Does York University give transfer credit for IB Biology HL?
Toronto, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
SC/BIOL 1000 3.0 + SC/BIOL 1001 3.0 (6 credits)
💡Expert's Take
IB Biology HL at 5 or better is listed on York's IB exemptions and credits table as SC/BIOL 1000 3.0 plus SC/BIOL 1001 3.0, which is a named-course award rather than generic junior-level credit. York frames the table as a guide and states that transfer credit is "assessed based each student's academic program," and York's admission procedures page (IB section) adds that the HL credit cap of up to 30 credits is granted "depending on program," so the actual award is confirmed on the Statement of Transfer Credit after admission, not by the table alone.
The Biology department is explicit that the outcome on the statement matters more than the credit total: "If you have been given BIOL credits at the 1000 level, but NOT a course credit exclusion for BIOL 1000/1001, you will have to take BIOL 1000/1001" (Department of Biology, transfer-student page). When the Statement of Transfer Credit arrives, check that it lists SC/BIOL 1000 and SC/BIOL 1001 by code rather than an unspecified 1000-level block before planning around skipping them.
What to watch for:
- Second-year Biology sequencing is not uniform. SC/BIOL 2010, SC/BIOL 2040, and SC/BIOL 2050 list only BIOL 1000 and BIOL 1001 (or their ISCI equivalents) as prerequisites, but SC/BIOL 2020 and SC/BIOL 2021 additionally require the first-year chemistry sequence. IB Biology HL does not substitute for chemistry.
- Exclusions are specific. BIOL 1000 excludes SC/ISCI 1101 3.00 and SC/ISCI 1110 6.0; BIOL 1001 excludes SC/ISCI 1102 3.00 and SC/ISCI 1110 6.00. If a first-year integrated-science option is being considered, those specific ISCI courses cannot also be taken for credit.
- Official IB results should reach admissions as soon as they are released, and the final award is reflected on the Statement of Transfer Credit that the Registrar issues after assessment.
For students who prefer to complete BIOL 1000/1001 at York anyway (GPA building, lab experience, or professional-school preferences), York's Transfer Credit Statement notes that "if you repeat course exclusions granted from previous studies, it will result in a reduction of your transfer credit," and points students to revised statements and the reassessment process after program or course changes. Because that wording sits in the broader postsecondary context, the cleanest route is to confirm the intended outcome with Faculty of Science advising before enrolling, so the change to the Statement of Transfer Credit is handled on the record rather than assumed at registration.
Award as listed (IB Biology HL):
Minimum score: 5
Credit listed: SC/BIOL 1000 3.0 + SC/BIOL 1001 3.0 (6 credits)
SL: not listed on York's IB table.
Per York, the table is a guide and transfer credit is assessed based on each student's academic program; the individual award appears on the Statement of Transfer Credit after admission.
SC/BIOL 1000
SC/BIOL 1001
York University, IB Diploma exemptions and credits table (Future Students)
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Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned
6
Tuition per Credit*
~$243
Est. Savings*
~$1,458
*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with York University's official sources before making decisions.
📊 Compare Biology HL at Other Universities
See how Biology HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Est. Savings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | BIOL 111 + BIOL 112 (6 credits) | $2,520 | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | BIOL 1010.03 + BIOL 1011.03 (6 credit hours) | $2,052 | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU BISC 101 (4), B-Sci; SFU BISC 102 (4), B-Sci | $1,864 | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | BIOL_V 1st-year level (8 credits) | $1,656 | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | BIOL 120.3 + BIOL Jr.3 = 6 credit units | $1,554 | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Biology 1001A (0.5 cr) + Biology 1002B (0.5 cr) = … | $1,440 | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 102 + BIOL 103 (6.0 units) | $1,398 | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 1103 + BIOL 1104 (1.0 credit) | $1,365 | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 1A03 + BIOL 1M03 (up to 6 units) | $1,200 | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 1070 (0.50 credits) | $720 | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | BIO 1XXX (3 units) | $660 | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | BIO1**Y (1.0 credit) | $659 | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | BIOL 107 (3 units) | $651 | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Biology 211 (Biomolecules and Cellular Systems) | $597 | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | BIOL 184 (1.5 units) and BIOL 186 (1.5 units) | $555 | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | BIOL 239 + BIOL 130L (0.75 units ≈ 1.5 courses) | $450 | → |
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 York 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: December 2025
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