IB credits

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization awards either a diploma or a certificate for individual IB exams. UC awards students who complete the IB diploma with a score of 30 or above with 6 quarter (4 semester) units toward their UC degree, in addition to the units earned for individual Higher Level exams (usually 24 quarter/16 semester units). Students who receive IB certificates with scores of 5, 6 or 7 on Higher Level exams will receive 8 quarter (5.3 semester) units per exam.

Designated IB Higher Level exams passed with scores of 5 or higher can be used to meet portions of the seven-course pattern for transfer students, but not the English composition requirements. 

Designated examinations are awarded elective units which may be applied to UC graduation requirements for specific subjects and/or for general education/breadth requirements, as determined by each campus.

The units granted for IB exams are not counted toward the maximum number of credits required for declaration of a major or the maximum number of units a student may accumulate prior to graduation. Students who enter the UC with IB credit do not have to declare a major earlier than other students, nor are they required to graduate earlier.

Duplication with college courses

Students should be advised that college courses taken before or after attending UC may duplicate AP, IB and/or A-Level examinations. Additionally, exams may duplicate each other (for example, an AP or IB exam in the same subject area).

If the student does duplicate an exam with another exam of the same subject content, and/or an exam with a college course, we will award credit only once.