Diploma Programme

Gold standard of international education

Our Diploma Programme is a challenging two-year course for 16–18-year-olds that is the gold standard of international education.

The aim of the Programme is to equip students with all the necessary skills and qualities to study at the world’s top universities and fulfil all their personal and academic potential. It does this by providing an absorbing and holistic curriculum that’s focused on expanding knowledge, developing critical thinking skills and helping creativity and individuality flourish.

Importantly, our Diploma Programme also helps students to develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture, and increases their ability to communicate with, and respect the views of, people from different backgrounds, countries and cultures.

Key to achieving this outcome is that we only have around 120 Diploma students, which helps to create a close-knit community of people who support and appreciate each other.

DIPLOMA PROGRAMME PRINCIPLES

The DP curriculum comprises of:

  • Studying six courses from six subject areas - three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level

  • Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) activities

  • A critical thinking course entitled Theory of Knowledge

  • An extended essay of around 4,000 words

  • A requirement to commit to extensive independent study

Our students are taught to be inquisitive, open-minded, and to take risks with their learning to fulfil their potential and become lifelong learners, preparing them for a world beyond school.

– Fabienne Fontaine, Diploma Programme Co-ordinator

SUBJECT AREAS

From the following subject areas, a student must pick 6 specific courses to study (3 at standard level and 3 at higher level).

The DP features 6 subject areas:

The selection needs to be either:

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS

Life beyond the classroom

Throughout the year, DP students have a wide range of extra-curricular activities to get involved in. Some of these include the Biomedical Society, Concert Band, Model United Nations, School Production, Wine Society and much more.

Southbank International School


Admissions:(0)20 3890 1969