The IBCP: A Career-Focused Route to University

Which route is best for your child after secondary school? There is a range of options available to college students in Singapore, including A Levels, BTEC, the US-based Advanced Placement (AP) programme, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP). While strong A Level or IBDP results may be seen as the most traditional route to a university place, a more vocational qualification may suit students who know from an early age that they want to focus on a specific career path.

One such option is the IBCP – a less rigorous alternative to the IBDP that’s specifically developed for students who want to focus on career-related learning. It is an extension of the UK's BTEC, and can lead to university, apprenticeships or employment.

Where can I study the IBCP?

This globally recognised qualification was introduced in 2006 as the IB Career-related Certificate (IBCP) and then re-launched as the IBCP in November 2014. Today, 214 schools in 23 countries now offer the IBCP; in Singapore, there are just two schools authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) to offer the IBCP, including the GEMS World Academy (Singapore) and School of the Arts, Singapore (SOTA).

Annual tuition fees for the IBCP are the same or only slightly cheaper than the IBDP, ranging from $33,000 at SOTA (for foreign, non-ASEAN students) to $40,277 at GEMS World Academy (Singapore).

What will I study?

The two-year IBCP programme consists of the following:

• a minimum of two IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) courses, which are assessed by written exams
• the CP Core, which covers personal and professional skills, service learning, and a foreign language
• a research-based reflective project
• career-related studies

Students choose one career-related study option; the choice offered varies by school and can include art, drama, film and media, sport, culinary arts, business and hotel management. This element of the IBCP is very vocational and can include work experience, industry visits, talks by industry professionals and practical activities. Depending on the school, students receive a BTEC Diploma or university/college credits; some courses also include industry-relevant qualifications.

In Singapore, both GEMS and SOTA offer the IBCP in partnership with an external study provider.

GEMS offers students two pathways:

• Aeronautics, Aeronautical Engineering and Aviation Business Administration programme in partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Students study freshman year courses in the fields of aeronautics, aeronautical engineering and aviation business administration with Embry Riddle, while completing their high school diploma (with IB Certification) at GEMS. Students with credit passes in sufficient courses will be able to join Embry-Riddle as a sophomore.

• Art and Design programme in partnership with Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Students complete their high school diploma (with IB Certification) at GEMS while taking up to six university credits from a choice of fashion, architecture, fine art and graphic design; tuition is given online by SCAD faculty.

SOTA, a specialist arts school, offers an Art and Design programme focused on specialised training in dance, film, literary arts, music, theatre and visual arts.

IBCP students also choose two or three diploma programme subjects at higher or standard level that complement their career-related study. For example, a student opting for the SCAD course in Art and Design may choose IB English literature and film studies. These IB subjects ‘count’ in the same way as IBDP courses when applying for university places.

Other elements of the IBCP include a language, with options including Chinese, French, Hindi and Spanish, and service activities that are very similar to the Creativity, Action and Service part of the IBDP.

Read more about the IB Diploma Programme here.

What qualifications do I receive at the end of the IBCP – and can I go on to university?

All students graduate with the IBCP, which is a qualification in its own right, similar to the IBDP. The career-related option offers a BTEC qualification, most likely a Level 3 Diploma, or a college credit such as a Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD) grade point average that equates to a first-year university course. The two or three IB courses that they complete can count towards admission to a university; students also receive a high school-equivalent diploma awarded by their school.

While some IBCP students may choose to move straight into an apprenticeship, others will take the university route. According to a 2015 survey by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), 87% of IBCP graduates in the US attended university full-time.

The IBCP is steadily gaining recognition as an entry qualification by universities in countries including the UK, the US, Europe, Hong Kong and Singapore. The IB subjects, the BTEC qualification and the Reflective project all carry UCAS points, and can be entered in the UCAS Tariff calculator for UK universities; in 2017, the University of Southampton was the first Russell Group University to formally recognise the IBCP. The IBCP is also recognised as equivalent to a US high school diploma, and is accepted as an entry requirement into some US institutions.

Is there another vocational alternative to the IBCP in Singapore?

Although it is not widespread yet, IBCP is currently the only vocational qualification offered within international schools in Singapore. Standalone BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council) are specialist work-related qualifications, and an alternative to more academic GCSEs and A Levels.

BTECs are offered at only a small number of training colleges and private institutions in Singapore, including TEG International College and the SSTC Institute. There are over 2,000 BTEC qualifications across 16 sectors and available from entry level through to professional qualifications at level 7 (equivalent to postgraduate study). Level 3 is equivalent to A Levels and, like the IBCP, is designed for people interested in a particular sector or industry.

In the UK, T Levels will be introduced from September 2020. Taught over two years, T Levels will combine classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of around three months; they will be equivalent to three A Levels. Whether T Levels will be offered by international schools in Singapore and beyond is still unknown, but it may depend strongly on their ability to offer industry placements.

Read more about the IB Career-related Programme here.

Why should I study the IBCP?

The IBCP cohort at these schools is significantly smaller than the number of students taking the IBDP. So, why should students consider taking the IBCP, a relatively new qualification, rather than the more established IBDP?

Here are five reasons to consider:

• it gives you opportunities to access further education, apprenticeships and employment in the arts, hospitality, business and IT
• it combines academic and practical learning
• the reflective project develops research skills and independent learning
• you can focus on the career path you have in mind
• the service learning and language development courses develop global and cultural awareness

While the IBCP is less academic than the IBDP, it can be just as demanding and challenging – and should not be taken as an ‘easier’ option. In fact, the IBCP can involve more independent study and a higher level of self-discipline and organisation.