Are you a student planning to apply to university, or a parent or counsellor supporting your students’ application? The information and resources below can help you navigate through the process.
If you are a school counsellor, read more on how to connect with us through My IB and on how we can support your professional development.
IB course selection guidance
The IB courses you or your student decide to enroll in can play an important role when applying to university. Our course selection guidance can help you determine which combination of higher level and standard level subjects may best support you or your students’ goals.
Academic credit and test scores
For information about acceptance of the IB diploma, academic credit, scores required for entry, scholarships available, and other facts, visit find countries and universities that recognize the IB.
Many universities and colleges, especially in the USA, grant university credit or advanced standing for certain scores on IB exams. Read guidance on how students can use or waive credit upon entering university.
Assessment
Assessment is a crucial part of any education programme and plays an important role in measuring and supporting learning.
To gain a deeper understanding of assessment in the MYP, DP and CP, visit our page about IB assessment.
Country-specific guidance
You or your student may decide to apply to universities in different countries, and it is important to understand how the process differs by country.
The IB has developed country-specific guides to help clarify the application requirements for countries where many IB students attend university. Plus, see our new self-paced online professional development modules for key countries.
Student transcripts
The IB provides an official transcript of grades for the MYP, DP and CP. It is an official copy of an IB candidate’s results. Transcripts can be sent directly to an institute of higher education, such as a university. These documents are not sent to students or other organizations. Find out more about requesting and sending transcripts.
One of the most popular transcript destinations is the United States (USA). The IB often receives requests for an official grade conversion from IB to the system in the USA. Due to the decentralized nature of the education system in the USA, there is no standard or externally moderated grading scale. Read more about submitting IB grades in the USA.
Letter of Support
The Letter of Support is a new support mechanism which the IB had developed prior to the current situation in the Middle East to support students progression.
When a student is unable to sit any IB examinations, but did complete coursework for a subject, through no fault of their own, and the IB therefore does not have sufficient evidence to award a grade, the IB will consider issuing a Letter of Support.
A Letter of Support does not constitute the awarding of an IB qualification. It is for each university to determine whether it has sufficient autonomy and evidence to enrol the student. You can find an example Letter of Support here.
Counsellors, connect with us
As a DP and/or CP university and career counsellor (UCC), you play a pivotal role in your students’ university application process. You are often the first person they turn to for advice on the combination of SL and HL courses they should take; university admissions questions; and requesting, sending and legalizing transcripts. To receive our newsletter, find out about new available resources and discover the latest professional development opportunities, create a My IB account and choose the University and Career Counsellor (UCC) role. The following video covers the steps for you to sign up. If you are a counsellor at an IB World School that only offers the MYP, please reach out to [email protected] to request the newsletter.
Professional development opportunities for counsellors
The IB offers many professional development and networking opportunities for school leaders and administrators to provide the right environment to support teaching and learning in the IB.
Find out more about the different events and workshops available to you:
Programme research and resources for UCCs
Do you need to add your contact details and school profile for universities to the IBWS webpage or send transcripts through IBIS? Use this Resource Guide to help you through the process.
To access research on the strengths of the student experience and helpful resources to share with university admissions officers, discover why IB students succeed.
Important timeframes for University Careers Counsellors (UCCs)
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No later than 3 weeks after examinations: |
The school coordinator or UCC should submit a request for transcripts that require legalization to the IB. |
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Before the release of results: |
The school coordinator or UCC should have each student’s list of selected universities to send transcripts to. |
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End of September: |
Schools will receive an invoice and legalized results for legalization requests submitted for the May session. |
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End of March: |
Schools will receive an invoice and legalized results for legalization requests submitted for the November session. |
