Graduates of the IB DP are sought after by the top universities all around the globe. The IBDP is designed to foster independent learning, intercultural understanding, and responsible global citizenship.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a globally recognised, academically challenging two-year course, completed in Years 11 and 12. Many students choose this pathway as an alternative to the NSW Higher School Certificate, appreciating its broad academic focus and international perspective.
The IB enables students to engage with learning. They are not passive receivers of information, instead, they are active participants in their learning. They collaborate, ask questions and get curious. The IB helps young people to think independently and critically in ways that other curricula do not.
At its heart, the IB is about nurturing students who are globally aware, compassionate, and committed to contributing to a more peaceful and sustainable world.
The Diploma Programme is one of four IB Programmes offered at HVGS and we are the only school in Australia to offer all four programmes.
Why students choose the IB DP at HVGS
- It encourages students to become confident, independent learners.
- Provides a broad, rigorous study pattern, where students study a subject from each of the curriculum areas, thus, increasing academic opportunity. This is important for students who are still undecided about their future careers and tertiary studies.
- It is an international qualification recognised by leading universities around the world.
- Develops globally minded graduates.
- It links subjects through the Theory of Knowledge component so that students make connections between subjects rather than studying them in isolation.
- Provides two levels to studying each subject so that more time can be devoted to the student’s stronger subjects, thereby balancing breadth with depth of learning.
- It has equal standing for all subjects; there is no scaling of subjects when calculating a student’s ATAR.
More about the IB DP
Subject Courses
Students select a subject from six subject disciplines:
- Language and Literature
- Language Acquisition
- Mathematics
- Sciences
- Individuals and Societies
- The Arts.
Of these six subjects:
- Three subjects are studied for 150 hours (called a standard level subject) over the two years
- Three subjects, are studied for 240 hours (called a higher level subject) over the two years
This means students spend more time studying their stronger subjects in more depth.
Core Components of the IB Diploma
There are three components that comprise the IB Diploma Programme:
- The Extended Essay: Students complete a 4,000-word essay in a Higher Level subject of their choice, addressing a research question which they devise in collaboration with their supervisor.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Students take part in activities like sports, arts, and volunteering to help balance their studies and life. This isn’t graded.
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK): A course that teaches students to think critically about how we learn and understand different subjects.
Course Achievement
Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive an International Baccalaureate Diploma Certificate.
DP students are also able to have their mark converted to an ATAR.
History of the IB DP
Since its beginnings in Geneva more than four decades ago, the IB Diploma Programme has experienced significant growth worldwide, now taught in over 3,290 schools across more than 141 countries, with nearly one million students currently enrolled.
HVGS has been offering the IB DP since 2025.
IB Mission Statement
The IB Mission Statement is shared below:
The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
Go a little Deeper
Go a little deeper
Visit the International Baccalaureate website for more information about the Diploma Programme, or reach out to our Registrar to discuss how it might benefit your child.
Other IB Programmes at HVGS
Hunter Valley Grammar School is the only school in Australia authorised to offer all four International Baccalaureate Programmes. This ensures a global-focused continuum of learning for all HVGS students from Preschool to Year 12.