Does University of British Columbia accept Physics HL?

"A REAL 6-CREDIT BOOST — BUT WATCH FOR THE ENGINEERING & PHYSICS-MAJOR 'NO-SKIP' TRAP"

The Good News (what UBC officially grants)

If you score a 6 or 7 in IB Physics HL, UBC Vancouver grants PHYS 100 (3 credits) plus PHYS 1st-year level (3 credits), and lists you as exempt from PHYS 101. This is shown on UBC's official IB first-year credit table: UBC First-Year Credit (International Baccalaureate).

Important "translation": UBC Physics notes that PHYS 101 is no longer offered and has been replaced by PHYS 131 (same lecture content, but no lab component). The lab component is now a separate course: PHYS 119. See: UBC Physics & Astronomy – Undergrad First Year Physics Guide.

The Reality Check (what this credit does NOT automatically do)

• Engineering "trap" (big one): Even with IB Physics HL, many engineering students still must take the engineering physics sequence (commonly PHYS 157/158 and associated components). UBC Engineering materials explicitly show PHYS 157 credit is AP-only (not IB), which matches what students report in r/ubcengineering. Evidence: UBC Engineering – Advanced Credit Workshop (Detailed Slides) and a student discussion: r/ubcengineering: "What credits can you get from IB Physics HL?".
• Physics Major / EngPhys "trap": UBC Physics explicitly warns that advanced credit/placement is NOT a substitute for the first-year Physics courses that are prerequisites for essentially all second-year Physics. In other words: your IB HL is great preparation, but you typically still take the department-recommended first-year sequence (often PHYS 117/118 plus labs) if you're headed into Physics. See: UBC Physics Major page (Advanced Credit is not a substitute).
• Lab requirement: Your IB credit does not automatically guarantee you've satisfied a UBC physics lab requirement. Since labs are now separated out, programs that require a first-year lab may still expect PHYS 119 (or an enriched alternative). (UBC's guide explains the new lab structure clearly: PHAS First-Year Guide.)
• Credit-exclusion gotcha: If you accept UBC's IB credit, you may be blocked from earning additional credit in overlapping first-year physics courses (e.g., PHYS 101 vs PHYS 131 sit in the same exclusion group). See the official exclusion groupings: UBC Vancouver Calendar – Credit Exclusion Lists.

Strategic Advice (what to tell students in the app)

• Engineering students: Take the IB credit (it's still degree progress), but do not assume it replaces PHYS 157/158. Plan your schedule as if you still need the engineering physics sequence unless your academic advisor confirms otherwise.
• Physics / Engineering Physics intended majors: Treat IB HL as prep, not a skip. You'll likely still register in the department's calculus-based first-year sequence because those courses are the pipeline into second-year Physics. (UBC Physics says this directly on the major page linked above.)
• Most other Science / CS / Arts students: Take the credit—it's useful elective/degree credit and may satisfy "physics exposure" expectations in some paths, but always verify whether your specific program requires a particular named course (like PHYS 131/117) or a lab (PHYS 119).

How to verify in 60 seconds (recommended "truth step")

1. Check your actual awarded credits in Workday: Viewing your transfer credit / AP-IB credit (Workday).
2. Compare that Workday result against your program's first-year checklist (especially if you're in Engineering or aiming for Physics).

Quick note: IB Physics SL is treated differently on UBC's table (it's not the same as HL), so make sure to distinguish HL vs SL. (See the same UBC IB first-year credit table.)