Does University of British Columbia give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Vancouver, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHYS_V 100 (3) + PHYS_V 1st-year level (3)
💡Expert's Take
Three named credits in PHYS_V 100 plus three unassigned first-year PHYS_V credits, and the exempted course now runs under a different number. The exemption named in the award, PHYS_V 101, is legacy wording: UBC Physics treats it today as exemption from or credit for the lecture-only PHYS_V 131, and the award does not include the lab component: the separate one-credit PHYS_V 119 laboratory stays on your plate if your program requires a first-year physics lab.
Engineering and specialization limits. UBC Engineering's advanced-credit table lists this award as covering no BASc requirement, so Applied Science students still take PHYS_V 157, 158, and 159. Students aiming at a Physics or Astronomy specialization are steered by the department toward PHYS_V 106 or 117 rather than relying on this credit. Vantage One programs grant no IB advance credit toward Arts, Engineering, or Management, with only limited course replacement later in Vantage One Science.
Claiming or declining. UBC's credit page states you "may choose to refuse the first-year credit and take the course anyway." The B.Sc. calendar adds that advance credit counts toward the degree unless 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 (Physics HL):
Minimum score: 6
Credit granted: PHYS_V 100 (3) and PHYS_V 1st-year level (3), with exemption from PHYS_V 101
Need help preparing for IB Physics 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 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 and 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 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 | PHY131H1+PHY132H1 (1.0 cr, A&S) · PHY136H5+PHY137H… | 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 | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| 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
Related subjects you might be interested in at University of British Columbia
Chemistry HL
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Biology HL
Computer Science 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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