18/06/2026
69% of UK universities say IB diploma is the “best pathway to thrive”
A 2026 report surveying 65 admissions officers across 50 UK universities, including Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and LSE, states that 69% of admissions officers agree that the IB diploma is “the best pathway to thrive at university”. This number has sharply risen by approximately 20% since a decade ago. The report highlights how universities are now placing much more value on a student’s transferable skills, attributes, and values. According to the report, “Universities are explicitly deprioritising subject knowledge in favour of skills and attitudes”.
About the 2026 University Admissions Officers Report
The 2026 University Admissions Officers Report continues a series commissioned by ACS International Schools, in partnership with the International Baccalaureate Schools & Colleges Association (IBSCA), examining the perspectives of UK university admissions officers. The last in the series was published in 2017, just one year after Brexit – and much has changed since then. The new report gives a snapshot of how the higher education landscape has evolved over the past decade: from policy changes, funding challenges and the impact of Brexit, to shifting expectations around student skills versus subject knowledge.
The report is unequivocal about the growing importance of future-ready skills
This is the strongest signal yet that good grades alone are no longer enough to succeed in higher education and beyond. While academic rigour is naturally still valued, transferable skills and values like critical thinking, independent learning, motivation and resilience are becoming an essential part of a future-ready education. University admission officers are increasingly paying attention to attitudes, values, and the ability to thrive in complexity. They prioritise applicants who can display breadth of learning, meaningful experiences, and high levels of self-reflection.
The skills shift continues: Which skills are universities looking for now?
The report shows that university admissions teams are increasingly looking for future-ready, transferable skills and attributes like critical thinking, ethical reasoning, curiosity and independent learning, rather than subject matter knowledge alone.
“Admission experts now rate subject knowledge as 15% less important than their counterparts did in 2016. Critical thinking, self-directed learning and intellectual curiosity now matter more than the ability to retain and reproduce information. What helped students succeed a decade ago is no longer sufficient.” – 2026 University Admissions Officers Report
Why the IB diploma is an in-demand pathway to university
The report also states that, “On average, the IB Diploma scores 23% higher than A Levels across all competencies assessed”. Given all this, it’s no surprise that the International Baccalaureate diploma is standing out to admissions officers as a reliable indicator of a student’s potential for success in higher education.
The IB diploma includes six subject groups and combines academic depth with independent thinking and real-world learning. It’s an excellent route to university, partly because of the rigorous, challenging and internationally recognised curriculum, but also because it helps students to think independently, organise themselves across multiple demands and equip themselves for the next stages of their lives.
Watch: A 60-second introduction to the International Baccalaureate
“Universities are telling us clearly that they want students who can think and not just recite facts for a test. The survey shows knowledge declining in importance while skills and attitudes rise. This reflects a fundamental shift in what success looks like, and schools need to respond.” – Mark Wilson, Head of School at ACS Egham
ACS is the perfect springboard to university
ACS International Schools is a group of three leading IB schools in the UK, each with a thriving and diverse community of global citizens. We combine academic challenge with broader skill development, with emphasis on being future-ready – encouraging independent thinking and intellectual curiosity. We are proud to offer the IBDP and the more career-focused IBCP as part of our core curriculum.
Read more: What’s the difference between an IB school and a traditional British school?
How to prepare your children for a successful university application
A strong university application not only shows strong academic success but also demonstrates a blend of transferable skills, and an IB diploma is an excellent way to do this. As Dr Robert Harrison, Chief Executive of ACS International Schools, says, preparing a child for university and beyond has never been more crucial. He says, “Get it right, and you help to set your child up for success. Get it wrong, and you may have spent years preparing them for a world that no longer exists.”
Find out more about the IB
Discover more about how ACS prepares students for their next steps in life by booking a visit to one of our beautiful campuses across Egham, Hillingdon and Cobham.
