Does University of British Columbia give transfer credit for IB English A: Literature HL?
Vancouver, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
ENGL_V 1st-year level (6 credits)
💡Expert's Take
Six credits, but general credit: not ENGL_V 110 or WRDS_V 150. Under UBC's unassigned-credit policy the award works as elective credit, subject to your faculty's and program's rules. UBC lists English A: Language and Literature HL and English A: Literature HL identically.
What to watch for:
- Applied Science: Engineering applies all 6 credits, 3 toward the WRDS 150 requirement and 3 toward the Humanities requirement, so BASc students do not need to retake WRDS_V 150.
- Arts and placement: the English Department says students with this credit are "eligible to skip over 100-level English courses" into 200-level offerings, but Arts students may still need ENGL 100 or WRDS 150 for the BA's Writing Component.
- Science: the unassigned credit is not on the BSc's approved Communication Requirement list (WRDS_V 150, ENGL_V 110 or 111, and others), but the 6 credits can count toward the BSc's 12 required Arts credits.
- Pre-med: UBC's MD program accepts IB English A, HL score 5 or higher, toward its English prerequisite; the IB transcript must be sent directly to MD Admissions, and the credits do not count toward its 90-credit minimum.
UBC says you may "choose to refuse the first-year credit and take the course anyway" and advises consulting an academic advisor first. Think twice before refusing in Applied Science, where the credits already satisfy defined requirements, and note Engineering's warning that completing an equivalent UBC course "will supersede the credits granted from AP, IB or A-Level".
Official award line (English A HL, Language and Literature or Literature):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted: ENGL_V 1st-year level (6)
English A at SL is not listed in UBC's IB credit table.
Need help preparing for IB English A: Literature HL?
Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
6
credit (1 course = 3 credits)
British Columbia Resident
~$207-$333/credit
~$1,240 - $1,999
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Commerce)
Out-of-Province
~$207-$333/credit
~$1,240 - $1,999
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Commerce)
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 English A: Literature HL at Other Universities
See how English A: Literature HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | ENGL 1XXX (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | English 1015.03 + English 1025.03 = 6 credit hours… | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | 5/7 | English 1115 and Arts 1-10* (*Unspecified First Ye… | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | ENGL 1XX (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | ENGLISH 1XXX (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | ENGL 1090 + ENGL 1191 | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU ENGL 111 (3), ENGL 1XX (3) or WL 102 (3), WL 1… | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | ENGL 100-level (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | 3 units junior English | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | ENGL 1080 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | ENGL 1200 Representative Literary Works | View estimate | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 5/7 | Saint John: ENGL 1001 & unassigned 1st-year ENGL (… | View estimate | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | ENG 1100 + ENG 1120 (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | ENGL 100 + ENGL 110 | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | ENG 110.6 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | ENG1**Y (St. George/UTM); ENGA**H + ENGA**H (UTSC) | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | ENSH 101 (1.5 units) and ENSH 102 (1.5 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | ENGL 1XX (0.5 units) — Elective credit | View estimate | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | English 1020E (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | AP/EN 1001 3.0 + AP/EN 1002 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 English A: Literature 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
History HL
Psychology HL
English A: Language and Literature HL
Economics HL
French B 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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