The Diploma Programme (DP) was established to provide students with a balanced education, facilitate geographic and cultural mobility and to promote international understanding. The DP organizes teaching and learning through six subject groups, underpinned by the DP core. Students choose a course from within each subject group. Read about the six subject groups. For most courses, students take written examinations at the end of the DP. In many programme areas, students complete externally assessed coursework. Components of the DP core require students to produce coursework, for example. Students will take some subjects at higher level (HL) and some at standard level (SL). HL and SL subjects differ in scope but are measured according to the same grade descriptors, with students expected to demonstrate a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills at higher level. Each student takes a minimum of three or a maximum of four subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level. Standard level subjects take up 150 teaching hours. Higher level comprises 240 teaching hours.