Does University of British Columbia give transfer credit for IB French A: Literature SL?
Vancouver, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
FREN_V 301 + FREN_V 302 (6 credits)
๐กExpert's Take
Named-course credit at the 300 level. A 5 or higher under UBC's "French A SL" entry earns FREN_V 301 and FREN_V 302 (Intermediate French I and II), the full CEFR B1 sequence: two specific courses, not generic first-year credit.
What the 6 credits are worth depends on your faculty. Applied Science applies only 3 of them to the degree, since at most 3 credits of language courses count toward its humanities and social sciences requirement, and the BCom humanities elective excludes language courses, though they can still count among its non-Commerce electives. The fit is better in Arts and Science: FREN_V sits in the BA's Language as Meaning breadth area and counts as Arts credit toward the BSc's 12-credit Arts requirement. Vantage One is the exception: UBC grants no IB advance credit toward the Vantage One Arts, Engineering, or Management programs, and none in the Science stream's first term. If you continue French, the award meets the FREN_V 302 gateway for upper-level courses in the French major and the Minor in French Language, Literatures and Cultures (the separate Minor in French Language is closed to students entering at FREN_V 401 or higher), and the department directs students holding credit for both courses to begin at FREN_V 401. At HL, this subject earns FREN_V 311 plus 3 credits of FREN_V 3rd-year level; see our French A: Literature HL page.
What to watch for: before registering in any FREN_V language course, UBC requires the French placement procedure (a background survey, then the written placement test and oral interview if directed); declining the credit does not exempt you from it. Students who skip it and are identified as overqualified are removed from the course and lose eligibility for credit in it (after the add/drop deadline this leaves a W on the transcript and may incur fees), and students educated in a francophone school are not permitted to stay in FREN_V 401 and 402. UBC states you may refuse the first-year credit and take the course anyway, but Science's calendar notes advance credit counts only until an equivalent UBC course is taken, and a student who takes the equivalent course and does not pass it may not use the advance credit toward the degree.
Official award line (French A SL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted: FREN_V 301 (3) and FREN_V 302 (3)
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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.
๐ Compare French A: Literature SL at Other Universities
See how French A: Literature SL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU FREN 1XX (6), or SFU FREN 1XX (3) + WL 1XX (3)โฆ | View estimate | โ | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | FREN 100-level (3 units) + FREN 211 (3 units) | View estimate | โ | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | FREN 1200: French 1 (6) | View estimate | โ | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | N/A | Not yet verified | โ | โ | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | N/A | Not yet verified | โ | โ | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | โ | โ |
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 French A: Literature SL?
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
French A: Language and Literature SL
English A: Language and Literature HL
French A: Language and Literature HL
French A: Literature HL
English A: Language and Literature SL
English A: Literature SL
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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