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Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð – IB Programme

Iceland, Reykjavík

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees ISK 65,000 - 95,000
Ages 16 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1000
Type Co-educational
Opened 1966
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Icelandic, English, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese
Strengths Performing Arts, Academic Enrichment, Languages
Stages Secondary School, Sixth Form, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð in Reykjavík offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) as its upper secondary track. Founded in 1966, the school began IB preparation in 1997, with the first IB graduates in 2000. The DP is a two-year, English-taught pre-university curriculum for students typically aged 16 to 19, culminating in external exams recognised by universities worldwide. A one-year pre-IB intake is available for younger entrants, and tracks such as Listdanbraut and Listmenntabraut have broadened pathways into the stúdentspróf and arts-related studies. The DP requires six subjects, plus Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and an Extended Essay (EE), with assessment through a mix of internal and external methods. The school emphasizes arts pathways alongside a broad curriculum, including a core focus on listdansi. The IB coordinator is Alda Kravec (ibstallari@mh.is). The college hosts roughly 1,050–1,150 students with about 120 staff and operates on a campus with a building in use since 2007.

Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð, Hamrahlíð 10, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland

The Essentials

Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð – IB Programme has 1,000 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Reykjavík, Iceland. The school is located in the Hamrahlíð district at Hamrahlíð 10, 105 Reykjavík.

Stages
The IB Diploma Programme is a two-year course for ages 16–19, taught in English. The school also offers a preparatory year (pre-IB) for younger students before starting the IB.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Most IB students are Icelandic or foreigners with residence permits in Iceland; some Icelandic students join directly from primary school.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
MH is a member school of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), an international association of about 5,000 schools in more than 140 countries. The school offers the IB programme, a demanding academic study that culminates in an internationally recognized diploma. The program lasts two years after completing a preparatory year in upper secondary and is taught and examined largely in English. The program is organized into courses, and MH students may take individual IB courses and have them credited toward the traditional matriculation examination.
Fees

Annual tuition at Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð – IB Programme ranges from ISK 65,000 to ISK 95,000 for 2026/27.

Application & enrolment fees

- There is no separate one‑off “application” charge listed for IB applicants. Enrolment and ongoing semester charges are collected as school/registration and programme fees.
- MH registration (school) fee: ISK 15,000 per semester. This is split into Registration ISK 6,000 and Materials & copying ISK 9,000. Optional additional semester charges: NFMH (student‑union) fee ISK 5,000 and Parent Association ISK 500 (both optional). An invoice for the school/registration fee is issued before each semester starts.

IB programme tuition — per term and by programme length

All IB students pay the MH registration fee (ISK 15,000 per semester) in addition to the IB programme fee. The IB programme fee is ISK 130,000 in total and is collected in semester installments according to how many semesters the student takes at the school. The school treats the final semester differently: only the MH registration fee is charged for the last semester.

- Students on a six‑semester pathway (Pre‑IB + IB Diploma Programme):
- IB portion: ISK 26,000 per semester for the first five semesters; sixth semester no IB portion.
- Combined per semester (first five semesters): IB ISK 26,000 + MH registration ISK 15,000 = ISK 41,000 per semester.
- Sixth (final) semester: MH registration only = ISK 15,000.
- Year totals (typical three‑year breakdown):
- Year 1 (Pre‑IB): 2 semesters × ISK 41,000 = ISK 82,000.
- Year 2 (IB year 1): 2 semesters × ISK 41,000 = ISK 82,000.
- Year 3 (IB year 2): Semester 5 = ISK 41,000; Semester 6 = ISK 15,000 → Year 3 total ISK 56,000.
- Total for six semesters: ISK 220,000 (IB ISK 130,000 + MH registration ISK 90,000).

- Students on a five‑semester pathway (half Pre‑IB + IB DP):
- IB portion: ISK 32,500 per semester for the first four semesters; fifth semester no IB portion.
- Combined per semester (first four semesters): IB ISK 32,500 + MH registration ISK 15,000 = ISK 47,500 per semester.
- Fifth (final) semester: MH registration only = ISK 15,000.
- Year totals (approximate):
- Year 1: 2 × ISK 47,500 = ISK 95,000.
- Year 2: 2 × ISK 47,500 = ISK 95,000.
- Year 3 (final half‑year): ISK 15,000.
- Total for five semesters: ISK 205,000 (IB ISK 130,000 + MH registration ISK 75,000).

- Students on a four‑semester pathway (IB DP only — two academic years):
- IB portion installments: ISK 50,000 in the first semester, ISK 40,000 in the second and third semesters; fourth semester no IB portion.
- Combined per semester:
- Semester 1: IB ISK 50,000 + MH registration ISK 15,000 = ISK 65,000.
- Semesters 2 and 3: IB ISK 40,000 + MH registration ISK 15,000 = ISK 55,000 each.
- Semester 4 (final): MH registration only = ISK 15,000.
- Year totals:
- Year 1 (Sem 1+2): ISK 65,000 + ISK 55,000 = ISK 120,000.
- Year 2 (Sem 3+4): ISK 55,000 + ISK 15,000 = ISK 70,000.
- Total for four semesters: ISK 190,000 (IB ISK 130,000 + MH registration ISK 60,000).

