Does University of British Columbia give transfer credit for IB Biology HL?
Vancouver, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
BIOL_V 1st-year level (8 credits), with exemption from BIOL_V 112, BIOL_V 121, and BIOL_V 180
💡Expert's Take
The value of this award sits in the exemptions, not the 8 general credits: under UBC's transfer credit terms, an exempted course is considered completed. The award itself is general first-year (advance) credit rather than a named-course equivalency. Biology SL does not appear on UBC's IB credit chart.
What the 8 credits are worth depends on your faculty: Engineering lists this award as not applicable toward the BASc degree, and Arts notes that general credits usually count as electives, not program requirements. In Science, the exempted courses match the first-year sequence for Biology specializations, though several programs accept BIOL_V 140 as an alternative to BIOL_V 180, and students aiming at Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kinesiology, and related schools should confirm the first-year biology requirement with that faculty. Assessment happens once the IBO submits your official results to UBC electronically.
You "may choose to refuse the first-year credit and take the course anyway," per UBC's first-year credit page. UBC Science adds that when a course is core to your area of study it may be worthwhile to take it at UBC, and that enrolling in the UBC course counts as refusing the advance credit.
Official award line (Biology HL):
Minimum score: 6
Credit granted: BIOL_V 1st-year level (8), with exemption from BIOL_V 112, BIOL_V 121, and BIOL_V 180
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Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
8
credit (1 course = 3 credits)
British Columbia Resident
~$207-$333/credit
~$1,654 - $2,665
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Commerce)
Out-of-Province
~$207-$333/credit
~$1,654 - $2,665
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Commerce)
International
~$1,718-$2,223/credit
~$13,741 - $17,781
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 Biology HL at Other Universities
See how Biology HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 1103 + BIOL 1104 (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | View estimate | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | BIOL 1010.03 + BIOL 1011.03 (6 credit hours) | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | 5/7 | Biology 1-00 (Unspecified First Year Full Credit) | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | Course exemption: BIOL 111 + BIOL 112 (normally 6 … | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | BIOLOGY 1A03 and BIOLOGY 1M03 | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 5/7 | Biology 1001 + Biology 1002 (6 credit hours) | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 102 + BIOL 103 (6.0 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU BISC 101 (4), B-Sci; SFU BISC 102 (4), B-Sci | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | BLG 143 and BLG 144 | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | BIOL 107 (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Biology 211 (Biomolecules and Cellular Systems) | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 1070 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | BIOL 1020 (3) + BIOL 1030 (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 5/7 | Saint John: BIOL 1205 Fredericton: BIOL 1001 & BIO… | View estimate | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | BIO 1XXX (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | BIOL 100 + BIOL 101 | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | BIOL 120.3 + BIOL Jr.3 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | BIO1**Y (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | BIOL 184 (1.5 units) and BIOL 186 (1.5 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 239 + BIOL 130L (0.75 units ≈ 1.5 courses) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | BIOL-1101 + BIOL-1111 (Cell Biology + Biological D… | View estimate | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Biology 1001A (0.5 cr) + Biology 1002B (0.5 cr) = … | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/BIOL 1000 3.0 + SC/BIOL 1001 3.0 (6 credits) | View estimate | → |
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 Biology 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
Related subjects you might be interested in at University of British Columbia
Psychology HL
Chemistry HL
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Physics HL
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL
Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from University of British Columbia 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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