Diploma Programme

Diploma Progamme:

The two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is an academically-challenging and rigorous pre-university programme for our 16- to 19-year-old students. It is an international curriculum and is highly regarded by universities globally.

For more information about the Diploma Programme, click here .

Diploma Programme students must take six subjects and complete three core elements: The Extended Essay, Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) and Theory of Knowledge (TOK).

DP SUBJECTS AT THE ISB

Students select one subject from each subject area. Three subjects are taken at standard level and three are taken at higher level. Please refer to the Diploma Programme subject briefs  for more detailed information about each subject.

• Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature

• • English
  • Dutch
  • School Supported Self Taught Language – Literature A

• Group 2: Language acquisition

• • English
  • Dutch
  • French
  • Spanish

• Group 3: Individuals and societies

• • History
  • Environmental Systems and Societies
  • Economics

• Group 4: Experimental sciences

• • Biology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Systems and Societies

• Group 5: Mathematics and Computer Science

• • Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
  • Mathematics: Applications and interpretation

• Group 6: The arts**

• • Visual Arts

* We also offer the option to replace one of the courses with an online course by Pamoja Education

** Instead of selecting a Group 6 subject, students have the option of selecting an additional subject from Groups 1-4.

CORE ELEMENTS

The three core elements are compulsory for all Diploma Programme students.

The Extended Essay

The Extended Essay is a major independent research project focused on one of the subjects studied by our students. It is a great opportunity for them to demonstrate their knowledge on, and enthusiasm for, a topic of their choice. The Extended Essay is externally assessed by the International Baccalaureate.

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

CAS is a core element of the Diploma Programme and is managed by the CAS Coordinator. The CAS programme is student-driven and consists of a number of experiences and projects conducted by each student over the duration of the Diploma Programme. Each experience/project must link to at least one of the CAS strands (Creativity, Activity, Service) and meet one or more of the prescribed learning outcomes. Students learn by personal experience and their progress is monitored by the CAS Coordinator/Advisors.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

TOK is central to the Diploma Programme curriculum. The course examines the nature of knowledge and encourages students to reflect on the acquisition of knowledge across subject areas. It is assessed through a TOK exhibition and an essay focused on a conceptual issue related to knowledge acquisition.