Using the International Baccalaureate to Apply to UK and Irish Universities

How the IB Diploma is structured

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma is a two-year programme in which students study six subjects — three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL) — plus three core elements: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE) and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).

Each of the six subjects is graded on a scale, and additional points can be awarded for the combination of TOK and the Extended Essay, contributing to an overall Diploma total. The official structure and grading are published by the IB (ibo.org).

How UK universities make IB offers

UK universities that accept the IB usually make offers in terms of an overall Diploma point total, often combined with specified Higher Level subject grades. For example, a course may ask for a particular total plus stated HL grades in named subjects.

The exact total and HL grades depend on the university and course and are published on each official course page and the UCAS listing. Because these differ widely and change, check the specific requirement for your course rather than assuming a fixed figure.

• Offers usually combine an overall point total with HL subject grades
• Required HL subjects depend on the degree (e.g. sciences for medicine)
• Some courses also state minimum grades in named subjects
• Exact totals are on the university's official course page — verify there

How the IB works for Irish universities (CAO)

Irish higher education applications generally go through the CAO (Central Applications Office), which uses a points system. The IB Diploma is recognised for entry, and there is an official means of expressing IB results in CAO points for the application process.

The way IB results are scored for CAO and any minimum subject requirements are set out by the official Irish admissions bodies. Check cao.ie and the relevant university's admissions pages, as both the points conversion and course requirements are decided officially and can change.

Tariff points and checking requirements

In the UK, the UCAS Tariff assigns points to many qualifications, including the IB, for courses that use Tariff-based offers — though many selective courses state grade requirements directly instead. Whether a course uses Tariff points or specific grades is stated on the course page.

For both the UK and Ireland, the reliable approach is to read the official course requirement, confirm any HL subject conditions, and check English language requirements separately. Do not rely on unofficial conversion charts.

• Some UK courses use UCAS Tariff points; others ask for specific grades
• Check whether your course is Tariff-based or grade-based
• Confirm required Higher Level subjects for your degree
• Verify CAO points treatment on cao.ie for Irish courses