British boarding schools do not offer the German Abitur. Anyone completing their school education in England takes A levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma instead. Both qualifications lead to university – in Great Britain, internationally and, under certain conditions, in Germany too. Here you can find out how both routes work, how they differ and what you should bear in mind when choosing subjects.
English school qualifications at a glance
In England, secondary school covers the year groups Year 7 to Year 13. At the end of Year 11, at around 16, students take the GCSE exams. This is followed by two years of sixth form (Year 12 and 13). Here they choose between the routes to university entrance: A levels or the IB Diploma.
Scotland has its own system with its own qualifications, the Highers and Advanced Highers.
We explain how the school system in England is structured as a whole on our page “The school system in England”.
What are A levels?
A levels are the classic English school qualification. Students usually choose three, sometimes four subjects and study them in depth over two years. The exams take place at the end of the sixth form. Grades range from A* (the best grade) to E.
A levels are particularly suitable for young people who already know where their strengths lie and want to concentrate on a few subjects.
What is the IB Diploma?
The International Baccalaureate Diploma is an internationally recognised qualification awarded according to uniform rules worldwide. The programme lasts two years and is broader than A levels:
- six subjects from different areas, three of them at Higher Level and three at Standard Level
- plus a core: a research paper (Extended Essay), a course in epistemology (Theory of Knowledge) and projects in creativity, activity and service (CAS)
- assessment is in points, with a maximum of 45
The IB Diploma suits young people who do not yet want to commit themselves and enjoy being challenged in many subjects.
IB or A levels: the comparison
| A levels | IB Diploma | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 years (sixth form) | 2 years (sixth form) |
| Subjects | usually 3, sometimes 4 | 6 subjects plus core |
| Focus | depth in a few subjects | breadth across many areas |
| Assessment | grades A* to E | points, maximum 45 |
| Suits | clear interests and strengths | broad interests |
Are the IB and A levels recognised in Germany?
Yes, both can entitle you to study in Germany. The subjects are decisive, however:
- IB Diploma: The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (Kultusministerkonferenz) has laid down the conditions under which the IB Diploma is recognised as a university entrance qualification. These concern the choice of subjects, their level and the grades achieved. To study in Germany, the Diploma must be recognised in a separate procedure. Depending on the choice of subjects, this results in general or subject-restricted access to higher education.
- A levels: As a rule, three A levels in certain subject combinations are required. Which combination is sufficient for which degree course is determined by the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen).
Our advice: Anyone who later wants to study in Germany should choose the right subjects right at the start of the sixth form and check the requirements of their preferred university early on. We help you find a school that offers the right combination of subjects.
Who is a qualification in England worthwhile for?
Students usually join the sixth form at around 16, after the 10th or 11th grade in Germany. Good English skills are a prerequisite; most boarding schools test them before admission.
Anyone who spends only a term or a school year in England then returns to their school in Germany and takes the Abitur there as usual.
Partner schools with the IB or A levels
With 30 years of experience, we maintain contact with the most renowned schools for the IB and A levels in Great Britain and advise you on choosing the right boarding school for your child.
| School | Location | Qualifications | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collingham College | London (city centre) | A levels | London area |
| Frensham Heights | near Farnham, Surrey | A levels | London area |
| Leighton Park School | Reading, Berkshire | A levels and IB | London area |
| Royal Russell School | London (outskirts) | A levels | London area |
| Gresham’s School | Holt, Norfolk | A levels and IB | Cambridge area |
| King’s Ely | Ely, Cambridgeshire | A levels | Cambridge area |
| St Mary’s School | Cambridge | A levels | Cambridge area |
| Woodbridge School | Woodbridge, Suffolk | A levels | Cambridge area |
| d’Overbroeck’s | Oxford | A levels | Oxford area |
| Kingham Hill School | near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire | A levels | Oxford area |
| Sibford School | Sibford Ferris, Oxfordshire | A levels | Oxford area |
| St. Clare’s | Oxford | IB | Oxford area |
| Adcote School | near Shrewsbury, Shropshire | A levels | Central England |
| Bromsgrove School | Bromsgrove, Worcestershire | A levels and IB | Central England |
| Dean Close School | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | A levels | Central England |
| Lucton School | near Leominster, Herefordshire | A levels | Central England |
| Oswestry School | Oswestry, Shropshire | A levels | Central England |
| Tettenhall College | Tettenhall, Wolverhampton | A levels | Central England |
| Lord Wandsworth College | near Basingstoke, Hampshire | A levels | Southern England |
| Royal High School | Bath, Somerset | A levels and IB | Southern England |
| Ryde School | Ryde, Isle of Wight | A levels and IB | Southern England |
| Warminster School | Warminster, Wiltshire | A levels and IB | Southern England |
| Kingsley School | Bideford, Devon | A levels | South West England |
| Mount Kelly | Tavistock, Devon | A levels | South West England |
| Trinity School | Teignmouth, Devon | A levels | South West England |
| Truro School | Truro, Cornwall | A levels | South West England |
| West Buckland School | near Barnstaple, Devon | A levels | South West England |
| Ackworth School | High Ackworth near Pontefract, West Yorkshire | A levels | Northern England |
| Ashville College | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | A levels | Northern England |
| Barnard Castle School | Barnard Castle, Durham | A levels | Northern England |
| Durham School | Durham | A levels | Northern England |
| Fyling Hall | near Whitby, North Yorkshire | A levels | Northern England |
| King William’s College | Castletown, Isle of Man | IB | Northern England |
| Rishworth School | near Ripponden, West Yorkshire | A levels | Northern England |
| Rossall School | Fleetwood, Lancashire | A levels and IB | Northern England |
| Sedbergh School | Sedbergh, Cumbria | A levels | Northern England |
| Glenalmond College | near Methven, Perth and Kinross | Scottish Highers and A levels | Scotland |
| Gordonstoun School | near Elgin, Moray | A levels | Scotland |
| Lomond School | Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute | Scottish Highers and IB | Scotland |
| Merchiston Castle School | Edinburgh | Scottish Highers and A levels | Scotland |
| St Leonards School | St Andrews, Fife | IB | Scotland |
| Strathallan School | Forgandenny, Perth and Kinross | Scottish Highers and A levels | Scotland |
| Christ College | Brecon, Powys | A levels | Wales |
| Llandovery College | Llandovery, Carmarthenshire | A levels | Wales |
Costs
You can read about what a school year at an English boarding school costs, what is included and which extra costs arise on our page “How much does a boarding school in England cost?”.
We are with you from start to finish
We advise you on choosing the right school for your child’s IB Diploma and make sure you keep track of the English school system.
Even after the year abroad in England, we are still there for you when it comes to the recognition of school achievements after the return home.
As always, we advise you on all the important questions free of charge.
