Transfers-AP-Exceptions

AP Credit 2024-25

Scroll down to see AP and IB tables. For more detail on AP, IB, or A-Level credit, check the Bulletin site.

To confirm AP (or IB or A-Level) credit to your School of Engineering major, use your MAP audit, checking the Bachelor of Science major section in the categories of Mathematics, Science, and/or Engineering Fundamentals.

Your Stanford transcript will show units of AP, etc. credit just under the top heading to the lefton the first page. If MAP and your transcript do NOT indicate AP or other test credit, you will need to send a MAP help ticket to have the units applied.

AP for Engineering Majors

Advanced Placement (AP) credits apply toward both the university 180-unit requirement and the School of Engineering requirements in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science (see the SoE-approval process below). 

10 units AP BC, with placement into MATH 51/CME 100, is equivalent to MATH 19/20/21 and acceptable in any engineering major. If 6-8 units AP or IB credit are given on the SU transcript, this gives credit for MATH 19/20, and Math 21 must be taken (21 may not be skipped using Math Diagnostic Placement results).

AP credits can be applied only if the parallel Stanford courses are skipped. For example, if a student received 10 units of AP BC mathematics credit and then enrolls in any of MATH 19, 20 or 21, the corresponding units will be removed from AP on your transcript; to apply all 10 AP units at Stanford, the first mathematics course taken must be beyond the MATH 20 series, typically MATH 51 or CME 100 (must be placed into these by taking the Math Diagnostic prior to autumn enrollment). 

AP credits in Chemistry and Physics are accepted as satisfying School of Engineering Science requirements as indicated in the chart below. Note that AP Physics C with a score of 5 counts toward the Physics 40 series, a score of 4 or AP Physics 1+2 applies only to the non-calculus-based Physics 20 series (only CS and MS&E programs accept this credit toward satisfying the science requirement). See the Stanford Bulletin AP Chart for further detail on AP policy. Duplicate Credits: AP credits in both PHYSICS 1+2 and PHYSICS C tests will not be allowed as they are considered duplicative; the student must choose which credits are most advantageous for their program and ask the Registrar to record that score.

For Stanford policy on A-Levels, French Baccalaureate, German Abitur see the Stanford Bulletin General Certification page.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit can be applied toward requirements in your School of Engineering major program as follows (this section will be updated once the Stanford Bulletin is published):

AP Scores and Placement 2024-25

• Students may contact choosingphysics@stanford.edu for additional placement information.
• Students may receive a maximum of 8 units for AP Physics; credit can be given for Physics 1/2 combined or one/both of Physics C.

IB Scores and Placement for Students Entering 2024-25

Stanford also awards advanced placement credit for certain International Baccalaureate (IB) and international advanced placement subject exams. Note that IB, GCE and A-Level Physics is equivalent to the 20-series, not to the calculus-based 40-series that is required for most School of Engineering majors (only CS and MS&E programs accept the 20-series as satisfying the physics science requirement). Students may receive credit for only one subject test in a given exam; if multiple scores are submitted, the higher-satisfying exam will be awarded.

If you have taken a Math examination that includes mechanics with calculus, you may request the Physics Department grant you equivalence for Physics 41.

To request Physics 41 equivalence, you must provide
• your Stanford transcript showing the units granted by the Stanford Registrar;
• transcript from your international examination indicating the course and score;
• the examination syllabus, or the URL for the syllabus.
Email this information to Elva Carbajal, Student Services Officer in the Physics Department. You will be notified by email either of a decision, or if an in-person meeting is required.

For detail and Stanford policy on IB, see the IB Chart in Explore Degrees