UDIS was granted authorisation for the Diploma Programme (DP) in March, 2024 and became the first school in the Northeast to offer the DP and the seventh, three programme IB school in Thailand with authorisation in the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). We welcomed our first intake of students for the DP in August, 2024 with this cohort expected to graduate in 2026.
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is an assessed programme for students aged 16 to 19. It is respected by leading universities across the globe including the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand just to name a few. The programme aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is for students aged 16-19.
Research suggests that there are many benefits to choosing the Diploma Programme (DP). The programme aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge—students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising theory of knowledge (TOK), creativity, activity, service (CAS) and the extended essay.
Through the Diploma Programme (DP) core, students reflect on the nature of knowledge, complete independent research and undertake a project that often involves community service.
Read more about the DP curriculum.
The IB not only gives learners the best chances of accessing the world’s best universities. It also helps them succeed by developing the skills they will need at university. International research shows that there are many benefits to choosing the DP over other curricula. In the IB’s 2014 Review of Research, results found that IB programmes had a positive impact on student preparedness for college, career and civic life:
The Ministry of Education accepts the IB Diploma as equivalent to the Thai Higher Secondary School Certificate (Mathayom Suksa 6). To be admitted to public higher education institutions in Thailand, DP students must present their IB Diploma to the Ministry of Education to obtain the certificate of equivalency.
The IB Diploma is recognised by publicly funded, private and all autonomous universities in Singapore. For instance, the IB Diploma is recognised by the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and others. Universities in Singapore have different admissions processes and requirements. Applicants may be required to take entrance interviews or examinations, or show a portfolio of work depending on the university’s requirements.
In Australia, the IB Diploma is recognised by all major tertiary institutions. Some universities offer advanced placement, credit and bonus schemes for DP students. Students should research universities they are interested in, seek counsel from their school’s career advisor and contact the universities directly for specific course and entry requirements.
In New Zealand, the International Baccalaureate Diploma is recognised by all major tertiary institutions too. International students can also gain admission to New Zealand universities by completing the IB Diploma.
UK universities and colleges accept the DP for entry to all first degree courses and higher education institutions. However, the institutions are autonomous, and therefore the standards required (i.e. combination of IB subjects, points secured in total and in individual subjects) are a matter for each individual institution to decide.
The IB Diploma is well known throughout the United States as a “college standard” curriculum. The quality of the programme is shown by the advantage it gives students entering these universities where IB students are admitted at higher rates than other students. An IBO survey showed that the acceptance rate of IB students into the ‘Ivy league’ was up to 18% higher than the general population acceptance rate. This indicates that students are stronger candidates as a result of taking the IB. Most of the top US colleges will even give students credits for Diploma Program subjects if they achieve a certain score.
The Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) are both high school programmes that offer challenging courses for high school students where college credit can be earned. However, they have different philosophies and goals. The AP programme was developed to help high school students prepare for college by taking advanced courses. Students could take one or more of these courses as they chose. In the IB programme, to earn the Diploma a student must take a certain amount of courses across a range of subjects.
The AP focuses on teaching students’ specific content knowledge and will test that knowledge through exams which are often multiple choice. In contrast, the IB has more emphasis on writing and developing critical thinking skills (e.g. the extended essay) which are also necessary skills at the university level. The DP also has extracurricular requirements that must be met to earn the Diploma which are not part of the AP.
The IB Diploma is a widely recognised high school qualification that can be used across the world. You can find university recognition by country by examining the following website from the IB:
Udon Thani International School (UDIS) is fully authorised by the International Baccalaureate (IB) to offer the Diploma Programme (DP) to our learners. UDIS is an IB world school authorised to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) to our students.
We opend our first Year 12 class in August, 2024 and we expect this cohort to graduate in 2026.
222/2 Moo. 2 Mittrapab Road
Tumbonkudsra
Aumpearmuang
Udon Thani 41000
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