International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) offers high quality programmes of international education to a worldwide community of schools. Three programmes for students aged 3 to 19 help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world. Founded in 1968, the IBO is currently working with 2,119 schools in 125 countries to develop and offer challenging programmes to over 566,000 students aged 3 to 19 years.

The IB is a non-profit educational foundation, motivated by its mission, focused on the student.

Our three programmes span the years from kindergarten to pre-university. The programmes can be offered individually or as a continuum.

The Primary Years Programme for pupils aged 3 to 12 focuses on the development of the whole child in the classroom and in the world outside.

The Middle Years Programme for pupils aged 11 to 16 provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills, achieved through embracing and transcending traditional school subjects.

The Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19 is a demanding two-year curriculum leading to final examinations and a qualification that is welcomed by leading universities around the world.

Each programme includes a curriculum and pedagogy, student assessment appropriate to the age range, professional development for teachers and a process of school authorization and evaluation. The programmes are available through 2,119 IB World Schools in 125 countries.

The IB offers a continuum of high-quality education that encourages international-mindedness and a positive attitude to learning. Our programmes are accessible to students in 125 countries through our close cooperation with the worldwide community of IB World Schools.

The IB is unique:

The IBO offers a continuum of education, consisting of three individual programmes. They span the years from kindergarten to a pre-university diploma. While we are traditionally known for the Diploma Programme, IB World Schools increasingly offer all three programmes.

The IBO is proud of our reputation for high-quality education sustained for over 35 years. Our curriculum represents the best from many different countries rather than the exported national system of any one. The challenging Diploma Programme assessment is recognized by the world's leading universities. They maintain our high standards by actively training and supporting teachers, and by authorizing and evaluating IB World Schools.
The IBO encourages international-mindedness in IB students. To do this, they believe that students must first develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity. All IB students learn a second language and the skills to live and work with others internationally—essential for life in the 21st century.
The IBO encourages a positive attitude to learning by encouraging students to ask challenging questions, to critically reflect, to develop research skills, and to learn how to learn. They encourage community service because we believe that there is more to learning than academic studies alone.
The IBO ensures that programmes are accessible to students in a wide variety of schools—national, international, public and private—in 125 countries. These IB World Schools form a worldwide community in which there is no such thing as a “typical” school (more than 50% of IB students are in state-funded schools). IB World Schools cooperate in curriculum development, student assessment and the governance of the IB, making this a unique international collaboration.

The IB does not own or manage any schools. Instead, we work with schools around the world (both state and privately funded) that share our commitment to international education.

Schools that have been authorized by us to offer one or more of our programmes are known as "IB World Schools".

These schools:

share the mission and commitment of the IB to quality international education
play an active and supporting role in the worldwide community of IB schools
share their knowledge and experience in the development of the IB programmes
are committed to the professional development of teachers.

Authorization to become an IB World School is an intensive process that typically takes two or more years and includes site visits by an IB team.

A regular process of evaluation is undertaken by schools that have been authorized.