IB Diploma overviewDover Campus

The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) at UWCSEA Dover is offered to students joining the College in Grade 11 for their final two years of schooling.

An academically and personally challenging pre-university course, the IBDP is designed to provide students of different linguistic, cultural and educational backgrounds with the intellectual, social and critical perspectives necessary for the adult world that lies ahead.

Our programme offers the necessary support and preparation to ensure the success of each individual in these key final years and examinations. Respected by schools and universities throughout the world, UWCSEA’s IB Diploma programme has been developed in close collaboration with the IB for over 30 years.

Supporting the IB’s requirement that each Diploma candidate fulfils a component of CAS (Creativity, Action and Service), our students are offered a vast array of activities that allow for physical, aesthetic and emotional maturity. Our programme entails a balance of academics, access to a myriad of activities, Project Week in Grade 11, and a well-structured Service programme that allows students to develop awareness of and take action on behalf of global issues they feel passionate about.

The two-year Personal and Social Education (PSE) programme offered to our Senior School students ensures they are provided with the necessary support and guidance as they strive to fulfil the demanding requirements of the IBDP.

Students who value themselves and others and who are willing to commit to the ideals of the UWC movement will gain enormously from our High School learning programme.

AcademicsThe IBDP involves the study of six subjects; three subjects are studied in detail at higher level and three at standard level. Students must choose one from each of the following groups:

Group 1 – Language A (first language) – both ‘Literature’ and ‘Language and Literature’ are offered in English and Chinese. Either ‘Literature’ or ‘Language and Literature’ are offered in other languages – see the Languages overview.

Group 2 – Language B (foreign language) or Ab Initio (beginners) – see the Languages overview.

Group 3 – Individuals and Societies: Business and Management; Economics; Geography; History; Information Technology in a Global Society; Science, Technology and Society; Philosophy; Psychology; Environmental Systems and Societies.

Group 4 – Experimental Sciences: Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Science, Technology and Society; Design Technology; Environmental Systems and Societies; Sports, Exercise and Health Science; Computer Science.

Group 5 – Mathematics

Group 6 – Aesthetics: one of the following options: Music, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, Film or a second subject from one of Groups 1–4.

Further Mathematics is also offered to qualified students as a seventh subject at HL.

Further requirementsThree further requirements contribute to the unique nature of the IBDP, with compulsory participation necessary in:

1. CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) – students are required to complete a minimum of 50 hours in each of the three CAS components. Read more about how the programme is structured to support our students in achieving this requirement in the activities, outdoor education and service sections below.

2. The Extended Essay – independent research under appropriate guidance

3. Theory of Knowledge course, which explores the relationship between the disciplines and ensures that students engage in critical reflection about knowledge and experience acquired both within and beyond the classroom

The combination of subjects and requirements is a deliberate compromise between the preference for specialisation in some countries and the emphasis on breadth often preferred in others. The intent is that students learn how to learn, how to analyse, how to reach considered conclusions about humanity, our languages and literature, our ways in society, and the scientific forces of our global environment.

ActivitiesA wide range of activities in the arts, sports and service is offered each week in four seasons throughout the year. All students are expected to participate in activities, and the programme is structured so that students who engage in activities can potentially

count these towards their CAS requirements for the IB Diploma.

UWCSEA offers students who may not be studying Drama, Music, Visual Art or Film many opportunities to become involved in the artistic life of the College. Each year, there are drama and dance productions that require both on and off stage participation from our students, with many opportunities in set, costume and make-up, lighting and sound design.

The music programme is supported by an Instrumental Teaching Programme, and there are many opportunities for students to perform on campus in ensembles (both auditioned and open), as well as in Term 2’s annual OPUS concert at the Esplanade Theatre.

The strong sports programme includes representative opportunities in swimming, sailing, rugby (boys), badminton, basketball, netball (girls), volleyball, golf, softball, hockey, cross country, tennis, climbing and touch. A number of other sports are offered on a recreational basis.

Many other activities are designed to appeal to students with special interests such as audio engineering, lion dance, creative writing and journalism through a number of student-led publications, short film making or running the UWCSEA radio station or by taking on leadership positions on the Student, Sports or Alumni Councils, or on the Global Concerns Executive.

There are also opportunities to participate in activities such as Model United Nations conferences (in Singapore and overseas), the National Youth Achievement Award (also known as Duke of Edinburgh Award) and Round

Square, as well as the annual Initiative for Peace programme in Sri Lanka and Timor Leste.

Outdoor educationProject Week provides an invaluable educational experience. It is an opportunity for students to take themselves out of their comfort zone, and allows them to gain invaluable life skills, greater independence and responsibility.

