The following Outcomes studies examine the impact of the DP on students, teachers and schools. These studies explore programme implementation and outcomes within a variety of school contexts around the world.
Postsecondary outcomes of DP graduates in the United States
This study examined the postsecondary outcomes of International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) students who graduated from high school in 2016 in the United States (US) and enrolled in US higher education institutions.
Australian university outcomes
This study compares the university outcomes of students who completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) in Australia compared to non-DP students nationally.
Canadian university outcomes
This study examined the success of DP graduates across two of Canada’s largest high-school-to-university pathways: the Toronto District School Board to the University of Toronto, and public high schools in the Greater Vancouver Regional District to the University of British Columbia.
Global mindedness of DP and CP students
This 2021 study measured DP and CP students’ global-mindedness levels benchmarked against their peers from a similar age range and the same six countries (Australia, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain and the United States).
UK higher education outcomes
This 2021 study compares UK higher education outcomes among students with either an IB Diploma Programme (DP) or A level qualification.
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Insights from US schools adopting DP Language A courses for all of their students (2024)
Researchers conducted a mixed-methods study to examine the pilot implementation of International Baccalaureate (IB) schoolwide adoption of language A coursework in the Diploma Programme (DP) or Career-related Programme (CP).
US postsecondary outcomes
This 2020 study examines postsecondary outcomes of DP students who graduated from high school in the United States.
Critical thinking skills of DP students (2020)
This study examined the effects of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) on the critical thinking skills of students in Australia, England and Norway.
DP's impact in US public schools serving low income communities (2020)
This study examined the high school and post-secondary experiences of DP students in California public schools serving students from predominately low-income households.
Predictors of academic outcomes in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (2021)
This study examined student- and school-level predictors of academic performance among International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) students.
Educational aspirations of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme students (2021)
This study examines IB Diploma Programme (DP) students’ post-secondary educational aspirations, using a large international dataset of DP students (2016–2018).
21st century employability skills (2020)
This 2020 study explores how fit-for-purpose the DP and CP are for teaching the skills that will prepare graduates for future employment and a rapidly-changing world.
Diploma Programme implementation in public schools in Latin America: The cases of Costa Rica, Argentina (Buenos Aires), and Peru (2018)
This study analyzes the implementation and impact of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in public schools in Costa Rica, Argentina and Peru.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: Alignment with Norwegian upper secondary education (2019)
This study identifies and evaluates similarities and differences between the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and the Norwegian upper secondary qualification (Vitnemål for Videregående Opplæring).
Exploring the impact of an appreciative inquiry framework: Nova Scotia Diploma Programme coordinators and approaches to teaching and learning (2019)
This report reviews the findings of a study that investigated the ways in which an appreciative inquiry framework (a strength-based approach) fostered the understanding of IB Diploma Programme (DP) coordinators and teachers regarding approaches to teaching and learning.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: Alignment with Swedish Upper Secondary Education (2018)
This study examined the alignment of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and the Swedish upper secondary qualification (the Högskoleförberedande examen).
A study of the post-secondary outcomes of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alumni in leading universities in Asia-Pacific (2017)
This study explored the post-secondary experiences and outcomes of IB Diploma Programme (DP) alumni at three leading universities in the Asia-Pacific region, including two in East Asia and one in Australia.
Interim report: Study of IB students’ high school and post-secondary experiences: US public schools serving students from low-income households (2017)
This study examines the high school and post-secondary experiences of IB Diploma Programme (DP) students in US public schools serving students from predominantly low-income households.
An analysis of the development of positive academic mindsets in diverse International Baccalaureate World Schools (2017)
This study examined the ways in which schools offering the IB Diploma Programme foster and develop students’ non-cognitive assets, with a particular focus on academic mindsets.
The impact of creativity, action, service (CAS) on students and communities (2017)
This study explored the impact on students, schools and communities of one component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP): creativity, action, service (CAS).
Implementation and impact of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) in Spanish state schools (2017)
This study investigates the impact of DP implementation in 26 Spanish state schools and also explores the experiences and professional paths of DP alumni from Spanish state schools.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP): Alignment with the Pakistan National Curriculum for years XI and XII (2017)
This study offers a comparative analysis to identify similarities and differences in the content, structure, assessment and cognitive demand of the DP and Pakistan’s Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC).
UK postsecondary outcomes (2016)
This 2016 study examined the higher education enrollment and achievement of matched cohorts of DP and A level students who entered higher education in the United Kingdom (UK).
Benchmarking selected International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme language courses to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2016)
The purpose of the study was to establish how the level of English language competency expected at different DP course grades (1–7) compared to levels on the CEFR, and to aid higher education institutions in determining language proficiency requirements for DP students without the need for additional testing.
Developing academic persistence in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: Educational strategies and associated personality traits (2016)
The objective of this study was to identify the components of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) that support academic persistence and the individual traits associated with it.
Implementation and impact of the dual language International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) in Japanese secondary schools (2016)
This study examines the implementation of the dual language (Japanese and English) DP in Japanese secondary schools to identify enabling practices as well as barriers and disablers.
A study of “reflection” in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (2016)
The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of the “reflective” attribute of the IB learner profile by exploring how reflection is interpreted, integrated into instruction and assessed, and how it benefits Diploma Programme (DP) students.
Teaching the theory of knowledge course in International Baccalaureate World Schools (2016)
This study used a mixed-methods design to investigate the impact, perceptions and implementation of the theory of knowledge (TOK) course in International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools across all regions.
International Baccalaureate mathematics comparability study: Curriculum and assessment comparison (2016)
The study compares the IB’s four Diploma Programme mathematics courses with five mathematics qualifications from around the world.
