Does University of Manitoba give transfer credit for IB Biology HL?
Winnipeg, MB
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
BIOL 1020 (3) + BIOL 1030 (3)
💡Expert's Take
With a 4 or higher, IB Biology HL maps onto two named first-year courses at UManitoba: BIOL 1020 Biology 1: Principles and Themes and BIOL 1030 Biology 2: Biological Diversity, Function and Interactions, listed in the chart as BIOPRINCIPLES and BIODIVERSITY. The non-obvious feature: UManitoba publishes an IB-to-letter conversion (4 = B, 5 = B+, 6 = A, 7 = A+) and applies it when the credit is posted, so each course lands on your transcript with a real letter grade rather than as a neutral pass or "T" (UManitoba AP and IB approved courses for credit).
That grade-import rule is what should drive your decision. The chart specifies "Credits will be transferred in as follows," then defines the conversion, and UManitoba transcripts record course-level grades, so the converted result counts in your academic standing and AGPA. A score of 4 imports as two B grades in first-year biology; a 7 imports as two A+ grades. For students entering the B.Sc. Biological Sciences major, the calendar requires 24 credit hours plus a minimum C+ in BIOL 1030 to enter the four-year major, a bar the converted grade clears at any IB score of 4 or higher. For competitive professional applicants, the same mechanism is the reason to think twice before accepting.
What to watch for:
- Antirequisite traps: BIOL 1020 may not be held with BIOL 1000, BIOL 1001, BIOL 1021, or BIOE 2590; BIOL 1030 may not be held with BIOL 1010, BIOL 1011, BIOL 1031, or BIOE 2590. Registering in any of these after claiming IB credit risks losing course credit.
- Professional-program "new and graded" rules layer on top of credit awards. The Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry applicant info states AP and IB courses can fulfil core course requirements upon written submission, but "shall not be used to fulfill the minimum new 24 credit hour requirement" and the ranked-year average requires 24 new credit hours per Fall/Winter session. Verify equivalent rules with your target faculty before assuming a year saved.
- Equivalencies are "reviewed on a regular basis and are subject to change" per the chart footer, so confirm against the current table close to admission; and if your IB results release late, the Request for University Credit form may not be processed before initial course registration.
UManitoba's own rule is that acceptance of these credits is not compulsory; you must indicate your intention to claim credit by completing a Request for University Credit for Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Results form (UManitoba transfer credit information); not submitting the form is the operational way to decline. So the live question is not whether you can claim but whether you should: would the converted letter grade help or hurt the AGPA picture your target faculty cares about? Pre-medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy applicants in particular should weigh the imported B, B+, A, or A+ against their realistic in-residence grade in first-year biology before deciding.
Official award line (Biology HL):
Minimum score: 4
Credit granted: BIOL 1020 Biology 1: Principles and Themes (3) and BIOL 1030 Biology 2: Biological Diversity, Function and Interactions (3); 6 credit hours total
Grade conversion applied at posting: 4 = B, 5 = B+, 6 = A, 7 = A+
Standard Level: not listed in the IB chart, so no credit awarded.
UManitoba: AP and IB approved courses for credit consideration (PDF)
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Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned
6
Tuition per Credit*
~$180
Est. Savings*
~$1,080
*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with University of Manitoba's official sources before making decisions.
📊 Compare Biology HL at Other Universities
See how Biology HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Est. Savings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | BIOL 111 + BIOL 112 (6 credits) | $2,520 | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | BIOL 1010.03 + BIOL 1011.03 (6 credit hours) | $2,052 | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU BISC 101 (4), B-Sci; SFU BISC 102 (4), B-Sci | $1,864 | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | BIOL_V 1st-year level (8 credits) | $1,656 | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | BIOL 120.3 + BIOL Jr.3 = 6 credit units | $1,554 | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/BIOL 1000 3.0 + SC/BIOL 1001 3.0 (6 credits) | $1,458 | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Biology 1001A (0.5 cr) + Biology 1002B (0.5 cr) = … | $1,440 | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 102 + BIOL 103 (6.0 units) | $1,398 | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 1103 + BIOL 1104 (1.0 credit) | $1,365 | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | BIOLOGY 1A03 and BIOLOGY 1M03 | $1,200 | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 1070 (0.50 credits) | $720 | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | Biology 1001 (HL 4) or Biology 1001 + 1002 (HL 5) | $675 | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | BIO 1XXX (3 units) | $660 | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | BIO1**Y (1.0 credit) | $659 | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | BIOL 107 (3 units) | $651 | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Biology 211 (Biomolecules and Cellular Systems) | $597 | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | BIOL 184 (1.5 units) and BIOL 186 (1.5 units) | $555 | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 239 + BIOL 130L (0.75 units ≈ 1.5 courses) | $450 | → |
Tip: Different provinces have different tuition rates. Use these comparisons to find the best value for your residency status.
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Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from University of Manitoba 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: December 2025
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Download a PDF of this transfer credit information for Biology HL at University of Manitoba.