International Baccalaureate (IB) Transfer Credit Eligibility
Effective for students beginning their studies at Waterloo in September 2012
The University of Waterloo recognizes IB Courses as excellent academic preparation for success at the university level and will consider awarding transfer credits for individual Higher Level IB courses in which normally a minimum final grade of 5 is attained.
Please note that official final IB results must be sent from the International Baccalaureate Office (IBO) directly to the Admissions Office at Waterloo before transfer credit can be considered. Your official final IB results must be received by August 3, 2012.
- The maximum number of transfer credits considered varies depending on the program you're admitted to.
- Check the International Baccalaureate (IB) Transfer Credit Chart for specific Waterloo transfer credit equivalents.
- The International Baccalaureate (IB) Transfer Credit Chart for Business Administration (WLU) and Computer Science (Waterloo) Double Degree and Business Administration (WLU) and Mathematics (Waterloo) Double Degree lists the specific Waterloo and WLU transfer credit equivalents for these programs.
- Transfer credits will normally be weighted as 1.0 units each (equivalent to 2 courses).
- The transfer credits you receive will be different if you change to a program that requires you to transfer from one faculty to another faculty. Please note that in such a situation, a faculty admissions committee reserves the right to refuse transfer credits.
Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay
Transfer credit will be considered for the completion of the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay with a minimum grade of B (Good) in both. Waterloo equivalent transfer credit is PHIL 1XX (1.0 units).
Declining Transfer credit
Details about declining your transfer credits will be sent by email to you in August, once your transfer credits have been assessed.Maximum number of transfer credits and additional notes
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
- The Recreation and Leisure Studies degree program will consider up to a maximum of 4.0 units if the full IB Diploma is completed; for individual IB certificate courses, up to a maximum of 2.0 units will be considered.
- The Health Studies or Kinesiology degree programs will consider up to a maximum of 3.0 units.
- Specific transfer credit courses will not be awarded. That is, the following credit for IB courses will be given: Biology will be BIOL 1XX, Chemistry will be CHEM 1XX, Geography will be GEOG 1XX, and Physics will be PHYS 1XX.
Faculty of Arts
- If the full IB Diploma has been completed, transfer credits will be considered up to a maximum of 4.0, except the Global Business and Digital Design degree which will consider up to a maximum of 2.5 units.
- For individual IB certificate courses, up to a maximum of 2.0 units will be considered.
- The Accounting and Financial Management program does not award transfer credit for Economics.
Faculty of Engineering, including Software Engineering and Architecture
- Architecture program - transfer credit will be considered for an elective credit up to a maximum of 0.5 units.
- All other Engineering programs, including Software Engineering - We consider these courses to be a good challenge and good preparation for our programs. You may find that you have covered some of the material in our first term courses but, in most cases, not enough for you to be exempted from the entire course without potentially running into academic difficulties later. The depth and level of problem-solving is very different in our Engineering programs than in the courses in the systems listed above. As a result, we don't grant first-year course exemptions for IB courses.
Faculty of Environment
- For all programs except Planning, transfer credits will be considered up to a maximum of 4.0 if the full IB Diploma has been completed. For individual IB certificate courses, up to a maximum of 2.0 units will be considered.
- For Planning, transfer credits will be considered up to a maximum of 1.0 units for the full IB Diploma or certificate courses.
Faculty of Mathematics, including Computing and Financial Management, and the Business Administration (WLU) and Mathematics (Waterloo) Double Degree program
- Transfer credit for 0.5 units will be allowed for IB Higher Level Mathematics with a grade of 6 or 7.
- Up to an additional 1.0 units will be allowed for other IB Higher Level courses that are not in either mathematics or computer science according to the Transfer Credit Chart.
- If you have taken additional IB Higher Level courses beyond those for which you receive transfer credit, you may receive an exemption from courses specifically recognized in the Transfer Credit Chart as equivalent to your IB Higher Level courses.
- The International Baccalaureate (IB) Transfer Credit Chart for Business Administration (WLU) and Computer Science (Waterloo) Double Degree and Business Administration (WLU) and Mathematics (Waterloo) Double Degree lists the specific Waterloo and WLU transfer credit equivalents for these programs.
- The Mathematics/ Chartered Accountancy program does not award transfer credit for Economics.
Faculty of Science
- Transfer credit for 0.5 units will be allowed for IB Higher Level Mathematics with a grade of 6 or 7.
- Transfer credits will be considered up to a maximum of 3.0 units.
- The Biotechnology/ Chartered Accountancy program does not award transfer credit for Economics.
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