IB Subject Selection for University Credits

IB subject selection can be a painful process. You, the student, need to find a balance between what your school offers, what you need for your future career, what you genuinely enjoy studying, and what your parents think is important. And you, the parent, have to consider all of this, along with the financial aspects of your child’s education.

Choosing your subjects based on which ones are accepted for university course credits can only add pressure. But, it’s useful to know that many top universities do recognize certain DP subjects for credit. While criteria vary from university to university, what is common is that only subjects taken at Higher Level (HL) with at least a grade 5 are accepted. Most universities, however, require a 6 or 7 for credit.

Among American universities, Ivy League schools typically do not directly award credits for DP subjects or may not recognize them at all. However, many credible universities, such as UC Berkeley, Caltech, and MIT, do offer credits for high-performing HL courses.

Keep in mind that getting into top universities isn’t just about your IB scores—other factors, such as your background, essays, and interviews, play a much bigger role. For lower-ranking, but still great, universities, the criteria are more structured, with clear guidelines on the exact scores and qualifications needed.

All in all, whether you’re aiming for one of the world’s top 5 universities, looking to pursue a specific field at a range of reputable universities, planning to move to one particular country with education as your excuse, or, as many students and parents feel, are simply uncertain about the future, my advice is to take subjects related to your field of interest in higher level (HL), you know, math and sciences for engineering, chemistry and biology for medicine, and literature and social sciences for law, and so on.

If you have any questions about university acceptance or processes, just get in touch with us, and we will either help you or refer you to an honest and reputable counselor or institution.

Also, it’s worth noting that some countries require three science subjects for certain programs, which might lead you to consider a “non-regular diploma.” Be sure to do your research on the IB website, which has plenty of useful information, and make sure the school counselor does their best to match a perfect blend of subjects in SL and HL based on what you need for your future.

IB Subject Selection