World Universities That Accept the IB Diploma
The IB diploma opens the door to the world’s most respected universities. From Oxford to Harvard, we have gathered the approximate IB scores sought for admission.
Students who successfully graduate from IB schools and earn the IB diploma have the chance to be admitted to the world's most respected universities. For students who achieve a sufficient grade in language exams such as TOEFL and whose IB score falls within the target university's admission range, the likelihood of studying abroad rises markedly. In this article we have compiled the IB scores that some universities generally ask for.
Example Universities and Approximate IB Thresholds
Approximate IB Score (out of 45)
Oxford · Harvard
Among the world's most established universities.
Cambridge · Yale · MIT
Prestigious research universities.
Edinburgh · LSE · NYU
A strong academic tradition.
Sorbonne · St Andrews
With an additional language condition on some programs.
Some of the universities on the list and their general thresholds are as follows: around 42 for Oxford and Harvard; around 40 for Yale, Cambridge, MIT, Stanford and Columbia; 42 for Princeton; 37 for Edinburgh, LSE, NYU and Northwestern; 34 for St Andrews; 32 for Manchester; and 27 for the University of Barcelona. Some institutions, such as the Sorbonne, may also ask for French at B2 level.
The IB diploma is not just a grade; it is an indicator of preparation that world universities recognise in a common language.
In brief
- The IB diploma is recognised at the world's most respected universities.
- The IB score sought varies by university and by program.
- For definitive thresholds, the university's official page should be taken as the basis.
You can read how the IB prepares students for the future rather than for an exam in this article, and explore the program as a whole on our IB Diploma Program page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Out of what total is the IB score given?
The total IB Diploma score is calculated out of 45; scores such as 42 to 43 are considered quite high for the world's most select universities.
Is a high IB score alone enough?
Usually no. Language proficiency (such as TOEFL), the application file and program-specific conditions are also assessed.
Are these scores definitive?
No, they give a general idea. Since thresholds can change by year and by program, the university's current official information should be taken as the basis.
Gökkuşağı Koleji · A diploma that opens onto the world.