Billing schedule & payment terms

- IB programme fee invoices are issued in September and February. The MH registration fee/invoice is issued before each semester starts. The IB programme total (ISK 130,000) must be fully paid by November of the student's second year prior to registration for IB DP examinations. Fees for IB are stated as non‑refundable.
- Payment notices (payment slips / e‑invoices) appear in the student's or guardian's online bank (heimabanki). A late‑payment surcharge of ISK 1,500 is added for payments made after the due date; this surcharge is allocated to the school fund. Students aged 18 or over may change which account receives the e‑invoice.

Boarding / accommodation fees

- The IB provision at Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð is a day programme (day school). No boarding accommodation or boarding fees apply.

Other costs and occasional fees

- Optional/recurring and course‑specific charges (examples and typical amounts):
- Student‑union (NFMH) optional fee: ISK 5,000 per semester.
- Parent Association (optional): ISK 500 per semester.
- Locker rental: ISK 2,000 per school year; lost key penalty ISK 5,000.
- Course material fees (examples): home‑economics classes ISK 11,000; visual arts ISK 4,000 per course (excl. final project); swimming ISK 8,000 per semester; hiking course ISK 4,000 per trip; certain vocational modules ISK 5,500 per course.
- Copying / document handling: typically ISK 1,000–2,000 depending on volume.
- Fees for resit or special exams: e.g., status/placement tests and repeat examinations have set fees (examples listed include ISK 18,000 and ISK 15,000 for certain repeat/assessment exams). IB retake exam fees follow the IB Organisation's fee schedule plus an ISK 6,000 administrative charge.

Refunds and cancellations

- IB programme fees are described as non‑refundable. General enrolment refunds are limited: only the Materials & copying fee (and related small components) is refundable if a student withdraws; an application for refund must be submitted within two days from the first teaching day of the semester. After that two‑day window no refund is made.

How fees are billed and how payments are made

- Invoices for school and IB fees are issued electronically and delivered as payment slips (e‑invoices) to the student's or guardian's online bank. The school publishes payment due dates with each billing cycle; late payments incur a fixed surcharge. Specific payment channels such as credit‑card acceptance are not detailed in the fee notices—payments are issued into the home‑banking system and students/guardians should use the payment method provided by their bank for the e‑invoice.

(End of fees overview)
Academics

Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð – IB Programme teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 16 to 18.

Curriculum
The IB programme is a demanding two-year programme taught in English. It is first and foremost an opportunity for hard-working and highly motivated pre-university students. In May 1997 Hamrahlíð College (MH) became a member school of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). This gives the College the right to offer the IB Diploma Programme, a comprehensive pre-university curriculum. Taught in English and intended mostly for the 16-19 age groups, the two-year course ends with standardised exams recognised by universities world-wide. The school also offers a preparatory year for younger students before they start the IB proper.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates typically proceed to higher education at universities worldwide (inference based on IB Diploma recognition). The Diploma Programme is a comprehensive pre-university curriculum and ends with standardised exams recognised by universities worldwide.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
MH provides social-emotional and academic support for IB students. Three study counsellors work at the school, including one IB study counsellor, along with a psychologist and a nurse. A learning centre offers study support, and time-management assistance is available. Students can sign up for special tutoring times to support attendance and progress. The support system aims to identify and remove barriers to learning and to promote student wellbeing and success.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
MH welcomes students with learning barriers or difficulties and provides inclusion support. The school works with school counsellors, the school psychologist, special needs teachers, interpreters, and subject teachers to deliver assistance. The aim is to increase access and engagement in learning by identifying and removing barriers and by ensuring full access to the curriculum. Homework help is available for students who need it. Students with learning barriers, including dyslexia, ADHD and anxiety, receive appropriate support during exams. School counsellors also support students who suffer from long-term illnesses or other difficulties affecting their studies.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The main language of instruction in the IB programme is English. Icelandic is the first language of the vast majority of students, and students tend to communicate in English in IB settings. The language of instruction in the IB programme is English with the exception of Icelandic A and some Language B courses. In ab initio courses the primary language of instruction is Icelandic, but non-Icelandic speakers receive assistance in English. DP students have a broad range of first languages, including Polish, French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Albanian, Urdu, Farsi and more. DP students are encouraged to take Language A self-taught to preserve and cultivate their mother tongue and culture.

Mental Wellbeing
MH offers social-emotional and academic support that includes a psychologist and a nurse as part of the student-support team. A learning centre provides study and time-management assistance, and three study counsellors (including one IB counsellor) work to help students identify and remove barriers to learning. School counsellors support students who suffer from long-term illnesses or difficulties affecting their studies, contributing to overall wellbeing and academic success.

