Curriculum Guide · Ages 16–19

The IB Career-related Programme (IBCP)

How the IBCP combines IB Diploma courses with career-related study, what the core includes, how it differs from the full Diploma and how to judge whether it fits your child.

Read time: 8 min

The Short Answer

The IBCP is a two-year IB programme for ages 16 to 19 that blends academic study with practical, career-focused learning.
It has three parts: at least two IB Diploma courses, a career-related study and the IBCP core.
It is a different route from the Diploma Programme. Students take two or more DP courses instead of six, and spend the rest of their time on a career pathway.
It keeps doors open to university, vocational training and work. However, universities recognize it less uniformly than the Diploma, so check entry requirements early.
Fewer schools offer it than the Diploma. Always confirm that a school is authorized to teach the IBCP.

What Is the IB Career-related Programme?

The IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) is a two-year programme for students aged 16 to 19 who want to combine academic learning with practical, career-oriented education. It is part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum, alongside the Diploma Programme, and is built for students whose interests point toward a particular field, whether they plan to go on to university, vocational training, an apprenticeship or work.

Where the Diploma asks students to study six subjects, the IBCP lets them focus on a smaller number of academic courses and a career pathway while still receiving the international outlook and values of the IB.

Key Features of the IBCP

What defines the IBCP

Career focus: Students study a field such as business, technology, health or the arts and build practical skills for it.
Flexibility: Students choose DP courses and a career-related study that fit their goals.
The IB approach: The programme emphasizes critical thinking, ethics, service and international-mindedness, like other IB programmes.
Real-world learning: Projects, work-related experiences and partnerships with external providers are common.

The Structure of the IBCP

The IBCP has three components, which together shape a student's two years.

The three components

Career-related study: A specialized pathway in a field such as business, technology, health or the arts. Schools often deliver it with outside education or vocational partners, and assessment depends on the course and may include practical work, coursework or a vocational qualification.
IB Diploma Programme courses: Students take at least two DP courses, which give them academic depth and analytical skills. They are examined in the same way as in the Diploma, with grades from 1 to 7. See the DP guide.
The IBCP core: Four elements that connect the programme and support personal and professional growth (see below).

The IBCP core

Personal and professional skills (PPS): A course that builds skills such as time management, communication, teamwork and ethical thinking for study and work.
Reflective project: An extended project in which students explore an ethical issue connected to their career-related study. It is assessed internally and externally moderated.
Service learning: Community service in which students apply their skills to real problems and reflect on the experience.
Language development: Continuing study of a language, so students build communication skills and global awareness.

Assessment in the IBCP

DP courses. Assessed by the same kinds of tasks as in the Diploma, including external exams, and graded from 1 to 7.
Reflective project. Internally assessed and externally moderated.
Career-related study. Assessment depends on the course and can include practical exams, coursework or a vocational qualification.

Students who meet the programme requirements receive an IBCP certificate, and they also receive results for the individual DP courses and the career-related study. Ask the school about the exact requirements for the certificate and how results are reported.

How the IBCP Prepares Students for the Future

Pathways after the IBCP

University: Many students progress to higher education. The IB notes that CP students tend to continue to tertiary study at higher rates than their peers, but individual universities set their own entry requirements.
Vocational and technical study: The career-related study builds a base for further specialist training or professional qualifications.
Apprenticeships and employment: Practical experience, communication skills and ethical awareness support direct entry into work.

University Recognition: What to Check

The IB promotes the acceptance of the IBCP by universities, but recognition is not the same everywhere, and it is generally less uniform than for the Diploma. Entry requirements can change, and they differ between countries, universities and courses. If your child may apply to university, check the policy of each university on their list well before choosing the IBCP, and ask the school's university counselor which universities its graduates have joined. The Diploma Programme remains the safer route for students who want the widest range of university options.

The IB Learner Profile

Like all IB programmes, the IBCP encourages students to develop the attributes of the IB Learner Profile: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective. These attributes shape how students approach their studies and work.

