Applying abroad with the IB Diploma: UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong

This guide is for parents whose children are in, or considering, the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and who are thinking about universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore or Hong Kong. Everything below reflects official guidance as of 29 October 2026 and can change by university and year. Each named university is only one example. Always read the university's latest guidance before applying.

Start with how IB scoring works

DP students choose subjects from six groups: language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics and the arts. The arts subject can be replaced by another science, humanities or language subject. Three or four subjects are taken at Higher Level (HL) and the rest at Standard Level (SL). The IB gives 150 teaching hours for SL and 240 for HL.

Each of the six subjects is graded 1 to 7. TOK and the Extended Essay add up to 3 points, so the maximum is 45. A diploma needs at least 24 points plus several conditions. An E in TOK or the Extended Essay, or a 1 in any subject, means no diploma. CAS is not graded but must be completed. See the IB passing criteria for details.

UK: up to five choices through UCAS

UK applications go through UCAS. For 2027 entry, applications open on 12 May 2026 and can be submitted from 1 September 2026. Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses closed on 15 October 2026 at 18:00 UK time. As of the date above, that deadline has already passed. Most other courses give equal consideration to applications by 13 January 2027. Students can choose five courses.

Offers are conditional (on results) or unconditional. Students reply with a firm and an insurance choice. Check the dates on the UCAS page.

UCAS Tariff points translate qualifications and grades into a number. However, only some universities and courses state their requirements in Tariff points. Others state them per qualification, such as A Level grades or an IB total. So the most reliable step is to read the requirements on the page of the course you plan to apply to. See UCAS Tariff points.

Australia and Canada: conversion and university-by-university processes

The Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) says IB Diploma results are converted to a Combined Rank that is comparable with the ATAR for entry across Australia. The conversion is agreed by Australia's admissions centres and changes year to year, and each table applies to a set period. Students who sat the IB outside Australia get a Combined Rank from their whole-number total out of 45 on the official transcript. The IB Diploma does not guarantee entry to any course. See the UAC IB page.

In Canada each province and university runs its own process. For example, UBC makes initial decisions for IB students on interim grades reported by the school. It confirms them with final IB results. Both SL and HL courses can be used for admission. First-year credit requires official results sent electronically from the IBO. See the UBC guidance.

Singapore and Hong Kong: predicted results and direct applications

National University of Singapore (NUS) says May 2027 IB candidates apply with predicted results attested by their school. The IB transcript must reach NUS by 6 July 2027, and outcomes come by the third week of July. Candidates with November 2026 or earlier results apply with actual results. English must be one of the IB subjects, and an English test is needed if three or more subjects were taught in another language. Admission is holistic, with interviews or tests for some programmes. See the NUS IB page.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) admits holders of international qualifications such as the IB through its International / Non-JUPAS scheme. Applications go directly to the university, and HKU warns against agents. Predicted and actual results must be entered in the system. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an offer, and interviews, personal statements and references count. For 2027 entry, applications opened on 23 September 2026. The first-round deadline is noon (HKT) on 25 November 2026, and applications close on 25 August 2027. See the HKU page.

Checklist

• Check that your child's HL and SL subjects match the requirements of the course you are considering.
• Check whether the predicted total is at least 24 and whether the diploma conditions (TOK, Extended Essay, CAS) can be met.
• Write each country's application channel and deadline in your calendar.
• See on each course page whether the university states requirements as Tariff points, an IB total or subject grades.
• Find out whether an English test score is needed.
• Separate universities that take predicted results from those that take actual results.
• Set aside time for interviews, personal statements and references where they are required.
• Before using an agent, check whether the university asks for direct applications.

Ask the school

• Ask who calculates predicted grades, when, and on what basis, and how they are reported to universities.
• Confirm the process and the contact person for sending interim and final results to universities.
• Ask how the university counsellor manages each country's deadlines.
• Check the timeline and the request method for reference letters.
• Ask how much the school shares about where past graduates applied.