IB Diploma Programme at VBU International High School

VBU International High School is an authorized IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme

International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally recognized education that is offered at more than 5,000 schools in 159 different countries. The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is a renowned university preparatory programme (högskoleförberedande program) where you study all subjects in English.

IB Diploma Programme

VBU International High School is a certified International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Diploma Programme, which is a university preparatory programme (högskoleförberedande program) taught in English. The programme leads to an internationally renowned high school diploma that gives you access to the best universities around the world and in Sweden. The content and quality of the programme are guaranteed by the International Baccalaureate Foundation, with headquarters in Switzerland.

In the Diploma Programme, you can choose your own course package, depending on your interests and future career ambitions. Upon completion of the programme, you gain admission to renowned universities in Sweden and abroad, such as Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Sorbonne, medical schools in Sweden, and the Stockholm School of Economics. Additionally, the Diploma Programme provides you with the opportunity to apply for other higher education programmes taught in Swedish, as you can choose a course that is equivalent to “Svenska 3” (Swedish A).

Prep Year

For the first year of the programme, which is called Prep Year, you choose between two strands: Natural Sciences and Social Sciences. Each strand has its own course package consisting of seven courses that follow the Swedish national curriculum for upper secondary education but are taught in English.

Natural Sciences
Swedish 1/SVA 1
English 5
Biology 1
Biology 2
Mathematics 1c
Mathematics 2c
Physical Education 1

Social Sciences
Swedish 1/SVA 1
English 5
Modern Languages: German, Spanish or French
History 1b
Mathematics 1b
Civics 1b
Physical Education 1

Natural Sciences

The course package for the natural sciences strand consists of the following Prep Year courses: Swedish 1/Swedish as a second language 1, English 5, biology 1, biology 2, mathematics 1c, mathematics 2c, and physical education. The courses are taught in English and follow the Swedish national curriculum for upper secondary education.

The natural sciences strand is for you who are interested in becoming a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, dental technician, among many other professions.

Social Sciences

The social sciences strand offers the following Prep Year courses: Swedish 1/Swedish as a second language 1, English 5, a modern language (Spanish, French or German), history 1b, mathematics 1b, civics 1b, and physical education. The language of instruction is English and the courses follow the Swedish national curriculum for upper secondary education.

The social sciences strand is for you who are interested in becoming a civil engineer, lawyer, psychologist, business administrator, among other professions.

IB Diploma Programme

For the second and third years of the IB Diploma Programme, you choose six subjects that follow the IB curriculum: three subjects are studied at higher level (HL: 240 teaching hours) and three subjects are studied at standard level (SL: 150 teaching hours). You choose one subject from subject groups 1 to 5. The sixth subject can be taken from group 6, or you may choose another subject from groups 1 to 4.

In the final year of the Diploma Programme, you sit externally assessed final exams in their chosen subjects.

Group 1: Studies in language and literature
English A: language and literature (HL, SL)
Swedish A: language and literature (HL, SL)
Language A: School-supported self-taught literature in the mother tongue (SL)

Group 2: Language acquisition
English B (HL, SL)
Swedish B (HL, SL)
German B (SL, HL)
French B (SL, HL)
Spanish B (SL, HL)
Swedish ab initio (SL)

Group 3: Individuals and societies
History (HL, SL)
Philosophy (SL)

Group 4: Sciences
Biology (SL)
Chemistry (SL)
Physics (SL, HL)

Group 5: Mathematics
Mathematics: analysis and approaches (HL, SL)
Mathematics: applications and interpretation (HL, SL)

Group 6: The arts
Film (HL, SL)
Or a subject from groups 1-4

DP Core

There are also three compulsory components in the IB Diploma Programme: Theory of Knowledge - TOK, Extended Essay - EE, and Creativity, Activity, Service - CAS.

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) extra curricular activities with focus on community service, creativity, and physical activity.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is a course that encourages you to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining the different ways of acquiring knowledge.

Extended Essay (EE) is a final essay of about 4,000 words.

For more information please contact the Head of School Marina Nogueira di Cicco at marina.nogueiradicicco@vbu.ludvika.se.