisor first.
- Standard Level earns nothing. Physics SL is listed on the table as "Not applicable, No credit", a published refusal rather than an omission.
Official award line (IB Physics HL, UBC Okanagan):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted: PHYS_O 1st-year level (6)
With a minimum score of 6: PHYS_O 112 (3) and PHYS_O 122 (3)
Physics SL: No credit
UBC Okanagan first-year credit table, International Baccalaureate
Need help preparing for IB Physics HL?
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 Physics HL at Other Universities
See how Physics HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 1107 (0.5) & PHYS 1108 (0.5) | View estimate | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | View estimate | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | Physics 1280.03 + Physics 1290.03 = 6 credit hours | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | PHYS 101 + PHYS 102 (8 credits; B.Sc.Arch. PHYS 10… | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | PHYSICS 1A03 + PHYSICS 1AA3 | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | Physics 1020 + Physics 1021 | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 117 (6.0 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU PHYS 101 (3), Q/B-Sci; SFU PHYS 102 (3), Q/B-S… | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | Individual evaluation (HL 5 or higher); no publish… | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | PHYS 124 + PHYS 126 (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | PHYS_V 100 (3) + PHYS_V 1st-year level (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Physics 221 (3 units) and Physics 223 (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 9110 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | PHYS 1020: General Physics 1 (3) & PHYS 1030: Gene… | View estimate | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 6/7 | Fredericton: 1000-level Physics (6ch) Saint John: … | View estimate | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHY 1121 + PHY 1122 (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | PHYS 109 + PHYS 119 | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | PHYS 115.3 + PHYS 117.3 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | PHY1**H + PHY1**H (1.0 cr, A&S, equivalent to PHY1… | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 6/7 | PHYS 102A (1.5 units) and PHYS 102B (1.5 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | PHYS-1300 + PHYS-1310 (Introductory Physics for Li… | View estimate | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Physics 1501A (0.5 cr) + Physics 1502B (0.5 cr) = … | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/PHYS 1411 3.0 + SC/PHYS 1412 3.0 (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | N/A | Not yet verified | — | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, 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 Physics 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)
Biology HL
Computer Science HL
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation 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: August 2026
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