An alternative to A-levels: seven things you should know about the International Baccalaureate Diploma

Thousands of students in more than 5,000 schools all over the world work towards International Baccalaureate (IB) qualifications every year, pursuing a globally focused pathway of study that focuses on equipping them with key skills for the future. While the IB offers a variety of programmes for pupils aged from three to 19, it’s best known for its two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) – for students aged 16 to 19. Here’s everything you need to know about the IBDP.

It’s academically challenging and rewarding
The diploma programme includes a theory of knowledge component, which develops critical thinking; an extended essay – a 4,000-word paper based on self-directed research and study on a topic of personal interest; and a project that relates to the concepts of creativity, activity and service.

“You have to have achieved reasonably well in your previous qualifications to be accepted, so we look at students’ grades to make sure they’re academically suited to the programme. There’s no point putting kids on a course they might struggle with. The IBDP also requires more contact time and work than A-levels,” says Alessandro Capozzi, head of sixth form at King’s InterHigh.

It’s an alternative to A-levels
The IBDP is a curriculum option for sixth form-age students, and the international equivalent to A-levels. A key difference between the two qualifications is the breadth of subjects students continue to study in the IBDP – they take English, another language, mathematics, a science subject, a humanities subject and a sixth subject of their choice. Students will then select some of these to pursue at a higher level. The diploma programme also focuses on helping students develop academic skills, while teaching them to think critically and independently, and to become well-rounded individuals.

Broad career choices
The IBDP opens the door to many different career options. Having followed the International Baccalaureate curriculum throughout her school life, Micol Bosso, 16, began studying the IBDP last September at King’s InterHigh – an online school – from her home in London. It’s a programme that aligns with her academic and career goals. “I’m studying business management, economics and English at a higher level because I’m interested in a career in international management and economics,” she says. “I’m also interested in studying English and modern languages, so I’m doing higher-level Spanish as well. It’s hard work, but it’s the right programme for me. When it comes to [applying to] university, I will have more options.”

You can study online
Although the vast majority of IBDP students attend a physical school, the programme is also taught online. King’s InterHigh was the world’s first school to offer the IB Diploma Programme entirely online. One of the biggest benefits of online study is the increased accessibility, says Capozzi. “It’s a flexible option with lesson recordings, resources, and a school that moves with you. It’s a way of learning that fits around our students’ lives, rather than the other way around.”

Join the global classroom community
The current IBDP cohort at King’s InterHigh is incredibly global, hailing from countries such as India, Antigua, Botswana, Madagascar, Norway, Italy, France, Turkey and the UK. Students study together in virtual classrooms, collaborating on projects, learning from each other and developing key future skills. “We have incorporated teaching and learning technologies to improve delivery and increase understanding and immersion in topics, for example, using VR,” says Capozzi.

A global and diverse community is a key feature of the diploma. Built into the fabric of the course is the desire to work with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Being part of a global community and working alongside students from different countries and cultures has helped to enhance Bosso’s studies. “I’m studying environmental science, so it’s important for me to understand what’s happening in different countries and cultures,” says Bosso. “Working in such a diverse group gives you that insight and opens your mind to different ways of doing things.”

IB students are highly sought after
The IBDP is held in high regard by universities all over the world, as IB students are seen to possess the breadth of skills, resilience and international-mindedness to thrive at university. Many universities offer scholarships to IB students. Imperial College London, for instance, is offering 28 scholarships to IBDP holders, each worth £3,000 per year, across its engineering, natural sciences and business school faculties.

Other universities operate a sliding scale, with scholarships based on the number of IBDP points students have achieved. The American University of Paris, for example, awards scholarships of €14,000 (£12,350) per year, almost 40% of full-time tuition, for those who achieve a score of 36 to 39, €20,000 (£16,000) per year, almost 60% of full-time tuition, for those who achieve a score of 40 to 43, and 100% full tuition scholarships for students who achieve a score of 44 or 45 – the highest possible score for an IBDP.

It isn’t all work and no play
The IBDP is a rigorous programme of study that demands high levels of commitment and self-discipline. However, it also focuses on emotional and social development by encouraging students to take part in extracurricular activities, ranging from computer programming and oil painting to gardening and yoga, plus community-focused activities. As well as providing respite from their studies, a broad social agenda allows students to develop other important skills such as empathy, teamwork and organisation.

“The IB helps students develop a broad range of transferable skills that will help them with both their university education and throughout their lives,” says Capozzi. “These children are exploring themselves, ethically, socially and culturally, they have amazing global connectivity, and they are loving it. They are the leaders of tomorrow.”

King’s InterHigh is now enrolling for its fully online IB Diploma Programme for September 2023. For a flexible, innovative and expert-taught pathway to top universities, visit the King’s InterHigh website to discover more.