Does University of Windsor give transfer credit for IB Biology SL?

Windsor, ON

Faculty: All Programs

Yes, Transfer Credit Available!

Minimum Grade Required

5or higher

Credit Granted

BIOL-1101 (Cell Biology)

💡Expert's Take

SL earns one named course, BIOL-1101 (Cell Biology), not generic biology credit, and it is the Cell Biology half of Windsor's first-year biology pair. The companion course, BIOL-1111 (Biological Diversity), is what HL adds and is still required wherever both sit in the first-year block, including Honours Biological Sciences and Biomedical Sciences and the Biological Sciences minor. Where a course lists BIOL-1101 on its own (Human Anatomy accepts BIOL-1101 or KINE-1650), the SL credit is enough; where it lists both, SL clears only one of the two.

What to watch for: Transfer-awarded credit carries no numeric grade, so any grade-gated path needs separate planning. Biochemistry's continuation rule requires a minimum of 60% in both BIOL-1101 and BIOL-1111 to reach second level, and the Biological Sciences minor requires at least 60% in each course; the SL credit satisfies the BIOL-1101 requirement but cannot supply that grade. The award also counts toward Windsor's IB ceiling of 10 courses (30.0 credit hours) across all your subjects.

Windsor's transfer-credit FAQ states: "you cannot decline transfer credit; however, you can repeat a course that you earned transfer credit for at UWindsor if you so wish and have the grade you earned in the course count towards your academic records in place of the transfer credit." So a student who needs a numeric BIOL-1101 grade (Biochemistry continuation, the Biological Sciences minor, or selected professional-school applications) repeats the course at Windsor rather than refusing the credit.

Official award line (Biology SL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit granted: BIOL-1101 (Cell Biology)
Credit posts once the official IB transcript is sent by the IBO Examining Board to the Office of the Registrar (transcripts@uwindsor.ca).

University of Windsor, Office of the Registrar, International Baccalaureate Equivalencies

HL earns both BIOL-1101 and BIOL-1111; see the Biology HL page.

Completed the Higher Level instead? See our Biology HL page for that award.

Need help preparing for IB Biology SL?

Your Potential Savings

Credit Awarded

3

credit (1 course = 3 credits)

Ontario Resident

~$203-$381/credit

~$609 - $1,144

Potential Tuition Value

(Arts to Engineering)

Out-of-Province

~$241-$405/credit

~$723 - $1,214

Potential Tuition Value

International

~$1,100-$1,470/credit

~$3,300 - $4,410

Potential Tuition Value

(varies by program)

*2026-27 base tuition; per-course rates divided by 3. 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 Biology SL at Other Universities

See how Biology SL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.

UniversityMin GradeCredit GrantedTuition Value
Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC4/7SFU BISC 1XX (3)View estimate
Carleton UniversityOttawa, ONN/ANot yet verified
Concordia UniversityMontreal, QuebecN/ANo transfer credit
Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NSN/ANo transfer credit
Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ONN/ANo transfer credit
McGill UniversityMontreal, QCN/ANo transfer credit
McMaster UniversityHamilton, ONN/ANo transfer credit
Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NLN/ANot yet verified
Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ONN/ANo transfer credit
Queen's UniversityKingston, ONN/ANo transfer credit
Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ONN/ANo transfer credit
University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BCN/ANo transfer credit
University of CalgaryCalgary, AlbertaN/ANo transfer credit
University of GuelphGuelph, ONN/ANo transfer credit
University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MBN/ANot yet verified
University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NBN/ANo transfer credit
University of OttawaOttawa, ONN/ANo transfer credit
University of ReginaRegina, SKN/ANo transfer credit
University of TorontoToronto, ONN/ANo transfer credit
University of VictoriaVictoria, BCN/ANo transfer credit
University of WaterlooWaterloo, ONN/ANo transfer credit
Western UniversityLondon, ONN/ANo transfer credit
York UniversityToronto, ONN/ANo transfer credit
1 universities grant credit19 do not3 not yet verifiedResidency estimates are available on each university page.

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 Biology SL?

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Data Disclaimer

This information is compiled from University of Windsor official sources and verified community reports. It is NOT a substitute for official academic advising. Always confirm with your advisor before making decisions.

Official University Website

Last updated: July 2026

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