Does University of Victoria give transfer credit for IB Economics HL?
Victoria, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
ECON 103 (1.5 units) and ECON 104 (1.5 units)
💡Expert's Take
IB Economics HL earns real course credit at UVic — two named first-year courses that unlock the entire upper-year economics curriculum. With a score of 4 or higher, students receive both ECON 103 (Principles of Microeconomics) and ECON 104 (Principles of Macroeconomics), totalling 3.0 units.
The strategic value here goes beyond the unit count. ECON 103 and ECON 104 are the gateway prerequisites for all higher-level economics courses at UVic — including ECON 203 (Intermediate Microeconomics I) and ECON 204 (Intermediate Macroeconomics), both required for BA and BSc Economics programs. Students who enter with this credit are eligible to proceed directly into second-year content, allowing earlier access to upper-year coursework and potentially accelerating progress toward specialisation. The minimum score of 4 is also notable: it is UVic's standard floor for HL subjects, lower than the 5 or 6 required for science and language courses in the same guide.
What to watch for:
- The Economics degree requires ECON 103 or ECON 180 — transfer credit for ECON 103 satisfies that requirement directly, per the BA Economics program planning worksheet. Students do not need to retake ECON 103 to meet program entry conditions.
- BCom students should confirm applicability with a Gustavson advisor. The IB Transfer Guide awards ECON 103 and 104 broadly, without faculty-specific restrictions. However, the Gustavson School of Business explicitly states that decisions on course applicability are made at its own discretion, and BCom has strict GPA progression thresholds. Students entering the Bachelor of Commerce program should verify with a BCom advisor that IB-credited economics courses satisfy their specific pre-core sequence requirements.
- Diploma vs. individual subject assessment. UVic offers up to one year of transfer credit for full IB Diploma students, but Economics HL credit is granted on a course-by-course basis regardless of whether you complete the full diploma — a score of 4 on the subject alone is sufficient.
Accept the credit. There is no meaningful scenario where a future Economics student benefits from retaking first-year micro and macro from scratch. Both ECON 103 and ECON 104 are large lecture courses with no unique research or writing component that upper-year instructors expect students to reference — the only thing they gate is access to 200-level prerequisites, and IB credit clears that gate cleanly. Students planning an Economics Major or Minor at UVic should declare their program early and use the freed first-year slots for the calculus and statistics courses (MATH 100/102, ECON 245/STAT 260) that are required in Year 2 anyway.
Official award line (Economics HL):
Minimum score: 4 or higher
Credit granted: ECON 103 (1.5 units) + ECON 104 (1.5 units)
UVic International Baccalaureate Transfer Guide 2026–27 (official PDF)
Need help preparing for IB Economics HL?
Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned
3
Tuition per Credit*
~$185
Est. Savings*
~$555
*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with University of Victoria's official sources before making decisions.
📊 Compare Economics HL at Other Universities
See how Economics 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
Economics 1101.03 + Economics 1102.03 = ...
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,830
McGill University
Montreal, QC
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
ECON 1XX (6 credits)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$2,520
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
ECON 1B03 + ECON 1BB3 (up to 6 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,200
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
ECON 110 (6.0 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,398
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
SFU ECON 103 (4), Q/B-Soc; SFU ECON 105 ...
(8 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,864
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Min Grade
6/7
Credit Granted
ECON 101 (3 units) + ECON 102 (3 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,302
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
ECON_V 1st-year level (6 credits)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,242
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
ECON 201 and ECON 203
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,194
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
ECO 1102 + ECO 1104 (6 units)
(6 credits)
Est. Savings
$1,320
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
ECO1**Y (1.0 credit)
(1 credit)
Est. Savings
$659
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
ECON 1XX (0.5 units) — Elective credit
(1 credit)
Est. Savings
$450
Western University
London, ON
Min Grade
5/7
Credit Granted
Economics 1021A + 1022B (1.0 credit)
(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 Victoria 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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Download a PDF of this transfer credit information for Economics HL at University of Victoria.