Alignment between the DP and MoNEP in Turkey (2015)
This 2015 study explored the alignment between the DP and the Ministry of National Education Programme (MoNEP) in Turkey and investigates the effects of both programmes on student post-secondary outcomes.
Diploma Programme students’ enrollment and outcomes at US postsecondary institutions 2008–2014 (2015)
This study examines patterns of college enrollment, retention and graduation rates of Diploma Programme (DP) students who graduated from public and private high schools in the United States in 2008.
International Baccalaureate programmes in Title I schools in the United States: Accessibility, participation and university enrollment (2015)
This study identifies trends in Title I schools offering IB programmes, explores issues of access to the IB, and examines the postsecondary trajectories of IB students from these schools.
International Baccalaureate: National trends for low-income students, 2008–2014 (2015)
This study examines the postsecondary trajectories of low-income IB Diploma Programme (DP) candidates and course takers from public schools in the United States from 2008–2014.
The International Baccalaureate bilingual diploma: Global trends, pathways, and predictors of attainment (2014)
This study explored global patterns and pathways in the award of the International Baccalaureate (IB) bilingual diploma (BD) and examined the relationship between several variables and the award of the BD.
International Baccalaureate implementation study: Examination of district-wide implementation in the US (2015)
This study explores IB implementation in two school districts in the United States, with a focus on outcomes in the Diploma Programme (DP).
The integration of technology in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (2015)
This study examined how digital technology is being used in IB World Schools in the United Kingdom (UK) to support teaching and learning in the Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum areas of mathematics and sciences.
Curriculum alignment between the Diploma Programme and national systems: Germany and Switzerland (2015)
These reports examine the ways in which the DP written curriculum align with national standards in selected regions in Germany and Switzerland with regard to content, cognitive demand and philosophical underpinnings, and how the intended non-scholastic attributes compare in DP and German and Swiss curriculums.
A comparative study of international-mindedness in the Diploma Programme in Australia, China and India (2014)
This qualitative study explored the concept of international-mindedness in the Diploma Programme across six IB World Schools in Australia, China and India.
Factors influencing students to earn a bilingual diploma (2014)
The aims of this study were to examine the context of bilingual diploma (BD) implementation in schools, to investigate academic outcomes for BD students and to explore perceptions and factors that encourage or discourage students from pursuing the BD.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: Alignment with the Australian Curriculum and Australian Qualifications Framework (2014)
This study investigated the extent to which the Diploma Programme (DP) aligns with the standards, principles and practices outlined in the Australian Curriculum (AC) as well as the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) for the senior secondary level.
Case studies of learner profile implementation and impact in the United States (2014)
This study examined the implementation and impact of the learner profile in different types of schools offering the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in the United States.
International Baccalaureate learner profile: A comparative study of implementation, adaptation and outcomes in India, Australia and Hong Kong (2014)
This study investigates how the IB learner profile (LP) has been implemented in the Diploma Programme (DP) across three sites with significantly different cultural traditions—India, Hong Kong and Australia.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: Examining college readiness (2014)
This three-phase study explored the impact of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) on college readiness by examining the academic and non-academic preparation of DP graduates in the United States.
Academic civic-mindedness and model citizenship in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (2014)
This study examines the development of students’ “academic civic-mindedness” and “model citizenship” in the IB Diploma Programme (DP) at four sample schools in California, USA.
Theory of knowledge (TOK): Exploring learning outcomes, benefits and perceptions (2014)
This mixed-methods study examined one of the central elements of the IB Diploma Programme (DP), the theory of knowledge (TOK) course, within the Australian context.
A study of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in China: Impact on student preparation for university studies abroad (2014)
This project aimed to investigate the impact of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in China, with a focus on student preparation for university studies abroad.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: Study of North and South American students' civic-mindedness (2013)
This study examined the extent to which participation in the CAS requirement helped students to develop civic-mindedness among samples of schools in Canada, the United States and South America.
Postsecondary educational attainment of IB Diploma Programme candidates from US high schools (2013)
This study examines the patterns of college enrollment, destination, and completion of students who sought an IB Diploma and graduated from public and private high schools in the US in 2005.
Research on the implementation of the Diploma Programme in Ecuador's state schools (2013)
The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation and impact of the IB Diploma Programme in Ecuador with a focus on supports for IB state schools, changes in school practice, and student outcomes.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Mexico as preparation for higher education (2013)
This project examines the relationship between Mexican students’ enrollment in the Diploma Programme (DP) and their college preparedness at four Mexican case study schools.
Student perceptions of the value of the International Baccalaureate extended essay in preparing them for university studies (2013)
The overall aim of this project was to explore the learning benefits and outcomes attributable to the IB Diploma Programme’s (DP) extended essay (EE) in terms of knowledge, skills, abilities, engagement, and other aspects that might prepare students for university studies.
Exploring the learning benefits and outcomes of the IB extended essay in preparing students for university studies in Canada (Phase 1 and Phase 2) (2013)
This study explored the impact of the Diploma Programme (DP) extended essay (EE) experience on student success at university.
Exploring the benefits of the International Baccalaureate extended essay for university studies at the University of Virginia (2013)
This study, conducted at the University of Virginia (UVA), USA, aims to better understand the research experience of former IB students, describe student perceptions of the value of the extended essay (EE) experience and determine if any correlations exist between EE grades and university academic success.
An investigation of postsecondary patterns and pathways of IB graduates in the Australian tertiary education sector (2012)
This study aims to investigate the enrolment, progression, achievement, and postsecondary patterns of IB Diploma Programme students at two Australian universities.
Working to my potential: Experience of CPS students in the IB Diploma Programme (2012)
This study examines the impact of Chicago’s IB programmes on the postsecondary outcomes and experiences of Chicago Public School (CPS) graduates.
