Diploma programme DP

Recognised for admission to the world’s leading universities

The aim of the IB Diploma programme is to develop internationally minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

What is the Diploma programme?

The Diploma Program (DP) is an academically-focused curriculum for students ages sixteen to eighteen (grades 11 and 12) who are preparing to enter university. It aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The programme’s hard-earned reputation for quality, high standards, and pedagogical leadership reinforces its commitment to intercultural understanding and respect as an essential part of life in the 21st century. 

How do I get the Diploma?

To be eligible for the IB Diploma, each student is required to follow six IB courses, with one subject taken from each group in the curriculum model:

• Group 1: Language A (literature and/or language and literature)
• Group 2: second language (language acquisition)
• Group 3: individuals and societies
• Group 4: experimental sciences
• Group 5: mathematics
• Group 6: arts OR one subject from groups 1-4 Further, all IB Diploma students must choose
• Three courses at a higher level (HL)
• Three courses at standard level (SL)

In addition, all IB Diploma students must complete

• A course in the Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
• A 4,000-word Extended Essay in a subject of their choice
• A Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) program

Grades are on a scale of 1 – 7, with 7 being the highest achievable grade. The IB diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points. The six academic subjects are studied concurrently. At least three subjects–but not more than four–are taken at a higher level, while the others are standard level. HL courses consist of about 240 teaching hours, SL courses of about 150 hours. Students are thus able to explore some subjects in depth and others more broadly, a deliberate compromise between the early specialisation of some national systems and the breadth found in others. In addition, all students must complete a 4,000 word research paper on a topic of their choice (Extended Essay), participate in at least 150 hours of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) and fulfill the requirements of the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course.