IB Diploma Programme · La Moraleja · Alcobendas · Madrid
IB Diploma Programme
in Madrid.
The IB Diploma Programme at Base International School. Offered since 2017 on our La Moraleja campus. An IB school in Madrid with a pre-university qualification recognised in over 100 countries.
IB Diploma Programme · La Moraleja · Alcobendas · Madrid
IB Diploma Programme in Madrid.
The IB Diploma Programme at Base International School. Offered since 2017 on our La Moraleja campus. An IB school in Madrid with a pre-university qualification recognised in over 100 countries.
Open Day Wednesday 14 October 2026
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Why study the Diploma Programme
at Base.
What makes the IB at Base different
is how your child experiences it every day.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme curriculum is the same at every IB World School. What changes from one school to another is the level of support, the teaching team, the assessment approach, the real level of English in the classroom and the culture that surrounds it all. These are the six things that set the Diploma at Base apart from other IB schools in Madrid.
The same way of learning,
year after year.
We deliver the MYP throughout Secondary and the Diploma Programme in Bachillerato, both authorised by the International Baccalaureate. In Early Years and Primary we are a PYP candidate school and are in the process of implementing the programme.
The IB is a way of learning built on inquiry and independent work. Students who enter the Diploma from within Base arrive with that approach already deeply embedded. Those who join from other schools find a teaching team that has been working this way across every stage.
Real English,
backed by real results.
English B at Higher Level requires a C1 level to achieve strong results. At Base, students reach the final IB exam with a level above what is required.
Taking English B HL alongside Business Management (taught in English) also qualifies them for the IB Bilingual Diploma, an official distinction recognising their ability to work academically in two languages.
Small classes and personal guidance
you can count on.
Our Guidance Department includes psychologists specialised by stage, a special educational needs coordinator, a personal counsellor and a designated safeguarding lead.
The IB coordinator works with each Diploma student individually throughout the two years. And our teaching staff have an average tenure of 12.35 years: Diploma teachers stay year after year.
Three more reasons families choose Base.
Transparent assessment and predicted grades.
Two weeks of mock exams in Year 1 and Year 2 replicate the final IB exams in format and content.
In Year 2, we add a predicted grade that combines internal assessments with mock results using official IB weightings. By the time the May session arrives, they already know where they stand.
Secular, no uniform, in La Moraleja since 1962.
Base was founded under the inspiration of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza. More than 60 years later, we remain private, co-educational, secular and uniform-free.
It reflects a clear approach to education, rooted in a close relationship between teacher and student and in freedom of thought.
Backed by Affinitas Education.
Since 2024, we are part of a group with over 20 schools in Spain, Mexico, Italy and the United States.
For Diploma students, this means a network of multi-campus summer camps, international exchanges, shared standards and access to a global alumni community. Each school keeps its own identity.
Spanish Bachillerato
or IB Diploma Programme.
Base offers two independent upper-secondary programmes, each with its own curriculum, teaching team and timetable. Both lead to Spanish university: the Bachillerato through the PAU entrance exam, and the IB Diploma through official recognition as the Spanish Bachiller qualification (Royal Decree 534/2024) plus the UNED accreditation for university entry. The Diploma also opens access to universities in over 100 countries.
What they study
in the Diploma.
To make subject choices easier, we have organised our offering into four pathways that correspond to the branches of the Spanish Bachillerato. Students can follow one pathway or build a personalised combination with the programme coordinator during the admissions process.
Science & Technology
For students heading towards Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or Architecture.
Biomedical Sciences
For students heading towards Medicine, Biology, Pharmacy, Biotechnology or Clinical Psychology. Maths is chosen between the two IB options depending on the degree they are aiming for.
Social Sciences
For students heading towards Law, Economics, Business, International Relations or Communications.
Humanities & Arts
For students heading towards Art, Design, Film, Philosophy, History or Languages.
View full subject offering by IB group+
Spanish A: Language and Literature (SL/HL). Literature and Performance (SL). English A: Language and Literature (SL), for native-level speakers.
English B (HL). French and German can optionally be maintained as additional foreign languages.
History (SL/HL), History of the Americas (HL), Philosophy (SL/HL), Psychology (SL/HL), Business Management (SL/HL, taught in English), Environmental Systems and Societies (SL).
Environmental Systems and Societies is an interdisciplinary subject: it can be taken as either a Group 3 or a Group 4 subject.
Biology (SL/HL), Chemistry (SL/HL), Physics (SL/HL), Environmental Systems and Societies (SL).
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL). Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (SL/HL).
Visual Arts (SL/HL). Students may substitute this subject with a second choice from Group 3 or Group 4.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE) and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service).
All three are required to obtain the Diploma. TOK and the Extended Essay can contribute up to 3 bonus points to the total.
