Does University of British Columbia give transfer credit for IB Chemistry HL?
Vancouver, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
CHEM_V 121 (4 credits)
💡Expert's Take
This is named-course first-year (advance) credit, the strong kind: CHEM_V 121 posts to your record with its lab and satisfies whatever calls for it as a requirement or prerequisite. For BASc (Engineering) students the four credits count toward the degree and the award covers the first-year chemistry requirement, with the CHEM_V 154 exemption granted in addition, not in place of the credit. Chemistry SL does not appear on UBC's IB credit chart.
The award does not include CHEM_V 123, which several Science specializations, including Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biology, list as a separate admission requirement; check your named specialization, since your CHEM_V 121 credit already satisfies the CHEM_V 123 prerequisite. Students aiming at lab-focused fields should also know about CHEM_V 141, the lab-sciences variant the catalogue suggests for Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology: it is equivalent to CHEM_V 121, so you cannot hold credit for both. Assessment happens once the IBO submits your official results to UBC electronically; Engineering students also authorize Undergraduate Admissions to access final grades.
You "may choose to refuse the first-year credit and take the course anyway," per UBC's first-year credit page, and enrolling in the UBC course counts as refusing the credit. Engineering recommends completing first-year Chemistry at UBC even with advance credit, and the advanced-credit table specifically recommends taking it at UBC for Biomedical Engineering.
Official award line (Chemistry HL):
Minimum score: 6
Credit granted: CHEM_V 121 (4)
BASc: "Students entering the BASc degree will be granted an exemption from CHEM_V 154."
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Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
4
credit (1 course = 3 credits)
British Columbia Resident
~$207-$333/credit
~$827 - $1,332
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Commerce)
Out-of-Province
~$207-$333/credit
~$827 - $1,332
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Commerce)
International
~$1,718-$2,223/credit
~$6,871 - $8,890
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 Chemistry HL at Other Universities
See how Chemistry HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 1001 + CHEM 1002 (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 | CHEM 1011.03/1012.03 or 1021.03/1022.03 or 1041.03… | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | 5/7 | Chemistry 1110 and Chemistry 1130 | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | Course exemption: CHEM 110 + CHEM 120 (two 4-credi… | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 1A03 + CHEM 1AA3 (up to 6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 5/7 | CHEM 1050 + 1051 (St. John's) or CHEM 1810 + 1200 … | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 112 (6.0 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU CHEM 122 (2), Q; SFU CHEM 121 (4), Q/B-Sci | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | CHY 103 and CHY 113 | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | CHEM 101 (★3) — Engineering: CHEM 103 (★4.3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Chemistry 201/203 or 209 (Engineering only) | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 1040 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | CHEM 1100 (3) & CHEM 1110 (3) & CHEM 112L (0) | View estimate | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 5/7 | Saint John: CHEM 1041 & CHEM 1072 (engineering: CH… | View estimate | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | CHM 1711 (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | CHEM 104 + CHEM 1XX (100-level) | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | CHEM 112.3 + CHEM Jr.3 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | CHM1**Y (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 5/7 | CHEM 101 (1.5 units) and CHEM 102 (1.5 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | CHEM 120 + 120L + 123 + 123L (1.5 units ≈ 3 course… | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | CHEM-1100 + CHEM-1110 (General Chemistry I + II, 6… | View estimate | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Chemistry 1301A (0.5 cr) + Chemistry 1302B (0.5 cr… | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/CHEM 1000 3.0 + SC/CHEM 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 Chemistry 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
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Biology HL
Computer Science 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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