Highlighting Diploma Programme Student Research

Based on a large international data set, by the end of the Diploma Programme (DP), 98% of students aspired to at least a bachelor’s degree and 81% aspired to a master’s, doctoral or professional degree.

In line with previous research, about 85% of DP students* in the United States (US) enrolled in university immediately after high school, compared to 66% of all US high school graduates. DP students were also more likely than other US students to continue on to their second year of university (persistence).

 

 

In the UK, DP students* were more likely to achieve many positive higher education outcomes compared to matched A level students.

 

 

A study in Australia, England and Norway found that DP students* had significantly higher levels of critical thinking compared to their matched non-DP peers. The critical thinking advantage of DP students compared to non-DP students also increased from year 11 to year 12.

 

 

At both the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia in Canada, DP students were much more likely than non-DP students to enter science faculties compared to other fields of study. 

 

 

 

Additionally, compared to students with traditional high school diplomas in Ontario and British Columbia (OSSD or DW), DP students earned higher university grades, were less likely to drop out of university and were more likely to graduate in a timely manner.

In comparison with non-DP peers, DP alumni at universities in Australia and East Asia reported higher capacities for a variety of 21st-century skills (based on a five-point scale).

 

 

Compared to young adults from a similar age range, DP and Career-related Programme (CP)students had higher levels of global mindedness across all six countries studied. In five out of six cases, these differences in global-mindedness levels were statistically significant.

 

 

For further research into the effectiveness of the IB programmes, please visit https://ibo.org/research

Source: https://ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/research/pdfs/dp-cp-key-findings-a4-en.pdf