What’s Next After the IB? Here Are Your Options

You've done it. You've survived the Extended Essay, TOK presentations, CAS reflections, and those brutal final exams. Now what?

If you're feeling a bit lost about what comes next, that's completely normal. The IB was a massive part of your life for two years, and it’s suddenly over. You might feel relieved, anxious, excited – or all three at once.

This guide walks you through your options for what’s next after the IB. Whether you got the grades you wanted or not, there are many brilliant paths forward.

Key Takeaways

• There's no single "right" path after the IB. University, gap years, apprenticeships, and work are all valid choices.

• Your next step depends on your goals, grades, finances, interests, and what feels right for you personally.

• The skills you developed during the IB, including research, time management and critical thinking, will serve you well, whatever you choose.

• If you didn't get the results you hoped for, you've still got plenty of options. These include retakes, Clearing, foundation courses, and alternative routes.

Option 1 - Go to University

Most IB students head to university, and your IB Diploma opens doors to universities worldwide. With 24 points, you've got the minimum for most institutions. Competitive courses will want much higher points, though.

• If you have met your conditional offer, brilliant! You'll start university in September or whenever your term begins. Use the summer to prepare, sort accommodation, and maybe earn some money.

• Missed your offer by a few points? Don't panic. Contact your chosen universities immediately - they might still accept you, especially if you were close. Many universities are flexible with IB students. You might also consider appealing your IB grade.

In the UK, Clearing opens on results day (opens in a new tab) for students without a confirmed place. You can search available courses and call universities directly. It's hectic but thousands of students find great courses through Clearing every year.

Universities typically convert IB scores to A Level equivalents. For example, 36 points roughly equals AAB, whilst 42 points is like AAA*.

You can defer your university place if you want to take a gap year. Most universities are fine with this, though highly competitive courses like Medicine might have restrictions.

Option 2 - Take a Gap Year

Gap years can be absolutely brilliant if you use them purposefully. Travel, volunteer, work, gain experience, or just figure out what you actually want to do.

Some students take gap years because they want to travel before committing to more study. Others need time to earn money for university or want work experience in their chosen field.

Gap years also work well if you're retaking IB exams to improve your scores. You can study independently while doing other meaningful activities. See our guide to retaking your IB exams. 

• Structured gap year programmes offer organised experiences like teaching abroad, conservation work, or internships. They're more expensive but provide built-in structure and safety.

• Independent gap years give you complete freedom but require serious planning. You'll need to sort visas, accommodation, insurance, and funding yourself.

Make your gap year purposeful by setting clear goals. Whether that's learning a language, gaining work experience, or saving money, having direction prevents you from drifting. Check out our guide to gap years and some ideas. 

Fund your gap year through part-time work, savings, or specific gap year programmes with funding included. Budget carefully - travel can eat through money quickly.

Option 3 - Do an Apprenticeship or Vocational Course

Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab) let you earn whilst learning, combining real work experience with qualifications. They're increasingly popular alternatives to university.

• Degree apprenticeships in the UK offer university-level qualifications whilst working for major companies. You graduate debt-free with a degree and years of experience.

• These programmes exist in fields like engineering, IT, business, healthcare, and finance. Companies like KPMG (opens in a new tab), BAE Systems (opens in a new tab), and the NHS (opens in a new tab) offer brilliant schemes.

• Apprenticeships suit students who prefer hands-on learning, want to start earning immediately, or don't fancy three more years of academic study.

• The work-study balance can be intense, but you're building your career from day one rather than spending years in lectures.

Search for apprenticeships on government websites (opens in a new tab), company career pages, and specialist platforms. Applications often open earlier than university ones, so start looking in autumn.

Option 4 - Start Working

Heading straight into work gives you immediate income, independence, and time to figure out your long-term plans. All without the pressure of more studying.

• Entry-level jobs for IB graduates include office administration, retail management trainee positions, tutoring younger students, hospitality roles, or social media work.

• Your IB qualification demonstrates strong academic ability, time management, and the ability to handle complex work - all things employers value.

