Diploma Programme

Achieving Excellence in Higher Education

The two-year Diploma Programme is the natural progression of the IB continuum and gives students access to top universities in Italy (through diploma recognition) and all over the world.

A challenging two-year programme

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is a rigorous, academically challenging and balanced two-year educational programme designed to prepare students aged 16 to 19 for success at university and life beyond.

The Programme is made up of 3 core elements (Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Activity and Service) and six subject groups. Three courses must be taken at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL). Higher-level subjects require 240 class hours over two years while Standard-level subjects require 150 class hours over two years.

The subjects of the DP

Students have the option to choose one subject from each of the 5 groups of the following subjects.

LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

Italian Lang&Lit SL/HL

English Lang&Lit SL/HL

LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

Italian B SL/HL

Spanish B SL/HL

Italian Ab Initio SL

*Possibility of taking another language acquisition course online

INDIVIDUALS & SOCIETIES

Business Management SL/HL

History SL/HL

Economics SL/HL

Psychology SL/HL

SCIENCES

Chemistry SL

Biology SL/HL

Physics SL

Computer Science SL/
HL

Environmental Systems
and Societies (SL only)

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics Analysis
and Approaches SL/HL

In addition, the Diploma Programme features 3 core elements

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

TOK is designed to provide an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, to reflect around the question “How do we know what we claim to know?”

EXTENDED ESSAY

The Extended Essay is an independent piece of research leading to a 4000-word paper, enabling students to acquire essential skills for university research and writing.

CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY & SERVICES

CAS enables students to enhance their personal development through experiential learning and to undertake new challenges inside or outside the school.

International-mindedness

Similar to other IB programs, the DP emphasizes the development of global citizenship, encouraging an appreciation for diverse cultures, languages, and global issues. It aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals with a broad understanding of the world.

Subjects

Students study six subjects, choosing one subject from each of the following groups: Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and The Arts or an elective from Group 6. Three subjects are studied at a higher level (HL) and three at a standard level (SL).

Core Elements

In addition to the subjects, the following elements of the DP are also compulsory to complete the program: The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word research essay that
students must carry out independently and submit by the end of the program; the Theory of Knowledge (gnoseology) asks students to delve deeper into the nature of knowledge, how the human brain categorizes knowledge and how it is passed on to others; Creativity, Activity, Service activities give students the chance to develop their interpersonal skills through extracurricular experiences, thus creating an opportunity for personal fulfillment and achievement.

Approach to teaching & approach to learning

In the DP model, teaching and learning transcend conventional boundaries, emphasizing critical thinking, inquiry, and interdisciplinary connections. Educators act as facilitators, guiding students through thought-provoking discussions and fostering a deep understanding of subjects. The approach encourages students to analyze, synthesize, and apply knowledge in real-world contexts, nurturing their ability to explore diverse perspectives and global issues. With an emphasis on the development of international-mindedness and a holistic view of learning, the DP model equips students with the skills and mindset for success in higher education and beyond.

IB Learner Profile

The Learner Profile in the Diploma Programme (DP) serves as a guiding framework, emphasizing the development of attributes and skills that aim to create well-rounded, principled, and internationally-minded individuals. These attributes include being inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.

Schedule

08.25

Registration

10.00

Morning break

13.15

Lunch Break

15.30

Lessons end

Is the Diploma Programme recognised in Italy?

Yes, it is recognised by the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) and is valid to enrol in universities in Italy and abroad. It is the most requested and
highly-regarded High School qualification, valid for worldwide university enrolment. In Italy, some universities may require, for administrative-bureaucratic reasons, a declaration of the value of the IB qualification, which is issued together with the Diploma.

What happens after the diploma?

H-FARM International School has a Career Counseling department that assists students in their university choice and provides guidance for their admission applications. Each
year, the school hosts both Italian and foreign university presentations and visits to university fairs in the area.
H-FARM International School is also a registered UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) centre – the organisation responsible for managing the application requests to UK universities and Common App for the US.