About the DP

At the International School Wassenaar, we offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) – a rigorous and globally recognised pre-university curriculum for students aged 16 to 19. Our DP fosters critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and a lifelong love of learning. With a balanced academic framework that includes six subject groups, Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay (EE), students are challenged to grow both intellectually and personally.

The IB DP is designed as a comprehensive two-year curriculum that allows its graduates to fulfil requirements of various national education systems, the diploma model is based on the pattern of no single country, but incorporates the best elements of many. This educational programme is suited for highly motivated and dedicated young learners who can handle the challenge of a demanding academic programme designed to provide a solid foundation for those who wish to continue their studies at university level.

Through the delivery of the IBDP, the International School Wassenaar aims to uphold the IB’s long-term vision of education, as laid out in the IB mission statement, in addition to ensuring the academic success of students in their chosen subjects.

“Suited for highly motivated and dedicated young learners who can handle the challenge of a demanding academic programme.”

The IB Diploma Program: A Broad and Balanced Education

“The DP is built around the IB Learner Profile, supported by various approaches to teaching and learning, with an underpinning theme of international-mindedness.”

Diploma programme students are required to select at least one subject from each of the six subject groups (please refer to the diagram above). At least three, and not more than four subjects, are taken at Higher level (HL) with the others at Standard level (SL). In this way students are able to explore some subjects in depth and some more broadly over the two-year programme.

Diploma Programme Subject Choices at ISW

Currently at International School Wassenaar students can select their six (or seven) subjects from the following choices* available:

Group 1 Studies in Language and Literature
  • English Language and Literature (HL or SL)
  • Dutch Language and Literature (HL or SL)
  • Other mother-tongue languages as a school-supported self-taught course (SL only)
Group 2 Language Acquisition
  • Dutch B (HL or SL)
  • English B (HL or SL)
  • French B (HL or SL)
  • German B (HL or SL)
  • For students who don’t have the necessary foundation in the languages listed above, we can offer a language beginners course in either French or Spanish Ab Initio SL through Pamoja Online Education. This service will incur an additional school fee.
Group 3 Individuals & societies
  • Business and Management (HL or SL)
  • Economics (HL or SL)
  • History (HL or SL)
  • Environmental Systems and Societies (HL or SL)
Group 4 Experimental sciences
  • Biology (HL or SL)
  • Chemistry (HL or SL)
  • Physics (HL or SL)
  • Environmental Systems and Societies (HL or SL)
Group 5 Maths & computer science
  • Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (HL or SL)
  • Mathematics Applications and Interpretations (SL only)
Group 6 The Arts
  • Visual Arts

As an alternative to Visual Arts, students can choose one extra subject from group 1 to 4. *The list of subjects offered is reviewed every year – not all subject choice combinations are possible due to timetabling restrictions. Some subjects may only be offered as private tuition if there is not enough uptake.

For more information on the IBDP, you can visit the IBO’s official website https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/.