Prospectus

Kungsholmen’s Gymnasium/Stockholm’s Music Gymnasium is a Swedish, municipal Upper Secondary School in Stockholm . It includes a large International Section. Stockholm has offered English language tuition since 1973. Today the International Section at Kungsholmen consists of 15 classes, where English is the working language i.e. the medium used for instruction and communication. In each year there are 2 Natural Science classes, 2 Social Science classes and 1 IB class. The school is a meeting place for students from Sweden and many other parts of the world. We hope to attract students who are interested in global issues and co-operation.

In Sweden it is compulsory to complete the 9-year comprehensive school which pupils usually begin at the age of 7. The gymnasium school is separate and non-compulsory, although almost all 16 year olds continue with a 3-year programme of studies.

Gymnasium in Sweden is not necessarily the same as the 10 th, 11 th and 12 th school years in other countries. Our students are 16-19 years old. Those coming from foreign school systems can be admitted directly to the gymnasium if they have attended at least nine full years of schooling from the age of 6 and can demonstrate a comparable level of knowledge and skills necessary for studies at this level.

There are three programmes in the International Section:

The Natural Sciences Programme
A three-year curriculum which follows the syllabus for the Swedish Natural Sciences Programme, using English as the language of instruction.

The Social Sciences Programme
A three-year curriculum which follows the syllabus for the Swedish Social Sciences Programme, using English as the language of instruction.

The International Baccalaureate
A preparatory year followed by a two-year course leading to the IB Diploma.

Three years are required to complete the curriculum for both the Natural Sciences Programme and the Social Sciences Programme. It is therefore not possible to join these programmes in the 2 nd or 3 rd year. Credits earned in other school systems are not directly transferable.

The International Baccalaureate Programme consists of a preparatory year (IB1) and 2 years of the IB Diploma Curriculum. Typical IB students take their Diploma Examination at the age of 18 or later in some cases. It is possible to enter IB2 directly or even transfer to IB3 from another IB school if the student’s subject choices are compatible with the options we can offer.

Entry to all three programmes is highly competitive as applicants compete for admission on the basis of grades. The merits of students from other school systems are evaluated and judged separately.

Please note that priority to the IB at this school is given to students whose parents are on documented temporary contracts of assignment in Sweden .

(There are other schools in the greater Stockholm area that offers English language programmes, including the IB. The procedure for applying to these programmes is the same as applying to other programmes in the Swedish Upper Secondary School .)

Admission

Students are eligible for admission to the Social Sciences Programme (ES) or the Natural Sciences Programme (EN) if they have completed their compulsory education in Sweden or have a similar education abroad, which may mean more than 9 years of schooling. Their knowledge of English must be good enough to enable them to follow the teaching.

Applicants who are temporary residents in Sweden whose parents are on contract here are given priority to the IB class. Students may be admitted directly to the second year of the IB if they have sufficient academic background and knowledge of English to be able to follow the programme. Direct admission to the third year is not possible unless a student is transferring directly from another IB school.

Applicants from Swedish schools who are registered as residents in the municipality of Stockholm are given preference over applicants from neighbouring municipalities except when special circumstances are involved. For example, students whose families are here
on contract and attend English-speaking schools, and students from schools abroad are consedered separately and compete on the basis of grades in a special quota group.


Entrance Examination
All students are required to demonstrate their ability to follow instruction in English. An entry examination is held, where necessary, to test their language skills in English. The Admission Board (Intagningsenheten) will notify applicants about the necessity and date of examination.

Fees
Education is free in Sweden. However, students whose parents are diplomats stationed at embassies in Stockholm pay fees for all programmes, as they are not registrered taxpayers. This may apply to other categories of temporary residents as well. (The school can provide information about the current tuition fees). These IB students are also charged a registration fee in their final year for the examinations.



Kungsholmen’s Gymnasium is a member of ECIS, a global membership organisation that provides professional development opportunities to its members who are comprised of international schools, individuals and educational organisations.

ECIS is the leading collaborative global network promoting and supporting the ideals and best practices of international education.