United Kingdom
For more than a century, the University of Birmingham has been pursuing and sharing knowledge through outstanding teaching and world-leading research. We are the original ‘redbrick’ University, part of the prestigious Russell Group; our thriving student population enjoys a wide range of courses, and exceptional campus and research facilities. The 10 Nobel Laureates we count among our staff and alumni have contributed to some of science’s greatest discoveries, including in recent times the Higgs Boson and Gravitational Waves. Our research provides innovative solutions to the challenges we face in our city, our region and across the globe. We encourage and empower people to turn ideas into reality and make important things happen.
For most of our undergraduate courses our policy on the IB Diploma is focused on attainment in the Higher Level subjects. Therefore, offers are based on three Higher Level grades with a minimum of 32 points overall. The points required in the Higher Levels, along with any required subjects, are set out in the entry requirements section of the relevant course webpage.
For all courses which require Higher Level Mathematics we will accept either Applications and Interpretations or Analysis and Approaches. Where maths is required the specific Higher Level requirement will be stated in the entry requirements section of the relevant course webpage.
For all of our undergraduate courses we will accept Standard or Higher Level English, First or Second Language, with a minimum of 5 points to meet our English language proficiency requirement. Our English language requirements can also be met with a range of other English language qualifications which are set out on our international entry requirements webpage.
The University of Birmingham values the IB Diploma as a broad and balanced curriculum which provides students with a thorough preparation for degree studies as well as a rounded personal development programme. For the majority of our courses, the emphasis in our requirements for IB Diploma students is on performance in the Higher Level subjects, which indicate the depth and breadth of study needed to flourish on our degree programmes. Our minimum overall points requirement reflects our acknowledgment of the value of the Diploma as an integrated programme of study including the Standard Level subjects and the Core.
For all of our undergraduate programmes we will consider applications form students taking three Higher Level IB Diploma courses, or a combination of Higher Level courses with other accepted qualifications to equal three Higher levels or three A levels. For example , two Higher Levels with one International A Level, or one Higher Level with two A levels. Our requirements for individual Higher Level courses are matched to our A level requirements as follows: 7 = A*, 6 = A, 5 = B.
Students following the IB Career related programme will be considered with at least one Higher Level alongside a recognised technical qualification. For example; one Higher Level with BTEC National Level 3 Diploma, or two Higher Levels with BTEC National Level 3 Extended Certificate. Any requirement for a subject at Higher Level or in the technical qualification will need to be met. These are shown in the entry requirements section of our course webpage.
The MYP is accepted to meet the GCSE requirements for our undergraduate courses. Most courses require a minimum of GCSE grade 4 in English and Mathematics. although some courses require higher grades. The GCSE requirement for each course is set out on the entry requirements section of the relevant course webpage. The grades required in the MYP are matched to GCSE grades as follows: GCSE grade 4 = MYP grade 3 GCSE grade 6 = MYP grade 5 GCSE grade 7 = MYP grade 6.