Cambridge pre-U principal subject transfer credits for consideration

The University of Waterloo recognizes Cambridge Pre-U courses as excellent academic preparation for success at the university level and will normally consider awarding transfer credits for Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects in which a minimum final grade of M2 is attained.

Please note that official final Cambridge Pre-U results must be sent directly to the Admission Office at Waterloo before transfer credits can be considered. Your final Cambridge Pre-U transcript must be received by the deadline as listed on your offer of admission.

The maximum number of transfer credits depends on the program you're admitted to.
The transfer credits you receive will be different if you change to a program that required 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.
0.5 units is generally equal to a one-term course at Waterloo. For example, 4.0 units is the equivalent of 8 term courses (or 80% of a full year).

You have the option to decline your transfer credits. Further details will be emailed to you in August, once your transfer credits have been assessed.

Maximum number of transfer credits and additional notes

Not sure which faculty offers your program of interest? View a list of programs by faculty.

Faculty of Arts, including Accounting and Financial Management, Sustainability and Financial Management

Transfer credits will be considered up to a maximum of 4.0 units, except the Global Business and Digital Arts and Accounting and Financial Management programs.
- Global Business and Digital Arts will consider up to a maximum of 2.5 units.
- Accounting and Financial Management will consider up to a maximum of 2.0 units.
- Sustainability and Financial Management will consider up to a maximum of 2.0 units.

Faculty of Engineering, including Architecture

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 included 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 Cambridge Pre-U courses. As a result, we don't grant first-year course exemptions for A Level or Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subject courses.

School of Architecture

Transfer credit will be considered for an elective credit up to a maximum of 0.5 units (equivalent to one term course).

Faculty of Environment

Transfer credits will be considered up to a maximum of 4.0 units.
The Planning degree program will consider up to a maximum of 1.0 units.

Faculty of Health

The Recreation and Leisure Studies program will consider up to a maximum of 4 units.
The Health Sciences, Kinesiology, and Public Health programs will consider up to a maximum of 3 units.

Faculty of Mathematics, including Computing and Financial Management

Up to 1.5 units of transfer credit (the equivalent of three term courses at Waterloo) will be allowed for all eligible IB courses.
For Business Administration (Laurier) and Mathematics (Waterloo) and Business Administration (Laurier) and Computer Science (Waterloo) double degree students, transfer credit assessment may be subject to change based on cross-registration with Wilfrid Laurier University.
The Faculty of Mathematics does not award transfer credit for Computer Science or for Information Technology in a Global Society.

Faculty of Science

Transfer credits will be considered up to a maximum of 3.0 units (equivalent to six term courses).
Faculty of Science does not award transfer credit for IB Higher Level Chemistry if a program requires CHEM 121, CHEM 121L, CHEM 125, and CHEM 125L.

Course equivalencies

"1XX" means that you'll receive first-year credit for an elective in that subject. For example, FINE 1XX means that you'll receive transfer credit for a general first-year course in Fine Arts. Most courses at Waterloo are worth 0.5 units.

You’ll have a mix of courses you’re required to take as part of your degree and elective courses you can choose. A “1XX” course can be used as an elective. Once you start your course selection as a Waterloo student, your academic advisor can help with any questions about choosing courses and transfer credits.

Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subject Course	Waterloo course equivalent (0.5 units unless otherwise specified)
Arabic	LANG 1XX
Arts (Arts and Design)	FINE 1XX
Biological Sciences (A-Level)	BIOL 239 and BIOL 130L (0.75 units)
Biology (Pre-U)	BIOL 239 and BIOL 130L (0.75 units)
Business or Business Management	BUS 1XX
Chemistry (A-Level)	CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, CHEM 123, and CHEM 123L (1.5 units)
Chemistry (Pre-U)	CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, CHEM 123, and CHEM 123L (1.5 units)
Classical Greek or Classical Heritage	CLAS 1XX
Chinese	CHINA 1XX
Comparative Government and Politics	PSCI 1XX
Computer Science	CS 1XX
Economics (A-Level)	ECON 1XX
Economics (Pre-U)	ECON 1XX (Grade of M1 must be attained)
English	ENGL 1XX
French	FR 1XX
Geography	GEOG 1XX
History or History of Art	HIST 1XX
German	GER 1XX
Italian	ITAL 1XX
Information Technology	CS 1XX
Latin	LAT 1XX
Mathematics	MATH 137 - Grade of A (A-Level) or D3 (Pre-U) must be attained, or MATH 127 - Grade B (A-Level) or M1 (Pre-U) must be attained A minimum grade of A (A-Level) must be attained for programs within the Faculty of Science.
Further Mathematics	MATH 137 (0.5 units) - Grade of A (A-Level) or D3 (Pre-U) must be attained, or MATH 127 (0.5 units) - Grade B (A-Level) or M1 (Pre-U) must be attained A minimum grade of A (A-Level) must be attained for programs within the Faculty of Science.
Music	MUSIC 1XX
Philosophy & Theology	PHIL 1XX
Physics (A-Level)	PHYS 111 and PHYS 1XX (1.0 units)
Physics (Pre-U)	PHYS 111 and PHYS 111L (0.75 units)
Psychology (Arts)	PSYCH 1XX
Russian	RUSS 1XX
Sociology	SOC 101
Spanish	SPAN 1XX
Sports Science	Under review