Does York University give transfer credit for IB French A: Language and Literature HL?
Toronto, ON
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
AP/FR 1*** 6.0 (6 credits, unspecified level 1)
Generic Credit: Counts as an elective, but may not replace a mandatory prerequisite for your major.
💡Expert's Take
Generic credit, subject to York's program-level assessment. On York's IB exemptions guide, French A: Language and Literature is listed as "AP/FR 1*** 6.0": 6 credits of unspecified 1000-level French. The guide is explicitly described as "to be used as a guide," and the page also states that "transfer credit is assessed based each student's academic program," so the actual award is finalised once York reviews your admitted program, not at the moment the guide is consulted.
The asterisks matter. Because the entry does not name a specific course, York's French Studies major and minor requirements will not be answered by the guide itself; how the generic 6 credits, and any enrolment-level exemption, apply to the department's degree checklist is a separate determination the Department of French Studies makes. Enrolment placement and degree-requirement credit are two different questions, and both go through the department, not the IB score.
What to watch for:
- The French placement test is the department's normal route into its courses ("If you wish to enrol in a French Course, please complete and submit the placement test before classes start"). Some upper-year courses, for example AP/FR 2100, also list "departmental permission" as an alternative route alongside the placement test.
- For students with experience living in a French-speaking environment or French schooling, York's Language Proficiency Requirements page states that such students "are typically placed no lower than the AP/FR 1081/1082 (CEFR B1) level" and "may be exempted from 1000-level courses at the department's discretion." Placement is individualized; do not assume a specific tier in advance.
- The 6 credits count toward York's overall IB cap: a maximum of 30 credits for HL exams combined.
- If York grants you a course exclusion and you later enrol in that course at York, the official rule applies in the same terms regardless of whether the exclusion is named or generic: "If a student is granted a course exclusion and chooses to repeat the exclusion while at York, transfer credit granted will be forfeited."
Complete the placement test before classes start so enrolment is not blocked. For non-majors, the 6 generic credits provide useful first-year elective cushion once York confirms the award for your program. For intending French majors and minors, treat placement and degree-requirement credit as separate conversations with the Department of French Studies. If a full bilingual path is the goal, York's Glendon Campus runs a dedicated Bilingual French Studies program that may be a better fit than the LA&PS track.
How to approach this:
- Score 6 or 7, not majoring in French: Accept the guide entry and wait for York's program-level confirmation once admitted. Complete the placement test before classes start only if you intend to enrol in any French course.
- Score 6 or 7, intending French major or minor: Same confirmation step. Separately, email lapsfren@yorku.ca to ask (a) where you will be placed after the placement test and (b) how the generic AP/FR 1*** 6.0 credit, plus any 1000-level exemption, will apply to the major or minor checklist. These are two separate determinations the department will make.
- Score 5: Same as above; the guide entry still applies, subject to York's program review.
- Score 4 or below, or SL at any level: The IB guide does not grant credit for this subject on its face, and the published threshold is "most Higher Level IB courses with grades of 5 or better." If you plan to take French at York, complete the placement test through the normal route.
- Universal logistics: Have IB send official results directly to York. Mark the placement-test deadline on your calendar (the department's FAQ publishes two windows: between February 1 and June 1 for the summer term, and after June 1 for the following academic year). If an enquiry upon results (remark) could move your score to 5, flag the timing with Admissions so the guide entry can be reassessed. For program-fit and course-selection questions, French Studies advising is the right office.
Official award line (French A: Language and Literature, HL):
Minimum score: 5 or better
Credit granted: AP/FR 1*** 6.0 (6 credits, unspecified 1000-level French)
Need help preparing for IB French A: Language and Literature HL?
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 French A: Language and Literature HL at Other Universities
See how French A: Language and Literature HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Est. Savings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | FREN 1XX (6 credits) | $2,520 | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | ASSC 1999.06 (elective) | $2,052 | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | FREN 122.3 + FREN 125.3 = 6 credit units | $1,554 | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | French 1910 (1.0 credit) | $1,440 | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | FREN 150 (6.0 units) | $1,398 | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 5/7 | SFU FREN 1XX (6), or SFU FREN 1XX (3) + WL 1XX (3)… | $1,398 | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | FREN 1XXX (1.0 credit) | $1,365 | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | FRA 1710 + FRA 1720 (6 units) | $1,320 | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | FREN 100-level (3 units) + FREN 211 (3 units) | $1,302 | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 5/7 | FREN_V 401 + FREN_V 402 (6 credits) | $1,242 | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | HUMN 9110 (0.50 credits) | $720 | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | FRE1**Y (1.0 credit) | $659 | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | FREN 227 | $597 | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 4/7 | FRAN 180 (3 units) | $555 | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | 5/7 | FR 1XX (0.5 units) — Elective credit | $450 | → |
Tip: Different provinces have different tuition rates. Use these comparisons to find the best value for your residency status.
Other IB Subjects at York University
Related subjects you might be interested in at York University
English A: Language and Literature HL
French A: Literature HL
English A: Language and Literature SL
English A: Literature SL
French A: Language and Literature SL
French A: Literature SL
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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