Does University of Toronto give transfer credit for IB Biology HL?
Toronto, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
BIO1**Y (1.0 credit)
💡Expert's Take
All three U of T campuses grant a full credit (1.0) for Biology HL at a 5, and at St. George it is an unusually strong award. Unlike most IB credit, it counts for program admission, for program requirements, and as a prerequisite, standing in for BIO130H1, not just as elective filler.
How the credit is recorded differs by campus. St. George gives one full-year credit, BIO1**Y, standing in for BIO130H1. UTM splits it into BIO152H5 plus BIO153H5, and UTSC into BIOA01H3 plus BIOA02H3; those half-credit pairs can each satisfy requirements on their own.
One gap to plan around: the award covers only the molecular and cell first-year course, not the evolution and biodiversity one (BIO120H1 at St. George), which many Biology and Life Sciences programs also require, so check your specific program's calendar entry rather than assuming first-year biology is fully cleared. IB Chemistry HL does not help here: St. George lists it as not usable for prerequisites, so it will not open second-year courses such as BIO230H1 that require real first-year chemistry. And holding the credit does not bar you from taking the equivalent first-year course for a graded mark: St. George and UTSC both confirm it will not count as a repeat.
Standard Level Biology earns no credit at any U of T campus.
Official award line (IB Biology HL):
Minimum score: 5
SL: no credit at any campus
St. George: BIO1**Y, 1.0 credit, equivalent to BIO130H1, counts for admission, requirements, and prerequisites
UTM: BIO152H5 plus BIO153H5, 1.0 credit total
UTSC: BIOA01H3 plus BIOA02H3, 1.0 credit total
Need help preparing for IB Biology HL?
Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
1
1.0 credit (FCE); one full course
Full-time program-fee billing can make the immediate saving $0 unless transfer credit reduces a billed term or total time to completion.
Ontario Resident
~$1,220-$3,180/1.0 FCE
~$1,220 - $3,180
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts and Science to Rotman Commerce)
Out-of-Province
~$1,522-$3,974/1.0 FCE
~$1,522 - $3,974
Potential Tuition Value
International
~$13,222-$15,030/1.0 FCE
~$13,222 - $15,030
Potential Tuition Value
(varies by faculty)
*2026-27 tuition-only rates per 1.0 FCE (annual program fee divided by 5.0 FCE). 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 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 | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 1103 + BIOL 1104 (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | View estimate | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | BIOL 1010.03 + BIOL 1011.03 (6 credit hours) | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | 5/7 | Biology 1-00 (Unspecified First Year Full Credit) | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | Course exemption: BIOL 111 + BIOL 112 (normally 6 … | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | BIOLOGY 1A03 and BIOLOGY 1M03 | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 5/7 | Biology 1001 + Biology 1002 (6 credit hours) | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 102 + BIOL 103 (6.0 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU BISC 101 (4), B-Sci; SFU BISC 102 (4), B-Sci | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | BLG 143 and BLG 144 | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | BIOL 107 (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | BIOL_V 1st-year level (8 credits), with exemption … | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Biology 211 (Biomolecules and Cellular Systems) | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 1070 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | BIOL 1020 (3) + BIOL 1030 (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 5/7 | Saint John: BIOL 1205 Fredericton: BIOL 1001 & BIO… | View estimate | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | BIO 1XXX (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | BIOL 100 + BIOL 101 | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | BIOL 120.3 + BIOL Jr.3 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | BIOL 184 (1.5 units) and BIOL 186 (1.5 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 239 + BIOL 130L (0.75 units ≈ 1.5 courses) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | BIOL-1101 + BIOL-1111 (Cell Biology + Biological D… | View estimate | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Biology 1001A (0.5 cr) + Biology 1002B (0.5 cr) = … | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/BIOL 1000 3.0 + SC/BIOL 1001 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 Biology 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 Toronto
Related subjects you might be interested in at University of Toronto
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Psychology HL
Physics HL
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL
Chemistry HL
Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from University of Toronto 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
Save Your Transfer Plan
Download a PDF of this transfer credit information for Biology HL at University of Toronto.