IB Diploma Programme

The IB Diploma Programme aims to educate young adults to become sensitive to international issues; conscious of the connections which unite all humans; concerned about the responsibilities of each and every one of us towards our environment, with a desire to contribute to building a better and more peaceful world.

The IB Diploma Programme is considered by many to offer students the best preparation for university studies and personal and career success. It is recognised by universities and schools in Belgium, Europe and the rest of the world as an intellectually demanding certificate which trains students in self reliance, independent study, intellectual curiosity and academic approaches well suited to university studies.

The Diploma Programme - DP - requires students to be independent, honest, communicative and committed to their studies. The Programme develops students’ knowledge in specific disciplines as well as on important local and world-wide questions.

EIM students enrolled in the DP programme have a choice of 6 courses. Each course is available at 2 levels:

• Standard Level (SL): 150 teaching hours over two years
• Higher Level (HL): 240 teaching hours over two years

During their two-year course, each student must carry out an internally assessed research project in each of their subjects. In DP2 (the final year of the programme) the official examinations take place in May.

Additionally, all DP students will take part in the following three Core Programmes :

- CAS activities (Creativity, Activity, Service): This involves developing key skills through various types of extra-curricular activities . Students will set themselves specific goals and regulary reflect on their progress.

- Theory of Knowledge (ToK) : In this course, students will reflect on the nature of knowledge in various subject areas studied in order to develop further critical thinking skills.

- Extended Essay: Students will have the opportunity to do in-depth academic research in one of their six DP subjects. This essay provides students with the opportunity to develop their research and writing skills, with intellectual honesty and integrity.

Students starting out on their IB diploma course must also commit to a personal investment to develop the different aspects of the learner profile. You can consult the IB learner profile here

General regulations: Diploma Programme

CAS is a unique opportunity for students to participate in three major projects led by the CAS superviser:

Creativity: arts, and other activities involving creative thinking.

• Exhibition, show, video

Activity: physical activities to help maintain a healthy lifestyle and completing school work done in other disciplines of the Diploma Programme

• Sports tournaments with other IB schools or championships
• 20 km around Brussels to raise funds
• Music lessons

Service: voluntary and unpaid work, focusing on engaging and working with others. This will also provide students with educational benefits and advantages.

• Activities in homes for the elderly, educational support for hospitalised children, helping out in after school homework programmes for disadvantaged students…

Students must give approximately 3 hours per week to the CAS.

The goals of this programme are numerous:

• To promote leadership skills
• To be able to take decisions
• To develop thinking and reflective skills
• To be able to accept new challenges
• To be able to provide advice and take action when necessary
• To belong to a community and participate in group projects
• To invest in local or national projects and adopt a global vision, "Think globally, act locally"

Examples of CAS projects :

• Collecting nappies for refugees
• Humanitarian trip to Moldova - an organisation that takes care of disadvantaged children Fundraising activities for the school trip:
• Crepe sales at schools
• Selling sandwiches at school
• Oxfam lunch at school
• Volunteering at a hospital
• Writing a song
• Taking dance classes
• Volunteering at a refugee camp
• Obtaining a boat licence

This is an appreciation of the investment made during the year.

The learner will be monitored by the CAS superviser to review the project and progress of the activities.

Each student will regularly provide a write-up, specifying and reviewing the objectives and the activities chosen to be carried out.

The hours spent on each project will be recorded and an account of each day devoted to CAS will be provided.

Examination results are between 1 and 7 for each course (6 lessons x 7 points = 42 points)

• Up to 3 points are awarded for TOK & Extended Essay
• TOTAL OF 45 POSSIBLE POINTS
• IB success rate: 80% at each session
• on average, 1% of all DP students are awarded 45/45
• A student may make 3 separate attempts to pass the Diploma exams
• The pass mark is 24/45 - if a student has a lower final result than 24/45, the Diploma is not awarded

Conditions for Receiving an IB Diploma

The IB Diploma will be awarded to a candidate on the condition that all the following requirements have been met.

1. CAS requirements have been met.
2. The candidate’s total points are 24 or more.
3. There is no “N” awarded for theory of knowledge, the extended essay or for a contributing subject.
4. There is no grade E awarded for theory of knowledge and/or the extended essay.
5. There is no grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.
6. There are no more than two grade 2s awarded (HL or SL).
7. There are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded (HL or SL).
8. The candidate has gained 12 points or more on HL subjects (for candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).
9. The candidate has gained 9 points or more on SL subjects (candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL). 
10. The candidate has not received a penalty for academic misconduct from the Final Award Committee.

A maximum of three examination sessions is allowed in which to satisfy the requirements for the 
award of the IB Diploma. The examination sessions need not be consecutive

Key links:

• Benefits for students
• The IB Diploma Programme