Does University of Ottawa give transfer credit for IB History HL?
Ottawa, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
HIS 1110 + HIS 1111 (6 units)
💡Expert's Take
History HL clears the entire first-year introductory history sequence — two named courses, not generic electives. The uOttawa advanced standing table awards HIS 1110 Introduction to Global History (3 units) and HIS 1111 The Twentieth-Century World from 1945 (3 units) — a total of 6 units for a score of 5 or higher. These are substantive survey courses covering human migration, long-distance trade, and post-1945 geopolitics, not placeholder credits.
HIS 1110 and HIS 1111 are introductory-level courses with no stated prerequisites in the course catalogue, which means receiving both through transfer credit creates no prerequisite complications. The two courses complement each other: HIS 1110 provides a broad global survey up to the modern era, while HIS 1111 focuses on the post-war world from 1945 onward. Together they form the standard entry point for students considering further work in History or related disciplines.
Both courses are delivered in English. uOttawa’s advanced standing table lists the award simply under “History” with no language-of-instruction restriction, so this credit applies regardless of whether your program is delivered in English or French.
For students in Arts or Social Sciences, HIS 1110 and HIS 1111 frequently appear as elective options or breadth requirements. Clearing them through IB credit frees two course slots in first year without leaving gaps in your degree progress.
What to watch for:
- The 18-unit IB cap applies here too. uOttawa’s advanced standing policy caps total IB HL transfer credits at 18 units across all subjects combined. History HL’s 6-unit award consumes one-third of that ceiling. If you are also presenting strong HL scores in Sciences, Mathematics, or Economics, map your full credit picture against this limit early — the cap may cause lower-priority credits to go unclaimed.
- Some programs grant no transfer credits at all. The transfer credit policy lists programs that do not participate — including International Studies and Modern Languages (Faculty of Social Sciences), Nursing and Nutrition/Dietetics (Health Sciences), and most dual fast-track or multidisciplinary programs. If your intended program is on this list, the award does not apply.
- Credit is confirmed after — not before — admission. Transfer credits are assessed automatically once uOttawa receives your final IB grades. Your revised offer of admission is where the formal award appears. The published table reflects policy, but the university retains discretion over final outcomes.
For students entering History, Political Science, International Studies, or any Arts program where HIS 1110 and HIS 1111 satisfy breadth or elective requirements, accepting this credit is straightforward. These are introductory survey courses — valuable for orientation but not intellectually novel for a student who completed IB History HL with its extended essays and document-analysis components. Skipping them frees two course slots in a typically crowded first year.
For students targeting a History major or minor, confirm in the program catalogue that HIS 1110 and HIS 1111 satisfy the specific named requirements of your intended program. Because neither course carries a formal prerequisite for upper-year History courses, the transfer credit should not block progression — but verifying your specific program’s course sequence before finalizing your plan is worthwhile.
For students in STEM or professional programs where History is not a core requirement, the 6-unit award still counts toward your total graduation units and reduces your required elective load. This can be particularly useful for engineering or science students looking to lighten a heavy first-year course load.
Official award line (IB History HL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted:
HIS 1110
(3 units) +
HIS 1111
(3 units) = 6 units total
IB transfer credit cap: 18 units maximum across all HL subjects
Residency rule: 50% of degree must be completed at uOttawa
University of Ottawa — Advanced Standing (Transfer Credits): IB Diploma table uOttawa Course Catalogue — History (HIS) courses
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Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
6
unit (1 course = 3 units)
Ontario Resident
~$246-$443/unit
~$1,477 - $2,656
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Engineering)
Out-of-Province
~$285-$443/unit
~$1,710 - $2,656
Potential Tuition Value
International
~$1,630-$2,119/unit
~$9,781 - $12,711
Potential Tuition Value
(varies by faculty)
*2026-27 tuition-only rates. 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 History HL at Other Universities
See how History HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | HIST 1XXX (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | 5/7 | History 1100 | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | HIST 1XX (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | 6 units of unspecified Level 1 History | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | Six unspecified History credit hours (second-year … | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | HIST 1UNS (6.0 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU HIST 225 (3), SFU HIST 1XX (3) | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | CSA | Not listed in TMU IB HL chart; assessed individual… | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 5/7 | HIST_V 1st-year level (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | 6 units junior History | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | HIST 1010 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 5/7 | Saint John: HIST 2101 + 1st-year HIST (6 ch) Frede… | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | HIST 1XX - Unspecified History 100-level credit (6… | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | Hist Jr.6 = 6 credit units. USask's table names on… | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | HIS1**Y (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | 100-level History course (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | HIST 1XX (0.5 units), elective credit | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | HIST-1xxx (1st Year History Course) | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | AP/HIST 1010 6.0 (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 History HL?
Add all your IB subjects and predicted scores to estimate your total transfer credit across Canadian universities, side by side.
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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: July 2026
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