The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

The IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive and challenging pre-university course that demands the best from both motivated students and teachers. This sophisticated two-year curriculum covers a wide range of academic subjects. IBDP graduates are welcome by the world’s leading universities.

Why the IB Diploma?

Students learn more than a collection of facts. The Diploma Programme prepares students for university and encourages them to:

• Ask challenging questions
• Learn how to learn
• Develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture
• Develop the ability to communicate with and undedrstand people from other countries and cultures

The IB Diploma is widely recognised by the world’s leading universities. The IBO works closely with universities in all regions of the world to gain recognition for the IBDP.

What is in the curriculum?

In order to achieve the IBDP, a student is required to study six academic subjects concurrently over two years. At least three subjects are studied at higher level (courses representing 240 teaching hours), and the remaining three subjects are studied at standard level (courses representing 150 teaching hours).

One subject must be chosen from each of the five groups: first language, second language, individuals and societies, experimental sciences, and mathematics and computer science. The sixth subject may be chosen either from the arts or as a second subject from the five other groups.

All three parts of the core—extended essay, theory of knowledge and creativity, action, service (CAS) —are compulsory and are central to the philosophy of the Diploma Programme.

IBDP in India

At a meeting in New Delhi on 26th April 1994 attended by the Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities and the IBO, a revised recognition and acceptance agreement was approved of the IB Diploma as an entry qualification to all universities in India. This agreement was revised in January 1999. It is expressed in terms of IB achievement and the equivalence to the marks awarded in the Indian Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations:

IBDP grades required for admission into professional courses like Medicine include: Higher Level passes in Physics, Chemistry and Biology with Standard Level passes in English A1, A2 or B. The medical degree courses include MBBS, BDS, B. Pharm., Nursing and BPT. And for Engineering Courses: Higher Level passes in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with Standard Level English A1, A2 or B. Engineering courses include B. Eng. in all streams - civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, instrumentation, computer, aeronautical engineering. etc.

IBDP the world over

The IBDP is a passport to higher education. Universities around the world welcome the unique characters of IBDP students and recognize the way in which the programme helps to prepare students for university level education.

IB students routinely gain admission to some of the best known universities in the world. Most of these institutions have established recognition policies for the IBDP.
For example:

Oxford University, United Kingdom

University of British Columbia, Canada

University of Auckland, New Zealand

Harvard University, United States

The IBO maintains information about university recognition both in India and abroad on its website www.ibo.org