Comparing your International Baccalaureate

Comparing your International Baccalaureate

Comparing the International Baccalaureate with the Matriculation Certificate and SEC Requirements

Effective from October 2011

  1. The IB Diploma will satisfy the general entry requirements if obtained with 28 points or higher overall, and with passes at SEC level at Grade 5 or better in Maltese*, English Language and Mathematics. (*For information regarding Maltese as a requirement, kindly refer to the Admissions Regulations ).

  2. The subjects chosen in the IB Diploma should have a mix comparable to that in the Matriculation Certificate.

  3. The IB Diploma should include passes with 4 points or better in a language, a science subject and a humanistic subject.

  4. For all undergraduate courses, except those having a numerus clausus, IB grades are considered as broadly comparable to those awarded in the Matriculation Certificate as follows:
    Matriculation Certificate Grade A is comparable to International Baccalaureate Diploma 7 points
    Matriculation Certificate Grade B is comparable to International Baccalaureate Diploma 6 points
    Matriculation Certificate Grade C is comparable to International Baccalaureate Diploma 5 points
    Matriculation Certificate Grades D/E is comparable to International Baccalaureate Diploma 4 points.

  5. For undergraduate courses having a numerus clausus, Faculty Admissions Committees shall be guided as follows:
    MATSEC Grade C is higher than IB 5 points
    MATSEC Grade B is higher than IB 6 points
    MATSEC Grade A is higher than IB 7 points
    Grades/points would be considered, starting with the highest, in the following order of merit:
    AAA
    777
    AAB
    776
    ABB
    766
    BBB
    666
    BBC
    665
    BCC
    655
    CCC
    555

  6. Admission to a course may also require applicants to satisfy the Special Course Requirements as specified in Course Regulations or Bye-Laws - such as; presenting specific subjects, sitting for tests, attending interviews and/or submitting additional qualifications. Individual subjects indicated as Special Course Requirements may be satisfied through the subjects presented in the IB Diploma if such subjects are deemed comparable to the subjects indicated in the Course Regulations or Bye-Laws.

  7. Where course regulations or bye-laws specify English (or another language) as a special course requirement such a pass must be obtained in Language A: Language and Literature at the specified level and grade.

  8. Certificate courses requiring 36 points in the Matriculation Certificate accept 23 points from the IB Diploma. All other requirements must also be met.

  9. Compare some of the subjects offered within the IB to MATSEC qualifications. 

  10. Entry as Probationary Students for applicants presenting the IB Diploma

https://www.um.edu.mt/study/admissionsadvice/international/comparingib/