First-year credit

If you complete university-level courses while in high school, you may be able to take fewer courses to complete your degree. Find out which Advanced Placement, British-patterned education, and International Baccalaureate courses are eligible for first-year credit at UBC.

If you are eligible for credit for a first-year course, please consult an academic advisor at UBC before registering for second-year courses. You may choose to refuse the first-year credit and take the course anyway.

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Advanced Placement

If you got a grade of 4 or better on approved Advanced Placement exams, UBC will grant you first-year credit. The table below is not exhaustive, so credit may be granted for courses not shown.

High school subject UBC course granted (including credits)
2-D Art and Design VISA 1st-year level (3)
3-D Art and Design VISA 180 (3)
Art History ARTH 100 (6)
Biology BIOL 1st-year level (8), with exemption from BIOL 111, BIOL 121, and BIOL 180
Calculus AB or subscore of AB in Calculus BC MATH 100 (3)
Calculus BC MATH 100 (3) and MATH 101 (3)
Chemistry CHEM 121 (4)

Students entering the BASc degree will be granted an exemption from CHEM 154.

Chinese Language and Culture CHIN 241 (3) and CHIN 243 (3)
Computer Science A CPSC 1st-year level (3)
Computer Science AB CPSC 111 (4) and CPSC 1st-year level (2)
Computer Science Principles CPSC 100 (3)
Drawing VISA 180 (3)
Economics: Macroeconomics ECON 102 (3); or ECON 1st-year level (3) for the Bachelor of International Economics degree
Economics: Microeconomics ECON 101 (3); or ECON 1st-year level (3) for the Bachelor of International Economics degree
English Language and Composition ENGL 1st-year level (6)

When AP ENGL Language/Composition and AP ENGL Literature/Composition are taken together, credit is granted as ENGL 1st-year level (12).

English Literature and Composition ENGL 1st-year level (6)

When AP ENGL Language/Composition and AP ENGL Literature/Composition are taken together, credit is granted as ENGL 1st-year level (12).

Environmental Science EOSC 1st-year level (3)
French Language and Culture FREN 301 (3) and FREN 302 (3)
French Literature and Culture FREN 311 (3) and FREN 3rd-year level (3)
German Language and Culture GERM 310 (3) and GERM 2nd-year level (3)
Government and Politics: Comparative POLI 220 (3)
History: European HIST 1st-year level (6)
History: United States HIST 1st-year level (6)
Human Geography GEOG 122 (3) and GEOG 1st-year level (3)
Italian Language and Culture ITAL 201 (3) and ITAL 202 (3)
Japanese Language and Culture JAPN 100 (3) and JAPN 101 (3)
Latin LATN 200 (6)
Latin: Vergil LATN 200 (6)
Music Theory MUSC 1st-year level (6)
Physics 1 No credit

When AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 are taken together, credit is granted as PHYS 100 (3) and PHYS 101 (3).

Physics 2 PHYS 101 (3)
Credit is only granted for PHYS 101 when one full year of Physics has been successfully completed before taking AP Physics 2. When AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 are taken together, credit is granted as PHYS 100 (3) and PHYS 101 (3).
Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism) PHYS 118 (3)
Physics C (Mechanics) PHYS 117 (3)
Psychology PSYC 100 (6)
Spanish Language and Culture SPAN 201 (3) and SPAN 202 (3)
Spanish Literature and Culture SPAN 220 (6)
Statistics STAT 200 (3)
United States Government and Politics POLI 1st-year level (3)
World History: Modern HIST 1st-year level (3)

British-patterned education

If you studied British-patterned education and got a final A-Level grade of A or B in most academic science, math, and arts subjects, UBC will grant you first-year credit. If you got an A or B on an A-Level-examined subject not listed in the table below, UBC will determine your first-year credit on a case-by-case basis.

High school subject UBC course granted (including credits)
Accounting COMM 293 (3)
Biology BIOL 1st-year level (8), with exemption from BIOL 111, BIOL 121, and BIOL 180
Business Studies COMM 1st-year level (3), not for credit in Commerce
Chemistry CHEM 120 (3) and CHEM 115 (1), and CHEM 130 (3) and CHEM 135 (1)
Computer Science CPSC 1st-year level (6)
Economics ECON 101 (3) and ECON 102 (3); or ECON 1st-year level (6) for the Bachelor of International Economics degree
French FREN 301 (3) and FREN 302 (3)
Germany GERM 210 (3) and GERM 2nd-year level (3)
Islamic Studies RELG 1st-year level (3)
Literature (English) ENGL 110 (3) and ENGL 1st-year level (3)
Mathematics No credit
Mathematics (Applied) No credit
Mathematics (Further) MATH 100 (3) and MATH 101 (3)
Physics PHYS 100 (3) and PHYS 101 (3)
Psychology PSYC 1st-year level (6)
Sociology SOCI 100 (6)
Spanish SPAN 201 (3) and SPAN 202 (3)

International Baccalaureate

If you completed the International Baccalaureate diploma, all Higher Level and some Standard Level IB courses will be considered for first-year credit. The table below is not exhaustive, so credit may be granted for courses not shown.

High school subject Minimum IB score UBC course granted (including credits)
Arabic A: Literature SL 5 ARBC 1st-year level (3)
Arabic A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARBC 1st-year level (6)
Arabic B HL 5 ARBC 1st-year level (6)
Afrikaans A or B HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Afrikaans A SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Burmese A or B HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Burmese A SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Biology HL 6 BIOL 1st-year level (8), with exemption from BIOL 111, BIOL121, and BIOL 180
Business Management HL 5 COMM 1st-year level (3), not for credit in Commerce
Chemistry HL 6 CHEM 121 (4)

Students entering the BASc degree will be granted an exemption from CHEM 154.

