International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)

The British International School HCMC is one of the leading IB schools in Vietnam. Our International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a globally recognised qualification that prepares students for admissions into higher education. The intensive programme, designed for students aged 16-18 years old, aims to develop inquisitive, knowledgeable and caring young people, ready to help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

Our IB schools in Vietnam help students prepare themselves for university and the real-world challenges they may face in the future. The IBDP comprises of six academic subjects and other core learnings. You’ll find all the information you need on the IB programme offered at the British International School in Vietnam detailed below.

What is the IB Diploma Programme?

At the British International School, Ho Chi Minh City (BIS HCMC), students undertake the two-year International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13 (aged 16-18), with the support of our dedicated Sixth Form team. The IB Diploma Programme provides a challenging and rewarding educational experience, and is based on the philosophy that students should embrace enquiry and apply critical thinking skills to real world situations.

The IBDP curriculum comprises of six academic subjects, along with the IB core of Creativity Activity Service (CAS), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and the Extended Essay (EE). The diagram below illustrates the structure of the Diploma Programmme:

As the diagram highlights, students select academic subjects - three at Higher Level, three at Standard Level - from six groups:

Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
Group 2: Language Acquisition
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
Group 4: Sciences
Group 5: Mathematics
Group 6: The Arts or an Elective from Group 3 or Group 4

The academic IB subjects are supported by the IBDP core components:

• Extended Essay (EE) – a 4000 word essay on a subject of interest to the student.
• Theory of Knowledge (TOK) – this invites students to question the basis and limits of knowledge from their own perspective.
• CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) – students participate in various purposeful and personally challenging activities related to these three areas.

The IB Diploma Programme offers a broad range of academic subjects for students to study. This allows your child to personalise their learning, to reflect their own individual passions and interests. This provides excellent preparation for the rigours of university and adult life, and is widely recognised by many as the leading post-16 qualification currently available.

Why choose the International Baccalaureate® Diploma for your child?

A proven pathway to success

Universities worldwide hold the IB Diploma in high esteem, with IB students continually being accepted at some of the highest ranking colleges and universities. As this is an international qualification, it is particularly useful for students who plan to study or work abroad.

Promoting independent learning

The IB Diploma Programme encourages students to become internationally-minded and to drive their own self-directed learning. There is a focus on social and emotional development, creating global citizens with universal values.

Encouraging global awareness

Through various elements of the IBDP, such as mastering a foreign language or learning about other cultures and political systems, students naturally become culturally aware, developing their understanding of the world around them.

Studying the IBDP at BIS HCMC

Choosing the right IB school for your child can be a difficult task. When searching for a school, it is important to look at factors such as academic results, experience of the teaching staff and - most importantly - the support in place to help guide your child to a successful outcome at the end of the two year intensive course.

Our academic results

Our students’ average score in the International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme continues to significantly exceed the global average year-on-year. This is a direct result of the excellent academic standards of our school and the calibre of our students in comparison to other international schools in Vietnam, and indeed globally. These impressive IB results also provide our students with access to the very best universities worldwide, including prestigious Ivy League colleges in the United States and Russell Group universities in the United Kingdom.

Dedicated, skilled and inspirational teachers

Our outstanding IBDP teachers encourage and inspire our students to be the best they can possibly be, proven by our exceptional results record.

Support network

The IB Diploma Programme is a deeply rewarding educational experience for students, but it is a challenging programme and requires a high level of commitment.

To assist with the natural pressures of the schedule we implement our International Life Skills (ILS) programme in tandem with the IBDP. We focus on aspects such as health and wellbeing, effective time management and careers education as a way of further helping our students to support them as they undertake the rigours of academic study.

In addition, we have a dedicated Sixth Form Centre that encompasses the following features:

• Social space
• Private and collaborative study areas
• Sixth Form and IB office with dedicated pastoral and academic support staff
• University Guidance Suite with a full-time College and University Guidance team
• Individual storage space  

All students have one-to-one access to our full-time University and Guidance team, enabling them to explore a variety of academic and career pathways with confidence and experienced support. All students also have access to our School Counsellor and Student Centre, where they are able to seek additional support from the wellbeing team at any time.

The internationally recognised IB Diploma curriculum, coupled with our comprehensive support network and inspirational teachers represents an unrivaled educational experience here in Ho Chi Minh City.