Safeguarding
MH has an anti-bullying and safeguarding programme (EKKO) for staff, students, and guardians. The program provides terminology, outlines responsibilities and the EKKO team, and covers reporting and handling of EKKO cases through informal and formal channels. It also addresses confidentiality and record-keeping to maintain a safe and trustworthy school environment.
Parent Experience

History
Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð was founded in 1966, with the first graduates in 1970. The school initially operated on a year-based class system, and in 1972 Áfangakerfið (a modular/credit-based system) was introduced, the first such implementation in Iceland. In 1997 the school began preparing students for the International Baccalaureate Diploma, with the first IB graduates completing the program in summer 2000. A new building was inaugurated on February 14, 2007. Autumn 2011 brought the establishment of a sérnámsbraut (specialized track), with the first graduates on that track in 2015; the track was renamed Fjölnámsbraut in early 2021. The school has since introduced several additional tracks, including Listdanbraut and Listmenntabraut (the latter launched in autumn 2023), and tracks were designed to allow some students to complete the stúdentspróf in three years. The school now supports a broad curriculum including a core emphasis on listdansi and related arts pathways, and a student body of roughly 1,050–1,150 with around 120 staff.

Community
The school maintains an active community with a strong arts and music culture. The Hamrahlíð Choir, formed when MH opened its doors and later expanded under long-time leadership, has been a hallmark of MH and has traveled widely to showcase the school. MH emphasizes a diverse set of study tracks, including IB, and remains a core hub for list dancing and related artistic education, hosting Listdanbraut and Listmenntabraut alongside other programs. The student population has been about 1,050–1,150 in recent years, supported by a staff of approximately 120.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Foreldraráð MH (MH Parents' Council) functions as a forum for parents and guardians to consult with school management and to participate in school life. It supports the school through advisory roles, budget discussions, and funding decisions, including provisions for equipment and guest lectures. Meeting records show ongoing governance discussions, routine updates, and collaboration between the council and MH leadership. Communications to parents emphasize the council's role in strengthening student life and school quality, and there have been formal decisions about council structure and funding allocations. The council is explicitly described as a body that raises concerns and works with the school to improve conditions for students and to support educational activities.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The IB programme is a demanding two-year programme taught in English. It is primarily an opportunity for hardworking and highly motivated pre-university students. In May 1997 Hamrahlíð College (MH) became a member school of the International Baccalaureate Organization, which grants MH the right to offer the IB Diploma Programme, a comprehensive pre-university curriculum. The Diploma Programme is taught in English and intended mainly for students aged 16 to 19. The two-year course ends with standardised exams recognised by universities worldwide. The school also offers a preparatory year for younger students before the IB proper.

Academic Facilities
Most IB students are Icelanders who have returned home after several years abroad, or foreigners with residence permits in Iceland. Some students are Icelandic and come directly from primary school but aim to work or study in an international atmosphere in the future. Students who have completed 10th or 11th grade at foreign or international schools, or the first year of the Icelandic gymnasium, with excellent academic results and proficiency in English, may be admitted directly to the two-year IB Diploma course. Applicants from grades 9 or 10 in foreign schools and applicants from 10th grade in Icelandic schools must start with a one-year preparatory course, the pre-IB, which is also taught in English. The IB DP coordinator is Alda Kravec. Office hours are by agreement; please email ibstallari@mh.is or call to arrange an appointment. Telephone: 595-5233.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) as the upper secondary track. The DP is taught largely in English and is the only upper secondary programme in Iceland taught in English that provides qualification for entry into university. The DP requires six subjects along with CAS, TOK, and EE components and is assessed through both external and internal assessments.

Arts & Creative
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Cultural & Language
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Social & Hobbies
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Community & Service
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Leadership & Professional
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Lifestyle & Wellbeing
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Languages

Language Provision
The school offers a demanding two-year IB programme taught in English. The school became a member of the International Baccalaureate Organization in May 1997, which gives the College the right to offer the IB Diploma Programme, a comprehensive pre-university curriculum. The Diploma Programme is taught in English and is intended chiefly for students aged 16–19; the two-year course ends with standardized exams recognised by universities worldwide, and the school also offers a one-year pre-IB for younger students before the IB proper. Direct admission to the two-year Diploma course is possible for students who have completed 10th or 11th grade at foreign or international schools or the first year of the Icelandic gymnasium with excellent English, while applicants from grades 9–10 in foreign schools and those from 10th grade in Icelandic schools must start with the one-year pre-IB, which is taught in English; Alda Kravec is the IB DP coordinator.
Admissions

Admissions
MH is a member school of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), an international network of some 5,000 schools in more than 140 countries. The school offers IB studies, a demanding academic program that culminates with a standardized exam. It provides similar rights for entry to higher education and the Icelandic matriculation examination, though it differs in some respects. The program takes two years to complete after a preparatory year in upper secondary school and is taught and examined largely in English. The curriculum is organized into subjects, and MH students have the option to take individual IB subjects and have them counted toward the traditional matriculation examination. See more under IB Studies. Last updated: January 24, 2023.
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