BFI Diploma | Nederlandse Afdeling

The Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) is the new name for the diploma previously known as the Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB). This prestigious diploma combines the French baccalaureate with a Dutch VWO certificate.

Name change

Since 2022, the OIB is officially called BFI (Baccalauréat Français International). The content of the program has been expanded with a research subject.

What is the BFI?

The BFI is an enriched French baccalaureate that includes additional subjects in the language of the international section. For the Dutch Section, this means:

Dutch language and literature at native speaker level
History and geography in Dutch
Connaissance du Monde (research subject)

Examinations

In addition to the regular French baccalaureate exams, BFI students take additional exams in Dutch:

Subject	Exam type	Coefficient
Dutch language and literature	Written + oral	20
History and geography	Written + oral	20
Connaissance du Monde (research subject)	Oral	20

Honors (Mentions)

Like the baccalauréat, the BFI awards honors based on the total percentage achieved:

Félicitations du Jury: 90% or higher (Outstanding)
Mention Très Bien: 80% or higher (Very Good)
Mention Bien: 70-79% (Good)
Mention Assez Bien: 60-69% (Fairly Good)
Admis: 50-59% (Passed)

Benefits of the BFI

🎓 University access

The BFI is recognized for admission to universities in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and worldwide.

🌍 International experience

Students develop a deep understanding of multiple cultures and perspectives.

📚 Multilingual skills

Preservation and development of native Dutch alongside academic-level French and English.

🏆 Prestige

The BFI is a selective and demanding program valued by employers and universities.

Who can obtain the BFI?

Students of the Dutch Section who complete the full program through Terminale (grade 12) can obtain the BFI with Dutch option. It requires:

High level of Dutch (native or near-native)
Participation in section education for at least the three years of lycée
Passing both the French baccalaureate and the BFI exams

Pass rates

The Dutch Section has a consistently high pass rate for the BFI. Most students graduate with good to excellent results.

Comparison with other diplomas

How does the BFI compare to other international diplomas?

IB (International Baccalaureate): The IB is entirely in English; the BFI is a French baccalauréat with Dutch and (if desired) English at academic level.
Dutch VWO: The BFI provides access to Dutch universities and is recognized as equivalent to VWO for most programs.
French Baccalaureate: The BFI is an enriched version with additional language and culture education.

Related programs

The BFI builds on the DNBI (Diplôme National du Brevet – Option Internationale) completed at the end of collège. Students who don't yet speak French can prepare with our Français Spécial intensive language program.