Chinese A HL 5 CHIN 1st-year level (6)
Chinese B HL 5 CHIN 1st-year level (6)
Classical Languages: Greek SL 5 GREK 2nd-year level (3), with exemption from GREK 200
Classical Languages: Greek HL 5 GREK 200 (6)
Classical Languages: Latin SL 5 LATN 2nd-year level (3), with exemption from LATN 200
Classical Languages: Latin HL 5 LATN 200 (6)
Computer Science HL 6 CPSC 1st-year level (3)
Design Technology HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Digital Society 6 CPSC 1st-year level (3)
Dutch B HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Economics HL 5 ECON 1st-year level (6)
English Language and Literature A HL 5 ENGL 1st-year level (6)
English Literature A HL 5 ENGL 1st-year level (6)
Film HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Filipino B HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
French A SL 5 FREN 301 (3) and FREN 302 (3)
French B HL 5 FREN 301 (3) and FREN 302 (3)
French Language and Literature A HL 5 FREN 401 (3) and FREN 402 (3)
French Literature A HL 5 FREN 311 (3) and FREN 3rd-year level (3)
Geography HL 6 GEOG 1st-year level (6)
Georgian A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Georgian B: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Georgian A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Georgian A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
German A SL 5 GERM 200 (3)
German A HL 5 GERM 200 (3) and GERM 210 (3)
German B HL 5 GERM 110 (3) and GERM 200 (3)
Global Politics HL 5 POLI 1st-year level (6)
History HL 5 HIST 1st-year level (6)
Icelandic A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Icelandic A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Icelandic A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Icelandic A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Indonesian B HL 5 INDO 1st-year level (6)
Islamic History HL 5 RELG 1st-year level (6)
Italian A SL 5 ITAL 202 (3)
Italian A or B HL 5 ITAL 202 (3) and ITAL 2nd-year level (3)
Japanese A HL 5 JAPN 1st-year level (6)
Japanese B HL 5 JAPN 1st-year level (6)
Japanese A SL 5 JAPN 1st-year level (3)
Korean A: Language and Literature HL 5 KORN 1st-year level (6)
Korean A: Literature HL 5 KORN 1st-year level (6)
Korean A SL 5 KORN 1st-year level (3)
Korean B HL 5 KORN 1st-year level (6)
Lao A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Lao A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Lao A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Lao A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Malay A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Malay A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Malay A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Malay A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Mandarin A: Language and Literature HL 5 CHIN 1st-year level (6)
Mandarin A: Language and Literature SL 5 CHIN 1st-year level (3)
Mandarin A: Literature HL 5 CHIN 1st-year level (6)
Mandarin A: Literature SL 5 CHIN 1st-year level (3)
Math Analysis and Approaches SL Not applicable No credit
Math Analysis and Approaches HL 6 MATH 100 (3) & MATH 101 (3)
Math Applications and Interpretations SL Not applicable No credit
Math Applications and Interpretations HL 6 MATH 1st-year level (3) Exempt MATH 104
Mongolian A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Mongolian A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Mongolian A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Mongolian A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Norwegian A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Norwegian A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Norwegian A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Norwegian A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Persian A or B HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Persian A SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Philosophy HL 5 PHIL 100 (6)
Physics SL 6 PHYS 100 (3)
Physics HL 6 PHYS 100 (3) and PHYS 1st-year level (3), with exemption from PHYS 101
Polish A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Polish A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Polish A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Polish A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Portuguese A SL 6 PORT 1st-year level (3)
Portuguese A or B HL 5 PORT 202 (3) and PORT 2nd-year level (3)
Psychology HL 5 PSYC 100 (6)
Punjabi A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Punjabi A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Punjabi A or B: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Punjabi A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Russian A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Russian A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Russian A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Russian A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Slovak A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Slovak A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Slovak A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Slovak A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Social and Cultural Anthropology HL 5 ANTH 100 (3) and ANTH 1st-year level (3)
Sports, Exercise, and Health Science HL 5 SCIE 1st-year level (6)
Spanish B HL 5 SPAN 201 (3) and SPAN 202 (3)
Spanish Language and Literature A SL 5 SPAN 2nd-year level (3), with exemption from SPAN 202
Spanish Language and Literature A HL 5 SPAN 221 (3) and SPAN 222 (3)
Spanish Literature A SL 5 SPAN 2nd-year level (3), with exemption from SPAN 202
Spanish Literature A HL 5 SPAN 221 (3) and SPAN 2nd-year level (3)
Swahili A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Swahili A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Swahili A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Swahili A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Swedish A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Swedish A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Swedish A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Swedish A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Thai A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Thai A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Thai A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Thai A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Thai A or B HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Thai A SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Theatre HL 5 THTR 230 (3) and THTR 1st-year level (3)
Theory of Knowledge A or B PHIL 1st-year level (6)
Turkish A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Turkish A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Turkish A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Turkish A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Turkish HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Ukrainian A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Ukrainian A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Ukrainian A: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Ukrainian A: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Vietnamese A: Language and Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Vietnamese A: Language and Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Vietnamese: Literature HL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (6)
Vietnamese: Literature SL 5 ARTS 1st-year level (3)
Visual Arts HL 5 VISA 180 (3) and VISA 1st-year level (3)