The IBCP Classroom Experience

Hands-on learning. Projects, work-related activities and sometimes internships linked to the career pathway.
Collaboration. Students work with peers, teachers and, often, professionals, much as they would in a workplace.
Connected learning. Academic courses and career-related study are linked, which helps students see how what they learn applies in practice.

IBCP or IB Diploma?

How the two routes compare

Both are IB programmes for ages 16 to 19. The right route depends on your child's interests and plans after school.

IB Diploma Programme: Six subjects, three or four at Higher Level, plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS. Broad, demanding and widely recognized by universities. See the DP guide.
IB Career-related Programme: At least two DP courses, a career-related study and the IBCP core. More focused on a career pathway, with more practical learning.

Why Choose the IBCP?

Benefits and trade-offs

Career focus with academic depth: Students can pursue a field they care about and still study IB academic courses.
Flexibility: The programme can be tailored to students' goals and strengths.
Skills for study and work: The core builds communication, teamwork, ethics and reflective skills.
Recognition varies: Check university and employer requirements early, since the IBCP is less widely understood than the Diploma.
Limited availability: Not every IB school offers it, and the career-related options depend on the school and its partners.

The Role of Parents

Support career exploration. Help your child think about interests, work experience and study pathways, and talk about what they enjoy.
Back the reflective project. Encourage planning and steady progress, and help your child balance the project with coursework.
Plan the next step early. Check university or training requirements in good time, before choosing courses.

IBCP for Families Moving to Guangzhou

Check that the school offers it. Not every IB school teaches the IBCP, and some teach only the Diploma. The school's admissions team can confirm which IB programmes are authorized and for which years.
Ask about the career-related options. The career-related study is often delivered with an outside provider, so ask which fields are available and how they are assessed.
Ask where graduates go. Request examples of the universities and courses recent IBCP students have entered, including outside your home country.
Plan the timing. The IBCP starts at ages 16 to 17, so if your child is moving mid-way, check how the school handles students joining the first or second year.
Check your target countries. University recognition of the IBCP varies, so confirm entry requirements for each destination early.

Questions to Ask an IBCP School

Is the school authorized to teach the IBCP, and which career-related studies does it offer?
Which DP courses can students combine with them?
How do students balance DP courses, career-related study and the core?
What work experience or internships are available?
Which universities or training providers have accepted IBCP graduates, and what do they require?
What are the school's results and graduate destinations for the IBCP?

Is the IBCP Right for Your Child?

The IBCP suits students with a clear interest in a specific field who want to learn through practice as well as study, and who may be happy with a mix of academic and applied courses. It is less suitable for students who want to keep every university option open or study across a wide range of academic subjects, for whom the Diploma may be a better fit. For help comparing schools, read Choosing an International School in Guangzhou: Parent Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About the IBCP

What does IBCP stand for?: IBCP stands for International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme, a two-year IB programme for students aged 16 to 19.
What is the difference between the IBCP and the IB Diploma?: The Diploma has six subjects plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS. The IBCP has at least two DP courses, a career-related study and its own core, so it is more focused on a career pathway.
What is included in the IBCP core?: The core has four parts: personal and professional skills, a reflective project, service learning and language development.
Can IBCP students go to university?: Many do, but recognition is not the same everywhere and individual universities set their own requirements. Check the policies of the universities your child is considering.
How are IBCP students assessed?: DP courses are assessed externally and graded from 1 to 7. The reflective project is assessed internally and externally moderated, and the career-related study is assessed according to its own course.
What career-related studies can students choose?: This depends on the school and its partners. Common fields include business, technology, health and the arts.
Is the IBCP easier than the Diploma?: Not necessarily. It asks for less academic breadth, but the workload includes career-related study, the reflective project and service learning. It is a different kind of challenge.
Is the IBCP recognized worldwide?: The IB promotes its recognition, but acceptance varies by country and university and can change. Always check requirements directly with universities.
Can my child switch from the IBCP to the Diploma?: This depends on the school and timing. Ask the school whether students can change routes and until when.
Which schools in Guangzhou offer the IBCP?: Ask each IB school whether it is authorized to teach the Career-related Programme, as not every IB school offers it. The IB's school search lists authorized programmes.