When the Diploma Programme
makes sense.
The Diploma Programme is demanding, and it does not suit every profile in the same way. That is why, in the admissions interview, we talk calmly about grades, about the level of English and about what each student wants to study afterwards, so that together we choose the option that fits them best. These are the profiles that work best with each one.
The IB is a good fit
if your child...
It may be a better fit
if your child...
The eighth graduating class,
in real numbers.
We publish our results in detail
because families deserve data,
not impressions.
The Diploma is scored out of 45 points: six subjects worth up to 7 points each, plus 3 points for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. 24 points are needed to obtain it. These are the official figures from the May 2026 session, taken from the International Baccalaureate Organisation's statistical bulletin.
May 2026 session · 100 % pass rate in the Cambridge Proficiency C2 among Year 2 students who sat it
The Diploma Programme,
explained in one minute.
Two years, six subjects,
three core components.
One score out of 45.
The Diploma Programme is the pre-university qualification of the International Baccalaureate, designed for students aged 16 to 18. At Base, we have offered it since 2017 as one of two Bachillerato options in Madrid, and it is officially recognised by Spain's Ministry of Education.
Students take six subjects across six areas of knowledge. Three at Higher Level with more hours and greater depth, and three at Standard Level. To earn the Diploma, a student must achieve at least 24 points out of 45 and complete three core components: Theory of Knowledge (critical thinking), the Extended Essay (a 4,000-word research paper) and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service).
Life at Base
beyond the classroom.
The IB is two demanding years.
How they experience each day matters as much as the lessons themselves.
The morning commute, lunch, an afternoon of sport or library time, the school nurse if something comes up. This is what it means in practice to be a student at Base, and it is a part of the decision that matters just as much as the academic programme.
31,000 m² in La Moraleja,
with a dedicated Bachillerato building.
11,000 m² built and 20,000 m² of outdoor grounds. The Bachillerato building has its own library, a Maths room, an English room, a multipurpose hall and direct access to the science labs. Every Diploma student works with their own laptop in a one-to-one model.
Cooked on site,
menus designed by nutritionists.
Every day: a choice of two starters and one main, with salad, dessert and fruit always available. Menus adapted for allergies and cultural preferences. Bachillerato students can sign up for the two afternoon class days only.
From 7:30 to 18:30,
at no extra cost.
The campus covers up to 11 hours a day with no additional fee for families who need it. Designed so the logistics of daily life are handled with ease.
Start at 9:00.
Finish at 14:30 three days a week.
Two afternoons with classes until 17:00, needed for the core components. Throughout the year: University Fair, UNESMUN and Reto 2030, plus the CAS projects each year group develops beyond the classroom.
Full-time school nurse,
Safeguarding team at leadership level.
A qualified nurse on site throughout the school day, three defibrillators across the campus and regular CPR training for staff. The Safeguarding team is coordinated from the senior leadership team, with policies aligned to international standards.
Routes across central
and northern Madrid.
School bus routes across central and northern Madrid, with routes specific to Bachillerato, on their own timetable. Routes and stops may vary depending on demand each school year. Transport partners comply with current Spanish school transport regulations. For a family in the northern zone, it means something practical: getting to school without complicating the morning.
Where our graduates
go on to study.
The IB Diploma is automatically recognised in Spain (RD 534/2024) and accepted in over 100 countries. For entry to Spanish universities, the IB score is converted by the UNED through its accreditation, and many international universities consider the Diploma a preferred admissions pathway.
Where our students have been accepted.
Where the Diploma opens doors.
Three broad fields our graduates go into.
Science, Engineering & Technology
Engineering (industrial, computer science, aerospace, telecommunications, biomedical, data), Medicine, Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Mathematics, Physics, Architecture.
Law, Economics & International Relations
Law, dual degree Law-Business, Business Administration, Economics, Business Analytics, International Relations, Psychology.
Philosophy, Design & Communications
Philosophy, Design, Art, Film and Audiovisual Communication.
The Guidance Department supports each student through the university admissions process, including preparation of applications to international universities where applicable.
IB documents at Base.
Subject guides+
The questions families ask most
before visiting.
Can my child join the IB Diploma Programme if they come from another school?
What level of English do they need to start the Diploma Programme?
Is the IB Diploma valid for accessing Spanish universities?
How much does the IB Diploma cost at Base?
What happens if they don't achieve the full IB Diploma?
Where is the school? Is there transport from central Madrid?
How many hours of independent study per week should they expect?
Have more questions? Find all the answers on our FAQ page or get in touch.
is right for your family? Talk to us.
Send us your questions and the Admissions team will get back to you with the information you need, from subject choices and entry requirements to fees and transport. A one-to-one conversation, with no commitment.