Does University of Ottawa give transfer credit for IB Chemistry SL?
Ottawa, ON
Not Currently Accepted
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
No credit (HL only)
💡Expert's Take
IB Chemistry SL earns no transfer credit at uOttawa. The course is recognized for admission purposes; it can satisfy prerequisite requirements for programs that require secondary-school chemistry, but it does not convert into any university units. Only IB Chemistry HL qualifies for credit (uOttawa Transfer Credits).
This is a clean policy line: uOttawa's IB credit table lists only HL courses. Chemistry HL earns CHM 1311 (English) or CHM 1711 (French), Principles of Chemistry, 3 units, upon achieving a score of 5 or higher. SL Chemistry students receive nothing equivalent; they enter first year with a full introductory chemistry workload ahead of them.
Worth knowing: CHM 1301 (English) / CHM 1701 (French) is a preparatory chemistry course intended for students who have not completed Ontario 4U Chemistry (SCH4U) or its equivalent. Depending on how your program and faculty assess your background, you may be placed into CHM 1301/1701 rather than CHM 1311/1711, confirm your placement with your academic advisor after admission.
What to watch for:
- Course placement, not just credit. SL Chemistry is recognized for admission but confers no credit, so you must still complete first-year chemistry in full. Check your program's CHM course sequence to understand which course you'll be placed into.
- HL vs. SL outcome gap. A student who took Chemistry HL at score 5 or higher enters uOttawa with CHM 1311/1711 already on their record, one 3-unit course saved. An SL student enters with no such advantage; the two outcomes are not equivalent here.
- 18-unit HL cap. uOttawa caps total IB HL transfer credit at 18 units across all subjects combined. Since SL Chemistry contributes nothing toward this, it has no effect on your credit budget, but it is a useful reminder that maximizing your HL selections (rather than SL) matters significantly at this institution.
If you took Chemistry at SL, plan to register in CHM 1311 (English) or CHM 1711 (French) from the start of your first year. Do not assume your IB background will translate into a placement exemption or an informal waiver, uOttawa processes IB credits strictly according to its published table, and there is no petition pathway for SL subjects.
If you are still in the IB programme and have the option to take Chemistry at HL, the case for doing so is strong at uOttawa specifically: the credit awarded is a direct course equivalent (not a generic elective), and it applies cleanly toward science and engineering prerequisites.
Official award line (IB Chemistry SL):
Minimum score: 5 or higher
Credit granted: None, SL courses are not eligible for IB transfer credit at uOttawa
Note: Chemistry HL (score 5 or higher) earns
CHM 1311 /
CHM 1711
(3 units, Principles of Chemistry).
uOttawa Transfer Credits, International Baccalaureate (IB) section
Completed the Higher Level instead? See our Chemistry HL page for that award.
Need help preparing for IB Chemistry SL?
Your Potential Savings
University of Ottawa does not award transfer credit for this subject, so there is no tuition saving to estimate.
📊 Compare Chemistry SL at Other Universities
See how Chemistry SL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | CSA | No transfer credit under the IB Diploma Programme … | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 5/7 | Chemistry 1010 (St. John's) or Chemistry 1810 (Gre… | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU CHEM 1XX (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | CSA | Credit by Special Assessment, CHEM 101 (★3) or CHE… | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | CSA | Not listed in UBC's non-exhaustive IB table; asses… | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | CHEM 1100: Introductory Chemistry 1 (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | CHEM-1100 or CHEM-1103 (General Chemistry I or Top… | View estimate | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, 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 Chemistry SL?
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 Ottawa
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Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from University of Ottawa 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: August 2026
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