Does University of Ottawa give transfer credit for IB Economics SL?
Ottawa, ON
Not Currently Accepted
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
No credit (HL only)
💡Expert's Take
IB Economics SL earns no transfer credit at uOttawa. uOttawa's IB transfer credit table only covers HL courses, and SL is categorically excluded. The course is recognized for admission purposes, but that recognition does not translate into any university units.
The HL gap here is unusually large. Economics HL at score 5 or higher earns both ECO 1102 (Introduction to Macroeconomics, 3 units) and ECO 1104 (Introduction to Microeconomics, 3 units), 6 units total, covering the entire first-year economics sequence in one award. An SL student skips none of that and enters the economics curriculum from scratch.
This matters most for students targeting economics-heavy programs: the BA/BSc in Economics and the Telfer School of Management BCom both require ECO 1102 and ECO 1104 as foundational courses. Clearing them via HL credit opens up upper-year electives earlier in the degree.
What to watch for:
- The 6-unit award is among the highest in uOttawa's IB table. Economics HL covers two named courses rather than one, which makes the SL-vs-HL outcome difference here especially significant compared to subjects where HL earns only 3 units.
- 18-unit HL cap still applies. uOttawa caps total IB HL transfer credit at 18 units across all subjects. Economics HL alone accounts for 6 of those units, one-third of the maximum, so students stacking multiple HL credits should factor this into their planning.
- No SL credit, no exceptions. Transfer credit at uOttawa is assessed automatically. There is no departmental petition or review process for SL Economics, regardless of the score achieved.
If you took Economics at SL, plan your first-year schedule around completing ECO 1102 and ECO 1104 in full. Both courses are prerequisites for a wide range of upper-year economics and management electives, so there is no benefit to delaying them.
If you are still in the IB Diploma and are weighing HL subject choices with uOttawa in mind, Economics HL is one of the most credit-efficient options in their IB table, 6 units from a single subject, covering both named introductory courses with no elective ambiguity. For students aiming at economics, business, or social sciences programs, the case for choosing Economics HL over SL is particularly clear here.
Official award line (IB Economics SL):
Minimum score: 5 or higher
Credit granted: None, SL courses are not eligible for IB transfer credit at uOttawa
Note: Economics HL (score 5 or higher) earns
ECO 1102
+
ECO 1104
(6 units, Introduction to Macroeconomics + Introduction to Microeconomics).
uOttawa Transfer Credits, International Baccalaureate (IB) section
Completed the Higher Level instead? See our Economics HL page for that award.
Need help preparing for IB Economics SL?
Your Potential Savings
University of Ottawa does not award transfer credit for this subject, so there is no tuition saving to estimate.
📊 Compare Economics SL at Other Universities
See how Economics 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 | 4/7 | Economics 1020 | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU ECON 1XX (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | CSA | Not listed in UBC's non-exhaustive IB table; asses… | View estimate | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, 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 ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | N/A | Not yet verified | — | → | |
| 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 Economics 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
Related subjects you might be interested in at University of Ottawa
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
Save Your Transfer Plan
Download a PDF of this transfer credit information for Economics SL at University of Ottawa.