Middle Years Programme (MYP) of The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) is an educational programme intended for students aged approximately 11 to 16 (grades 6-10). The MYP programme naturally prepares students for the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and there are significant parallels in structure and philosophy.
The subjects taught in the MYP are divided into eight subject groups: language A (the student's best language or the language of instruction in the school), language B (a foreign language), humanities, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical education, and technology each of which must receive a minimum of 50 hours per year instruction time. The programme is based around five 'areas of interaction': approaches to learning (related to study skills), community and service, Homo Faber ('man the maker'), environment, and health and social education. The areas of interaction are a key feature of the MYP. They are not generally taught as separate courses, but rather as themes that are reflected in all subjects. The community and service area requires students to do community service in each year of the programme.
In addition, in MYP 5, students complete a personal project on a topic of their choice, with consultation by teachers. The personal project is one of the most important aspects of the MYP. Just as with the Extended Essay in the IB Diploma Programme, students are required to choose a non-academic topic or subject for their project, which they are expected to complete over the course of the school year. Students are required to keep a process journal while working on the process; in addition, a final reflection must be written upon the completion of the project which explains how it ties in with at least one of the Areas of Interaction.
