Does University of Toronto give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Toronto, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHY131H1+PHY132H1 (1.0 cr, A&S) · PHY136H5+PHY137H5 (1.0 cr, UTM) · PHYA**Y (1.0 cr, UTSC — No/No/No)
💡Expert's Take
IB Physics HL earns a named 1.0 FCE at UTSG and UTM — with Yes across all three restriction columns. UTSC awards the same credit volume but blocks it from every program pathway, because all physics programs there require calculus-based prerequisites that IB Physics alone cannot satisfy.
At UTSG, Physics HL maps to two half-credits — PHY1**H equivalent to PHY131H1 (Mechanics) and PHY1**H equivalent to PHY132H1 (Electricity & Modern Physics) — totalling 1.0 FCE with Yes/Yes/Yes on program admission, program requirements, and prerequisites. This is one of the strongest transfers in the entire IB table: the credit counts toward program enrolment, satisfies program completion requirements, and can be used as a prerequisite for upper-year Physics courses.
At UTM, the parallel award maps to PHY136H5 and PHY137H5 — again 1.0 FCE total with Yes/Yes/Yes. The credit functions identically: it unlocks upper-year physics and satisfies program requirements for Physics and related Science plans at Mississauga.
At UTSC, the outcome looks similar on paper — PHYA**Y, 1.0 FCE, BR=NatSci — but the restriction columns read No/No/No. The official note explains why: "All physics programs and prerequisite requirements are calculus-based." IB Physics HL demonstrates conceptual mastery, but UTSC's physics programs are gated on calculus, which IB Physics does not itself satisfy. The credit sits on the transcript and counts toward degree completion, but it cannot be used for program enrolment, program requirements, or any course prerequisite.
What to watch for:
- UTSC students targeting Physics or Physical & Environmental Sciences: the No/No/No restriction means you will still need to enrol in and pass calculus before upper-year physics courses unlock, regardless of the PHYA**Y credit on your record. Plan your first-year schedule accordingly.
- UTSG and UTM students: PHY131/132H1 and PHY136/137H5 are the introductory Life and Environmental Sciences physics sequence — explicitly designed for students not intending a Physics or Astronomy specialist/major. The calculus-based specialist stream at UTSG is PHY151H1/PHY152H1, which IB Physics HL does not grant. If you are entering a Physics Specialist or Major, you will still need to take PHY151H1 in first year — the IB credit does not substitute for it, and PHY131H1 is in fact listed as an exclusion to PHY151H1. For Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and similar programs where PHY131/132 or PHY136/137 are the appropriate sequence, the Yes/Yes/Yes columns apply fully.
- The 3.0 FCE cap: effective September 2025, U of T caps total IB HL transfer credit at 3.0 full credits across all secondary curricula. If you are also claiming Chemistry HL and Biology HL (each worth 1.0 FCE), Physics HL will exhaust the cap on its own — you cannot stack all three.
At UTSG and UTM, Physics HL is one of the most functionally valuable IB credits available: named equivalents, full prerequisite recognition, and Yes across all three columns. The strategic calculus, however, depends on your intended program. PHY131H1/PHY132H1 and PHY136H5/PHY137H5 are the introductory physics sequence for Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and programs that do not require the specialist stream — if that describes your trajectory, accepting the credit is an easy win. But if you are targeting a Physics Specialist or Major, note that PHY131H1 is an exclusion to PHY151H1 (the calculus-based specialist entry course). Having PHY131H1 on your transcript means you cannot take PHY151H1 for credit — so in that scenario, consider declining the IB transfer credit before the deadline in order to enter the specialist stream cleanly.
At UTSC, the calculus constraint changes the calculus (literally). The credit is not worthless — it contributes 1.0 FCE toward degree completion and counts in the NatSci breadth category — but it will not substitute for the prerequisite structure guarding Physics programs. UTSC students with physics ambitions should prioritize MATA29H3 / MATA30H3 (calculus) in first year and treat the PHYA**Y credit as a free elective unit, not a physics-program gateway.
Across all three campuses, if you are entering a non-physics program (Life Sciences, Computer Science, Commerce) and already have PHY131/132 or PHY136/137 equivalents from IB, consider whether those credits overlap with any required science distribution courses — and if not, whether declining the credit in favour of retaking the course for a grade could benefit a graduate-school GPA strategy.
Official award line (IB Physics HL):
Minimum score: 5 or higher
UTSG (Faculty of Arts & Science):
Credit granted: PHY1**H + PHY1**H · 0.5 + 0.5 FCE · 131 (BR=5) & 132 (BR=5) · Program Admission: Yes · Program Requirements: Yes · Prerequisites: Yes
Equivalent to PHY131H1 & PHY132H1
UTM (U of T Mississauga):
Credit granted: PHY1**H + PHY1**H · 0.5 + 0.5 FCE · 136 (Sci) & 137 (Sci) · Program Admission: Yes · Program Requirements: Yes · Prerequisites: Yes
Equivalent to PHY136H5 & PHY137H5
UTSC (U of T Scarborough):
Credit granted: PHYA**Y · 1.0 FCE · BR=NatSci · Program Admission: No · Program Requirements: No · Prerequisites: No
Note: All physics programs and prerequisite requirements are calculus-based.
UTSG IB HL transfer credit table — Faculty of Arts & Science UTM IB transfer credit table UTSC IB transfer credit table
Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned: 1.0 (all three campuses)
Tuition per Credit*: ~$659
Est. Savings*: ~$659
*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with University of Toronto's official sources before making decisions.
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Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned
1
Tuition per Credit*
~$659
Est. Savings*
~$659
*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with University of Toronto's official sources before making decisions.
📊 Compare Physics HL at Other Universities
See how Physics HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Each school has different grade requirements and savings potential.
Dalhousie University
Halifax, NS
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Physics 1280.03 + Physics 1290.03 = 6 cr...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,830
McGill University
Montreal, QC
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PHYS 101 + PHYS 102 (8 credits)
(8 credits)
Est. Savings
$3,360
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC
Min Grade
4/7
Credit Granted
SFU PHYS 101 (3), Q/B-Sci; SFU PHYS 102 ...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,398
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Min Grade
6/7
Credit Granted
PHYS 124 + PHYS 126 (6 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,302
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Min Grade
6/7
Credit Granted
PHYS_V 100 (3) + PHYS_V 1st-year level (...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,242
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Physics 221 (3 units) and Physics 223 (3...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,194
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
PHY 1121 + PHY 1122 (6 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,320
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC
Min Grade
6/7
Credit Granted
PHYS 102A (1.5 units) and PHYS 102B (1.5...
(3 credits)
Est. Savings
$555
Western University
London, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Physics 1501A (0.5 cr) + Physics 1502B (...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,440
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 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: December 2025
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