Does University of Victoria give transfer credit for IB English A: Language and Literature HL?
Victoria, BC
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
ENSH 101 (1.5 units) and 100-level ATWP course (1.5 units)
💡Expert's Take
English A: Language and Literature HL earns real credit at UVic, but a different package than its Literature sibling, and the distinction matters depending on your program. With a score of 4 or higher, students receive ENSH 101: Themes in Literature (1.5 units) plus a generic 100-level Academic and Technical Writing Program (ATWP) elective credit (1.5 units), totalling 3.0 units.
The credit split is worth understanding carefully. English A: Literature HL earns ENSH 101 + the named ENSH 102: Literature in Action , two named English credits. Language and Literature HL earns ENSH 101 plus only a generic 100-level ATWP elective. For English Major or Honours students, this difference is less consequential than it appears: the English Major program plan requires completing just one course from a list that includes ENSH 101, ENSH 102, or alternatives in Year 1, so ENSH 101 credit alone fully satisfies that requirement.
There is a genuine upside, however: both credited courses, ENSH 101 and any 100-level ATWP course , are AWR-designated, meaning this IB credit satisfies UVic's mandatory Academic Writing Requirement outright. For students in programs outside English, that is a significant benefit: one of the most common first-year checkboxes is cleared before you arrive.
What to watch for:
- English Major/Honours students: ENSH 101 credit is sufficient for Year 1. The ENGL/ENSH Major program plan requires completing one course from a list of options (ENSH 101, ENSH 102, ENSH 200, or certain ENGL equivalents) in Year 1, not both ENSH 101 and ENSH 102. The IB credit for ENSH 101 fully satisfies this requirement. Students do not need to take ENSH 102 to meet the Year 1 English program condition.
- The ATWP credit is unspecified. The IB Transfer Guide awards a generic "100-level ATWP course", not a named course. UVic will post this to your account as a generic elective credit. It satisfies the AWR, but it will not substitute for any specific ATWP course required by a particular program (e.g., some programs require ATWP 135 specifically). Confirm with your faculty advisor.
- Considering Literature HL instead? If you wrote English A: Literature HL, the credit outcome is stronger for English-track students: ENSH 101 + ENSH 102 covers both Year 1 English requirements in full. The Language and Literature variant leaves ENSH 102 outstanding.
UVic posts this credit automatically from your transcript. For students in any program outside English, 3.0 units of AWR-satisfying credit is a clean win, a standard first-year checkbox cleared before arrival. For English Major or Honours students, ENSH 101 credit alone satisfies the Year 1 English program requirement, with the generic ATWP credit providing a free elective slot on top. The Literature HL variant is marginally stronger (two named English credits vs. one named + one generic), but not because the Major demands both; it simply gives English-track students more flexibility in how they use their first-year credits.
Official award line (English A: Language and Literature HL):
Minimum score: 4 or higher
Credit granted: ENSH 101 (1.5 units) + 100-level ATWP course (1.5 units)
UVic International Baccalaureate Transfer Guide 2026–27 (official PDF)
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Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
3.0
UVic units (approx. 6 semester credit hours)
British Columbia Resident
~$218-$297/credit hour
~$1,309 - $1,784
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts and Science to Business)
Out-of-Province
~$218-$297/credit hour
~$1,309 - $1,784
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts and Science to Business)
International
~$1,253-$1,533/credit hour
~$7,515 - $9,197
Potential Tuition Value
(varies by faculty; May 2026 cohort)
*2026-27 tuition-only rates, effective May 2026. 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 English A: Language and Literature HL at Other Universities
See how English A: Language and Literature HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | ENGL 1XXX (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | View estimate | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | ENGL 1991W.03 + ENGL 1992W.03 = 6 credit hours | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | 5/7 | English 1115 and Arts 1-10* (*Unspecified First Ye… | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | ENGL 1XX (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | ENGLISH 1XXX (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | St. John's: ENGL 1090 + ENGL 1191 Grenfell: Englis… | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU ENGL 111 (3), ENGL 1XX (3) or WL 102 (3), WL 1… | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | 2 Language LLS | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | C LIT 100-level (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 5/7 | ENGL_V 1st-year level (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | 3 units junior English | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | HUMN 9110 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | ENGL 1200 Representative Literary Works | View estimate | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | ENG 1100 + ENG 1120 (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | ENGL 100 + ENGL 110 | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | ENG 110.6 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | ENG1**Y (St. George/UTM); ENGA**H + ENGA**H (UTSC) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | ENGL 1XX (0.5 units), elective credit | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | ENGL-1xxx (1st Year English Course) | View estimate | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | English 1020E (1.0 credit) | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | AP/EN 1001 3.0 + AP/EN 1002 3.0 (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | N/A | Not yet verified | — | → |
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 HL?
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 Victoria
Related subjects you might be interested in at University of Victoria
Psychology HL
French B HL
Economics HL
History HL
English A: Literature HL
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: July 2026
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