It involves students independently organising to travel in small groups (of three to five) to undertake a worthwhile project outside Singapore. Many of these projects are linked with UWCSEA service programme.

A compulsory part of the IBDP for all Grade 11 students at UWCSEA, Project Week assists students fulfil their CAS requirement for the two-year programme.

Project Week takes places in the week prior to the Term 2 break in Grade 11. Students are well prepared for their adventures with extensive guidance and preparation training, first aid instruction and access to 24-hour international medical and travel support services.

Optional involvementA number of fully-supervised optional trips are offered during the school holidays. Previous optional trips have included cultural immersion tours to China, Spain and France for students of these languages; a history tour to Germany; ski trips; an economics tour to Ulaanbaatar; and English literature trips to England, New York and India.

UWCSEA also provides students options to participate in the National Youth Achievement Award (also known as Duke of

Edinburgh Award) at Silver and Gold level while in the IBDP. There are also a number of opportunities available via Round Square.

Personal and social educationWe hope that students entering UWCSEA are excited about the new challenges and opportunities open to them. To ensure that the experience is both positive and enjoyable, and that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential, the Principal, Vice Principal (Pastoral), Head of Grade and tutors work with subject teachers to provide support for all students in their care.

Students are assigned a tutor at the beginning of Grade 11, and the PSE programme is delivered through daily meetings with the tutor group and via regular assemblies. The tutor is central to the care of students and works with the Head of Grade to help students make the most of their time in High School.

The PSE programme is designed to make all students feel valued and confident. It develops awareness of the physical and emotional changes during these critical years, as well as equipping students to deal with growing peer pressures. It endeavours to build resilience and self-confidence to empower them to make the right decisions. The programme also provides guidance and support to help students find their place within and beyond the school, by encouraging them to understand and appreciate the richness of the College’s diversity, challenge stereotypes and question generalisations. There are many opportunities for our students to become more socially, culturally and politically aware, and appreciative of being part of

a global community. Professional guidance from the College counsellors is available if necessary.

Our university advising programme provides support for students in their decision making and application process for university or colleges in the country of their choice.

ServiceThe College’s tiered model of service provides opportunities for High School students to become involved in all three levels of the uniquely-structured programme. There are many opportunities for students to become involved in supporting the College community in the first

All Grade 11 students are required to join a Singapore-based local service project, visiting their chosen service once a week after school for the entire academic year. While this assists students to fulfil their CAS requirements, it also provides valuable connections with our community.

The third tier of the Service programme involves initiatives outside of Singapore, called Global Concerns. This dynamic programme enables students to put their ideals into action by establishing project groups that actively address specific development and environmental issues about which the students care deeply.

In Grade 11 students can also elect to participate in the Initiative for Peace, spending a year planning and organising a youth-focused conference that promotes international understanding and reconciliation in an area of conflict.

All students are expected to commit fully to their service and show initiative by planning and leading activities.

TechnologyAll students, as part of the College’s commitment to integrating technology as a tool to facilitate learning, are issued with a laptop. Students are supported in the responsible use of technology though our extensive digital citizenship programme as we aim to provide our students with the skills and knowledge to become responsible, independent digital citizens.

We use the Generation Safe tools to provide our teachers with professional development in the areas of prevention, detection, intervention and response to cyber incidents. Because experiences online affect school climate, the Generation Safe programme

provides the framework for a network of support for all stakeholders—teachers, administrators, school counsellors, network administrators, parents and, above all, students.

ResultsThe IB Diploma results in 2013 were excellent with an average diploma score of 36.44 points and 99.4% pass rate.

In all, 82 students (25.7%) of candidates in the Class of 2013 achieved 40+ points in the IB Diploma; in 2012 worldwide, only 6.64% of students achieved the same results.

While five students obtained a full 45 point diploma, another seven received 44 points and a further 70 students achieved above 40 points.

92.5% of all UWCSEA students were awarded diplomas with over 30 points; 1.5% of our students achieved 45 points, significantly above the worldwide average in 2012 of 0.25%.

Bi-lingual Diplomas were awarded to 76 candidates in the Class of 2013.

052COM-1314Printed on 100% recycled paper.

Year No of IB Diploma candidates

Percent passed (diploma)

Worldwide average percent passed

UWCSEA average diploma score

Worldwide average diploma score

2013 319 99.4 78.48* 36.44 29.8*2012 311 99.7 78.2 36.0 29.82011 300 100 77.9 36.8 29.62010 295 98.9 78.0 36 29.52009 286 97.6 78.7 35.7 29.5

*2012 statistics from IB

For details on admissionAdmissions Department UWCSEA Dover +65 6775 5344 admissionsdover@uwcsea.edu.sg