Does Western University give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
London, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
Physics 1501A (0.5 cr) + Physics 1502B (0.5 cr) = 1.0 credit
💡Expert's Take
IB Physics HL earns Western’s calculus-based enriched physics sequence, not a generic credit. The award maps directly to Physics 1501A and Physics 1502B. The Western Academic Calendar notes this pair “is a suitable prerequisite for all modules in the Faculty of Science, for all modules offered by the basic medical science departments and for professional schools having a Physics requirement”, a broader qualifier than the parallel Physics 1201/1202 sequence. For students entering Science, Medical Sciences, or Physics and Astronomy, this is one of the strongest IB transfer credits Western awards.
The IB Physics HL credit does not include a calculus credit. Students who do not also hold IB Math AA HL transfer credit (which yields Calculus 1000A) will still need to take first-year calculus at Western before or alongside upper-year physics. Physics-focused tracks need more: Physics 2104 (Introduction to Quantum Mechanics) also requires Calculus 1301A/B or 1501A/B and Mathematics 1600A/B, neither of which IB Physics HL provides.
What to watch for:
- Physics 1502B is a named equivalency, not a generic TRN (short for “Transfer”) credit, so it satisfies the physics prerequisite for upper-year courses that list Physics 1502A/B, including Physics 2101, 2104, and 2110.
- Engineering students: verify with Engineering advising. Physics 1401A/B is restricted to Faculty of Engineering students and is antirequisite to Physics 1501A/B, and Engineering’s program pages indicate students must complete the entire common first-year program. How an IB Physics HL credit is applied within that structure is not addressed on current public pages; confirm with Engineering academic advising before assuming the credit reduces your first-year course load.
Accept the credit if entering Science, Medical Sciences, or Physics and Astronomy: the 1501A + 1502B pair puts you on the same footing as students who completed Western’s highest-tier first-year physics sequence. Plan first-year calculus, and for Physics or Astronomy tracks also Calculus 1501A/B and Math 1600A/B, alongside it.
Official award line (IB Physics HL):
Minimum score: 5 or higher
Credit granted: Physics 1501A (0.5 cr) and Physics 1502B (0.5 cr), 1.0 credit total
Western University – IB Transfer Credit Table Western Academic Calendar – Physics Courses
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Your Potential Savings
Credit Awarded
0.167
Western credits
Ontario Resident
~$7,260-$14,753/1.0 Western credit
~$1,210 - $2,459
Potential Tuition Value
(Arts to Engineering)
Out-of-Province
~$8,823-$17,929/1.0 Western credit
~$1,470 - $2,988
Potential Tuition Value
International
~$55,332-$74,924/1.0 Western credit
~$9,222 - $12,487
Potential Tuition Value
(varies by faculty)
*2025-26 tuition-only rates (2026-27 not yet posted); full-course tuition divided by 6. 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 Physics HL at Other Universities
See how Physics HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Tuition Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 1107 (0.5) & PHYS 1108 (0.5) | View estimate | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | View estimate | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | Physics 1280.03 + Physics 1290.03 = 6 credit hours | View estimate | → | |
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | PHYS 101 + PHYS 102 (8 credits; B.Sc.Arch. PHYS 10… | View estimate | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | PHYSICS 1A03 + PHYSICS 1AA3 | View estimate | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | Physics 1020 + Physics 1021 | View estimate | → | |
| Ontario Tech UniversityOshawa, ON | 5/7 | Transfer credit, grade "T" (unspecified/elective, … | View estimate | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 117 (6.0 units) | View estimate | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU PHYS 101 (3), Q/B-Sci; SFU PHYS 102 (3), Q/B-S… | View estimate | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | Individual evaluation (HL 5 or higher); no publish… | View estimate | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | PHYS 124 + PHYS 126 (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | PHYS_V 100 (3) + PHYS_V 1st-year level (3) | View estimate | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Physics 221 (3 units) and Physics 223 (3 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 9110 (0.50 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB | 4/7 | PHYS 1020: General Physics 1 (3) & PHYS 1030: Gene… | View estimate | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 6/7 | Fredericton: 1000-level Physics (6ch) Saint John: … | View estimate | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHY 1121 + PHY 1122 (6 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of ReginaRegina, SK | 5/7 | PHYS 109 + PHYS 119 | View estimate | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | PHYS 115.3 + PHYS 117.3 = 6 credit units | View estimate | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | PHY1**H + PHY1**H (1.0 cr, A&S, equivalent to PHY1… | View estimate | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 6/7 | PHYS 102A (1.5 units) and PHYS 102B (1.5 units) | View estimate | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | PHYS-1300 + PHYS-1310 (Introductory Physics for Li… | View estimate | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/PHYS 1411 3.0 + SC/PHYS 1412 3.0 (6 credits) | View estimate | → | |
| Lakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON | N/A | Not yet verified | — | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, 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 Physics 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 Western University
Related subjects you might be interested in at Western University
Computer Science HL
Chemistry HL
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL
Biology HL
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from Western University 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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