Recognition of IB diploma for admission to universities and colleges

(Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education of 10.03. 1986, as amended on 18.11.2004)

1. An International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International issued in accordance with the regulations of the "International Baccalaureate Organization/Office du Baccalauréat International" shall be recognized as valid for university admission, if it has been obtained after attending at least twelve years of full-time education, and if the following requirements are met:

a) The six examination subjects taken for the "International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International" (IB) must conform to IB conditions:

- two languages (one of which at least must be a foreign language studied uninterruptedly as "Language A"),
- one natural science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics),
- Mathematics (Mathematical Methods¹or Mathematics HL or Further Mathematics together with Mathematics HL)
- One social science subject (History, Geography, Economics).

The sixth compulsory subject may be one of the above or one of the following subjects recognized by the IB:

- Art/Design, Music ², Theatre Arts; another modern foreign language; Latin, Classical Greek; General Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Environmental Systems, Computer Science, Design Technology; Philosophy, Psychology, Social Anthropology, Business and Organization ³.

b) One of the three subjects to be taken at higher level for the "International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International", must be Mathematics or a Natural Science subject such as Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

c) All subjects must have been taken uninterruptedly up to the end of the school career.

d) Candidates must earn a minimum IB Grade of 4 on the six compulsory subjects⁴.

Where an IB grade of 3 is awarded in one subject only, it is possible to compensate for this if another subject taken at the same level has been awarded at least an IB Grade 5, and an aggregate of 24 points has been attained.

e) German diploma holders, who have attended a school abroad not providing German courses, must supply proof of competence in German before being accepted for higher studies; such details are defined by the regulations in force in the relevant Federal State.

2. In the event of failure to comply with the conditions referred to in Section 1, recognition of entitlement to university entrance shall be conditional on passing an additional examination. Germans who have acquired the "International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International" must pass an entrance examination in accordance with the "Principles Governing Access of University Applicants of German nationality who have gained a secondary school graduation certificate from a foreign country" (Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education of the 26.01.1996 in its amended form)⁵. Foreign nationals must pass an assessment examination according to the "General Regulations for Foreign Applicants concerning Education in Special Secondary and for the Assessment Examination" (Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education of 15.4.1994 as amended)⁶.

Recognition as university entrance qualification is also obtained by one successful university year in a country whose school-leaving certificates are recognized for direct access to university or after one successful university year.

3. The average grade of an "International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International" shall be calculated in the country in which the diploma is assessed. This procedure shall be based on the "Agreement on Determining the Final Grade of Foreign University Entrance Qualifications" (Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education of 15.03.1991 as amended)⁷ with the following specific regulations for the IB.

The average grade (N) is calculated on the basis of the total number of points (P) obtained in the "International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International", and on the maximum number of 42 points (Pmax) and the minimum number of 24 points (Pmin). Additional points (if any) are included in the calculation. The total number of points between 42 (Pmax) and 45 points (highest possible number of points plus a maximum of 3 additional points) are equated with the German average grade of 1.0

The conversion is based on the following formula

4. The IBO will keep the Conference of Ministers of Education constantly informed of changes that may be made in the final examination (requirements, content, organization) and will provide the German Schools Supervisory Board with an opportunity of examining the work of the schools. Where consultation is required, or at the request of a Federal State, the "Evaluation" working group will examine whether conditions for the recognition of the IB still apply.

5. This resolution shall be in effect from the date of its adoption by the Conference of Ministers of Education.

2004