International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme

What is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)?

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year educational Programme primarily serving students 15 to 18 years old. The Programme provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education and is recognized by colleges and universities worldwide.

In the OCDSB, students engage in the OCDSB’s pre-IBDP during grades 9 and 10 to prepare them for the challenge of the two-year Diploma Programme in grades 11 and 12. Upon successful completion, a student is expected to attain both the IB Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Watch this video to know more: OCDSB IB Diploma Programme

Please visit www.ibo.org for more information on the IB Diploma Programme.

Where is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) offered?

The IB Diploma Programme is offered at two sites in the OCDSB:

  • Colonel By Secondary School, authorized by the IBO in 1997, and
  • Merivale High School, authorized by the IBO in 2019.

Families interested in the IB programme are requested to use the OCDSB IB School Locator tool to determine which school serves their community.  

Is your child currently at an IB World School?

If your child is currently attending an IB World School in the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, please fill this IB Transfer Application form.

Is your child in Grade 8 or 9? Have you heard about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)?

To learn more and learn about application procedures, we organized the IB Programme Virtual Open House on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, 6:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

The recording of the session is available for those who are unable to attend. 

Application Procedure:

Students currently in grades 8 and 9 are invited to apply for the 2024-2025 school year. All applications are digital and all requested documents should be provided in a PDF format.

Applicants should know that they will need to provide the following documents in order to apply.

  • A copy of their most recent reporting document from their current school
  • A teacher reference – interested applicants should approach a current teacher in advance to determine if they are willing to act as a reference for them and obtain their professional email address. Teacher references will be contacted via email.

Additionally, as part of the application interested candidates will complete and upload the following: 

Student applications and portfolio pieces will be assigned a computer-generated application code. Please do not include any personal or identifying information on or in your uploaded documents or their file names. Your uploaded files will automatically be attached to your application digitally upon submission.

All material that is submitted as part of this application is evaluated. Please consult the application documents for particular information once they are released.

When you have gathered all documents and completed all tasks, they can be submitted as part of your formal application via the OCDSB IB Programme Application Form.


Key Dates:

  1. Virtual Open House - November 22nd from 6:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 
  2. Application deadline: December 20, 2023 (6:00 p.m.)
    Applications and all supporting documents are to be submitted ONLY via the OCDSB IB Programme Application Form. using the link above. Only one application is to be submitted per applicant.
  3. Offers of Admission: March 2024

Colonel By Secondary School and Merivale High School will contact families to let them know the status of their application in March of 2024. This first communication often comes just prior to March Break via email.

To learn more about each school offering the IB Diploma Programme, please visit their individual websites below:

Colonel By
Merivale IB IB Boundary

We look forward to a successful high school experience with your student.

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