Does University of Ottawa give transfer credit for IB English A: Language and Literature SL?
Ottawa, ON
Not Currently Accepted
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
No credit (HL only)
💡Expert's Take
IB English A: Language and Literature SL earns no transfer credit at uOttawa. Like all SL subjects, it is categorically excluded from uOttawa's IB transfer credit table, which covers HL courses only. The course is recognized for admission, but does not convert into any university units.
The contrast with HL is meaningful here. English A HL, regardless of whether a student took Language and Literature or Literature, earns ENG 1100 (Workshop in Essay Writing, 3 units) and ENG 1120 (Selected Topics in Literature and Composition, 3 units), 6 units total, at a score of 5 or higher. uOttawa's table uses the label "English A" without distinguishing between the two variants, so both map to the same award at HL.
This is worth noting because uOttawa is more generous with English A than many Canadian universities. Institutions such as Queen's explicitly award no credit for English A at any level. At uOttawa, HL students who meet the threshold walk away with a full writing course and a literature/composition course already on their record, a meaningful head start for any humanities or social sciences program.
What to watch for:
- ENG 1100 has practical program value. Workshop in Essay Writing is a writing-intensive course commonly required or strongly recommended across faculties at uOttawa. HL credit for it saves more than just 3 units; it removes a scheduling constraint that affects many Arts, Social Sciences, and Management students in their first year.
- No variant distinction at HL, and none needed at SL either. Whether a student took English A: Language and Literature or English A: Literature, the SL outcome is the same: no credit. See the corresponding English A: Literature SL page for the parallel analysis.
- 18-unit HL cap applies. English A HL accounts for 6 of the maximum 18 transferable IB HL units at uOttawa. Students with multiple strong HL subjects should factor this into which credits they want to prioritize.
If you took English A at SL, you enter uOttawa with no writing or literature credits. Register in ENG 1100 early; it fills quickly and is a prerequisite or co-requisite for several upper-year courses in the Faculty of Arts. The ENG course catalogue outlines sequencing requirements.
If you are still choosing your IB course levels and are considering uOttawa, English A HL is one of the better-value credits in their IB table, 6 units covering two named courses, with no score threshold higher than 5. Given that several other universities award nothing for English A at all, the HL credit here is a genuine differentiator.
Official award line (IB English A: Language and Literature SL):
Minimum score: 5 or higher
Credit granted: None, SL courses are not eligible for IB transfer credit at uOttawa
Note: English A HL (score 5 or higher); both Language and Literature and Literature variants, earns
ENG 1100
+
ENG 1120
(6 units, Workshop in Essay Writing + Selected Topics in Literature and Composition).
uOttawa Transfer Credits, International Baccalaureate (IB) section
Completed the Higher Level instead? See our English A: Language and Literature HL page for that award.
Need help preparing for IB English A: Language and Literature SL?
Your Potential Savings
University of Ottawa does not award transfer credit for this subject, so there is no tuition saving to estimate.
📊 Compare English A: Language and Literature SL at Other Universities
See how English A: Language and Literature 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 | St. John's Campus: English 1090 or Grenfell Campus… | 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 English A: Language and Literature 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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