UWC East Africa was the first school in Africa to adopt the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
The IB Diploma Programme is an academically challenging and balanced programme of education, with final examinations, that prepares students aged 16 to 19 for success at university and in life beyond. It has been designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students.
The programme has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities.
The Curriculum
DP students must choose one course from each of six subject groups delivering a breadth of knowledge and understanding in language and literature, individuals and societies, the sciences and mathematics.
Students may choose either an arts course from the arts group or a second science subject, or a second individuals and societies subject.
DP courses can be taken at higher level (HL) or standard level (SL). At least three, and not more than four, are taken at HL (240 teaching hours), while the remaining courses are taken at SL (150 teaching hours).
SL courses ensure students are exposed to a range of disciplines that they might otherwise opt out of, and HL courses allow students to spend more time with subjects they are more interested in by exploring options in addition to the SL core curriculum. In this sense, all DP courses, regardless of whether they are SL or HL, are integral to the programme.
Subjects available at UWCEA include English, French, Swahili, Spanish and self-taught mother tongue languages; Business Management, Economics, Geography, History, Global Politics (Moshi Campus), Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Systems & Societies, Physics, Mathematics, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts.
Further details of our IB Diploma Programme are given on our dedicated Diploma Website, and in the Diploma Handbook.
The Diploma Core
In addition to the six subjects, students are also required to include:
The extended essay (EE) which requires students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the DP subjects they are studying.
Theory of knowledge (TOK) which develops a coherent approach to learning that unifies the academic disciplines. In this course on critical thinking, students inquire into the nature of knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as a human construction.
Creativity, activity, service (CAS) which emphasises helping students to develop their own identities in accordance with the ethical principles embodied in the IB mission statement and the IB learner profile. CAS complements a challenging academic programme in a holistic way, providing opportunities for self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment and enjoyment. It
involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the DP.
The three strands of CAS are creativity (exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance), activity (physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle) and service (collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to
an authentic need).