• Working doesn't mean giving up on further education. Many people study online courses or professional certifications whilst working, building qualifications gradually.

This route works particularly well if you're genuinely unsure what career you want. Real work experience often clarifies what you enjoy and what you definitely don't.

Option 5 - Do a Foundation or Access Course

Foundation courses bridge the gap between your current qualifications and university requirements. They're particularly useful if you didn't get the IB grades you needed.

• These year-long programmes prepare you for specific degree subjects. They often include guaranteed university progression if you pass. 

• Foundation years are built into some university courses, especially for international students.

• Foundation courses (opens in a new tab) can help you switch from humanities to sciences or vice versa, giving you the subject knowledge you're missing. 

• They're common in the UK, Europe, and Australia, with many universities offering their own foundation programmes.

Access to Higher Education courses (opens in a new tab) work similarly, helping mature students or those without traditional qualifications get into university.

This option suits students who missed their grades, want to change direction completely, or need additional preparation before starting a challenging degree.

What If You Didn't Get the IB Results You Wanted?

If your results weren't what you hoped for, it's natural to feel disappointed. But this isn't the end of your academic journey - it's just a temporary setback.

• You can request a remark if you genuinely think your papers were marked incorrectly. Speak to your IB coordinator about the process and deadlines. Use our guide on how to appeal IB results.

• IB retakes are absolutely possible. You can resit individual exams in November or the following May to improve your scores. There's no limit on retake attempts. Use our guide to retaking your IB exams.

Foundation years at universities accept students with lower IB scores, getting you into higher education through an alternative route.

Clearing remains open for several weeks after results day. Keep checking for available courses and be ready to act quickly when you find something suitable.

Apprenticeships and work don't always have strict grade requirements. Your work ethic and attitude matter more than your exam scores.

Remember, loads of successful people didn't get the grades they wanted the first time. What matters is how you respond and move forward.

How to Decide What's Right for You

Start by asking yourself what you actually want to achieve in the next few years. Career goals? Financial independence? More studying? Time to explore?

Consider whether you met your predicted IB grades. If you exceeded expectations, you might have more options than you initially thought.

Think about what you need right now. Structure and clear direction? Then university or apprenticeships work well. Freedom and flexibility? Consider gap years or work.

Your financial situation matters too. Can your family support you through university? Do you need to earn money immediately? This affects which paths are realistic.

Talk to people who know you well. Speak to parents, teachers, IB coordinators, older friends who've been through this decision. They can offer perspectives you might miss.

Don't rush this decision just because everyone else seems sorted. Taking a few weeks to properly consider your options is much better than committing to something wrong for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is university the only option after the IB?

Absolutely not. Whilst many IB students do go to university, apprenticeships, work, gap years, and vocational courses are all perfectly valid paths. Your IB Diploma proves you can handle challenging academic work, which opens doors beyond just traditional universities.

Can I apply to university later if I take a gap year?

Yes! You can either defer your current university offers for a year or apply during your gap year for entry the following September. Many students find gap year experiences actually strengthen their university applications by giving them clarity about what they want to study.

What jobs can I do after IB without a degree?

Plenty of options exist including office administration, retail management, sales roles, tutoring, hospitality management, content creation, and apprenticeships in various fields. Your IB qualification demonstrates strong academic abilities that many employers value.

Final Thoughts

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to life after the IB. What matters is finding the path that works for you, based on your circumstances, interests, and goals.

You've just completed one of the toughest school programmes in the world. That's genuinely impressive, whatever scores you got. The skills you developed - research, critical thinking, time management, resilience - will serve you well in whatever comes next.

Whether you're heading to university, taking a gap year, starting work, or still figuring everything out, you're not behind. Everyone moves at their own pace, and there's no "right" timeline for success.

Take time to reflect on what you actually want rather than just following what everyone else is doing. Your life, your choice, your future.

References 

• UCAS Clearing (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab)

• KPMG Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab) 

• BAE Systems Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab)

• NHS Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab)

• government's apprenticeship website (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS Foundation courses (opens in a new tab) 

• Access to Higher Education courses (opens in a new tab)