International Curriculum
entry by Julie M. Marx, Global Family Expert at Expat Valley
An educational framework designed to be recognized and transferable across national boundaries, providing continuity of academic progression for internationally mobile students regardless of country of residence. International curricula typically emphasize transferable skills, global perspectives, and multilingual competence alongside academic content, and are assessed through internationally recognized qualifications.
Comparable terms
Portable curriculum (education — functional term emphasizing transferability; see Portability of Credentials) · Globally recognized curriculum (education — emphasis on recognition rather than content) · International Baccalaureate (IB) (education — the most widely recognized international curriculum framework; see separate entry) · Cambridge curriculum (education — the Cambridge Assessment International Education framework; the second most widely recognized international curriculum globally)
Why this matters
International curricula reduce academic disruption when families relocate frequently. They support consistent expectations and qualifications for TCKs and expat students. However, portability of curriculum does not guarantee portability of support for additional needs.
Cross-references
International Baccalaureate (Education); Portability of Credentials (Education); Educational Continuity (Education); International School (Education); Host-Country Curriculum (Education); Learning Support (Neurodiversity & Medical Complexity Abroad). The international school entry provides the institutional context within which international curricula are delivered; host-country curriculum describes the alternative that families choosing local schooling deal with instead. Learning support documents a critical gap in many international curriculum frameworks — curricular portability does not guarantee learning support portability, and neurodiverse families should investigate both independently.
Sources
Hayden, M.C. & Thompson, J.J. (2016). International Schools: Current Issues and Future Prospects. Symposium Books. Addresses international curriculum frameworks as the primary mechanism for educational continuity in mobile populations, with the IB Diploma identified as the most widely accepted globally.
For the Cambridge Assessment International Education framework as an alternative international curriculum, see: Cambridge Assessment International Education. (2023). Cambridge Programmes and Qualifications. Cambridge University Press.
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