International curriculum

Challenging and inspiring students worldwide

The Cambridge international curriculum sets a global standard for education, and is recognised by universities and employers worldwide. Our curriculum is flexible, challenging and inspiring, culturally sensitive yet international in approach. Cambridge students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. They also gain the essential skills they need for success at university and in their future careers.

Find out more about implementing the curriculum with Cambridge.

The Cambridge Pathway – from primary through to pre-university

Cambridge Pathway students have the chance to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to achieve at school, university and beyond.

The four stages lead seamlessly from primary to secondary and pre-university years. Each stage – Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary and Cambridge Advanced – builds on the learners’ development from the previous one, but can also be offered separately. Similarly, each syllabus adopts a ‘spiral’ approach, building on previous learning to help advance students study. Our curriculum reflects the latest thinking in each subject area, drawn from expert international research and consultation with schools.

There are annual programme fees for the Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary & Advanced programmes. There is information about the fees we charge here but for full details of the fees for your region please contact us.

Knowledge, understanding and higher order thinking skills

Cambridge programmes combine an emphasis on mastering subjects in depth with the development skills for study and work in the future. We value deep subject knowledge as well as the conceptual understanding that helps students make links between different aspects of a subject. We also encourage students to develop higher order thinking skills - problem solving, critical thinking, independent research, collaboration and presenting arguments. These are transferable skills that will last a lifetime, preparing students for their future lives. They also make learning enjoyable and rewarding.

Cambridge Global Perspectives

Cambridge Global Perspectives is a unique, transformational programme that helps students at every stage of school education develop outstanding transferable skills, including critical thinking, research and collaboration. The programme is for students aged 5 to 19 years, leading seamlessly from Cambridge Primary through to Cambridge Advanced.

A unique feature of Cambridge Global Perspectives is the dedicated Online Learning area – free to schools that offer the subject.

Choice and flexibility for schools and students

Cambridge schools tailor the Cambridge international curriculum to their culture and ethos, and their students’ needs. We offer over 70 subjects at Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge O Level, and over 55 subjects at Cambridge International AS & A Level. This allows Cambridge schools to build a curriculum which offers real choice - both of subject and subject combination.

Many schools around the world use Cambridge programmes and qualifications as the English-medium strand of a bilingual education programme. Bilingual teaching methods vary, but the flexibility of the Cambridge approach means that learners can work towards a Cambridge qualification through the medium of English while also following their own national curriculum.