We have an outstanding track record qualifying ISR students for studies at universities in Germany. In the past years, almost all of our students who wished to study at a German university met the prerequisites to do so.
To qualify for study at a German university with the IB Diploma, the Kultusminister Konferenz (KMK is the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs) has defined the relevant criteria for recognition of the IB Diploma:
A successful IB Diploma is mandatory. Of the six academic courses, three have to be taken at High Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL).
Two languages, either:
two languages A (HL or SL) or
one language A (HL or SL) and one foreign language B (HL) which has been studied uninterruptedly
One Math or Science must be HL
No changes in course selections during the 2-year program
Language ab initio not accepted for group 1 or 2
Math Studies* is not recognised in Germany
The study of German for German citizens is not required
On average, 4+ required on each of the 6 IB exams (= min. 24 points) + passed TOK/EE/CAS. Only courses with a score of 3 points can be compensated with another course on the same level (high level or standard level) with a score of 5 or more.
We are experts in successfully counseling students in this area as you may read in our university acceptance list on our website. Students who wish to meet these requirements do need to be academically strong in Mathematics and/or Science as well as in their first and second languages.
Although our school is non-selective, our students consistently score higher in Mathematics and Science courses than the IB world averages in these subjects. In Mathematics 13% of students worldwide take the High Level Mathematics course; at ISR close to 30% of our students have enrolled in and are achieving top scores in the High Level Mathematics course.
German University Acceptance ISR signed an agreement to offer an additional 16-hour module in vector calculus to complement and extend our IB Mathematics Standard Level (SL) course. This addition will enable ISR's IB Standard Level Math students to access German university technical studies, such as Mathematics, Engineering, and Natural Sciences. Students who complete the Mathematics High Level (HL) course remain qualified to study any subject at German universities.
The IBO recognition agreement was signed earlier this year so that the current IB diploma graduates can already benefit from this additional study and career opportunity.
A detailed FAQ with regard to this topic can be found here:
Meeting the prerequisites to study at a German University is a simple procedure for our IB students:
In early July, the IB Organization sends our students’ IB results directly to the “Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle” in Düsseldorf where the IB scores are converted to the German Abitur score, provided the student has qualified by passing his or her IB exams.
Our students receive the “allgemeine Hochschulreife” qualification from the Certificate Recognition Office approximately two to three days after the official IB results are released in early-July. Afterwards, they send in or deliver this documentation to the German universities to which they have already sent in their application.
Our students then receive confirmation of their acceptance at German universities during the summer according to the same procedures all students applying to German universities follow.
We advise our students every step of the way on this straightforward conversion of IB results into German university entrance qualifications.