The IB

UWC Mostar has been an IB World School since we opened in 2006.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The IB Diploma programme is administered by the International Baccalaureate Organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Offered by more than 4000 schools in nearly 150 countries, it is recognized for admission to universities in over 80 countries.

The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. The programme is normally taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities. More about IB educational model you can find here!

Students study six subjects, three at a higher level (HL) and three at a standard level (SL). Students must choose one subject from each of the six IB subject groups, thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics. The sixth subject may be an arts subject chosen from group 6 or the student may choose another subject from the groups 2 to 4 (a second foreign language, a second “humanities” option, or a second natural science).

The six IB "groups" are:

In addition, the programme has three core requirements that are included to broaden the educational experience and to challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding.  

These are:

  • The Extended Essay (EE): a 4000-word essay that engages students in independent research into an issue drawn from one of the subjects they are studying.
  • Theory of Knowledge (TOK): a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical).
  • Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately.

The written IB examinations take place in May of the second year. Formal language orals take place in February and March. All the subjects have an internal assessment (IA) component (Orals, Guided Coursework, Lab Work), which takes place throughout the course. Internal assessment deadlines for specific subjects are published in the college calendar.

IB examinations are graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum), and the Diploma is granted to students who gain 4 points or more in each subject. Lower grades in one or two subjects may be compensated for by higher grades in others at the same level. The results are published in the second week of July.

UWC Mostar Calendar 2023-24