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Carlforsska Gymnasiet

Sweden, Västerås

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Swedish
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Type Co-educational
Opened 1953
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Swiss Curriculum
Taught languages Swedish, English, Arabic, Spanish, Serbian, Lithuanian, Russian, Somali
Strengths Visual and Creative Arts, Languages, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Carlforsska Gymnasiet in Västerås offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) in English, with the option also to follow a Swiss curriculum. The school has been an IB World School since December 2013. The IB Diploma runs over three years: Year 1 is a pre-DP bridge introducing all DP subjects and developing study techniques, TOK, CAS, and the Extended Essay. Years 2 and 3 consist of six subject groups (Language A, Language B, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts) with courses chosen at Standard or Higher Level to suit interests and future plans. The entire IB curriculum is taught in English, enabling graduation with an IB Diploma recognized worldwide. Year 1 admissions require recent arrival to Sweden, regional residency, a Swedish personal ID, and a two-part entrance test (math and English). The school provides a careers adviser and an IB Coordinator to support university planning, admissions, and study choices.

Sångargatan 1, 721 87 Västerås, Sweden

The Essentials

Carlforsska Gymnasiet has instruction in English, Swedish.

Location
The school is located in Västerås, Sweden. Visiting address: Sångargatan 1. Postadress: Västerås stad, Carlforsska gymnasiet, 721 87 Västerås. Programs exist at multiple addresses, including Vallgatan 3 (Adapted Upper Secondary, entrance F2), Fenix at Bäckby Park, and Wegas at Rosenhill. From January 1, 2026, Nimbus will be offered at the adapted upper secondary school at Bäckbytorg 8.

Stages
IB program runs over three years: a preparatory year (Pre-DP) in year 1, followed by the Diploma Programme in years 2 and 3. The entire curriculum is taught in English.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
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Uniform Requirement
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Food Options
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House System
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Governance and Ownership
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Fees
Application fees

- There is no application fee to apply to Carlforsska gymnasiet through the Swedish upper‑secondary admissions process. Municipal and national rules prohibit charging applicants for placement in gymnasieskolan.

Tuition fees (by year group and term)

- Carlforsska gymnasiet is a municipal upper‑secondary school. There is no tuition charged to students who are covered by Swedish municipal entitlements; there are no recurring termly or annual tuition charges for standard national or municipal programmes.

- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme: the school runs the two‑year IB Diploma Programme (preparatory first year plus final assessment year). The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) levies programme‑related charges (school registration/annual/diploma fees and per‑candidate examination fees) that are invoiced from the IBO in Switzerland. These IBO charges are assessed in addition to the municipal school budget and are billed per IBO rules (typical items include a diploma/registration fee and per‑subject assessment fees charged in the exam session). The IBO assessment fees for the 2026 assessment cycle (examples published by Swedish IB schools) show per‑subject and core component charges expressed in euros (example values: subject fee ~EUR 92; extended essay/EE and TOK/CAS core component charges shown separately). These IBO charges are normally billed for the student at the time of final registration for the examination session (the final year of the Diploma Programme).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Municipal school instruction (national and municipal programmes) is not billed as tuition; any municipal invoices (for optional non‑mandatory activities or services) follow Västerås municipality invoicing practice. Municipal invoices are issued ahead of or during each term for chargeable activities and include standard payment terms on the invoice. Municipal invoicing channels (for example electronic delivery such as Kivra or mailed invoices) and payment by bank transfer/Bankgiro/IBAN with OCR references are in regular use for municipal charges.

- IB (IBO) fees: the IBO issues invoices for the school registration (joining) fee, the annual diploma/school fee and the per‑candidate examination fees; those invoices originate from the IBO's headquarters/finance unit and are used as supporting documentation for available Swedish state grants for IB fees. Schools or the municipal main operator handle payment of IBO invoices according to the municipality's internal procedures; in practice IBO invoices are paid by international bank transfer (IBAN) or by the payment route specified on the invoice. The Skolverket (Swedish National Agency for Education) administers a targeted grant for IBO fees and requires invoice and proof of payment as documentation when applying for that grant. Application windows for that grant are published annually.

Boarding fees (if applicable)

- Carlforsska gymnasiet does not operate a boarding or elevhem service; there are no boarding fees associated with study at Carlforsska. Residential/accommodation arrangements and related charges therefore do not apply for this school.

Other costs and typical additional charges

- Course materials and personal study aids: under Swedish rules, the education itself is free, but the school or main operator may require that students obtain certain personal tools or single‑use items for specific vocational courses; reasonable costs for personal learning materials or protective clothing (where required by the programme) may be charged to the pupil, limited to actual acquisition cost.

- Excursions, voluntary residential trips and some extracurricular activities: schools commonly run optional excursions and overnight trips that carry a charge for travel, accommodation and programme costs; such charges are typically invoiced when the activity is arranged and are payable according to the invoice terms. Charges for optional activities are voluntary and apply only when the pupil opts in.

- IB examination and assessment fees: per‑candidate IBO examination fees and any IBO registration/diploma fees are charged by the IBO and invoiced as described above. Example published figures used by Swedish IB schools for the 2026 assessment cycle include per‑subject assessment fees and separate core component charges (examples: subject fee approx. EUR 92; EE/TOK/CAS core fees shown separately in school publications). These charges apply in the assessment (final) year of the IB Diploma Programme and are settled via the invoicing procedure described above.

- School lunch and catering: whether or not gymnasieelever pay for school meals is decided by the home municipality. Some municipalities provide free school meals to gymnasieelever while others do not; any meal charges or rules for meal payments are determined and communicated by the municipality. Västerås handles municipal invoicing for chargeable services through its standard invoice channels.

- Uniforms: Carlforsska does not list a compulsory uniform policy; municipal upper‑secondary schools in Sweden typically do not require school uniforms. Any optional programme‑specific clothing requirements (for example protective workwear for vocational subjects) are handled under the permissible personal‑equipment rules.

Refund information

- There is no tuition to refund for standard municipal schooling. Refunds for voluntary paid items (excursions, instrument hire, cultural courses, etc.) follow the municipality's or the specific programme's published refund rules; some municipal course fees are non‑refundable once the course has started or the service has been provided, and invoices commonly state refund terms. For IB/IBO charges, refund and cancellation conditions are governed by the IBO's own regulations and the timing of registration; the IBO's invoice and assessment procedures determine whether amounts already invoiced can be refunded. Municipal procedures require invoices and proof of payment when applying for available state grants for IBO fees.

Fee payment options

- Municipal charges and voluntary activity fees are handled through Västerås municipality invoicing practice: invoices are delivered electronically (Kivra) or by post, include an OCR reference, and are payable via standard Swedish payment methods (bank/Internet banking using Bankgiro/IBAN as specified on the invoice). Municipal invoicing terms and late‑payment follow‑up (reminder and possible collection) are applied if an invoice is not paid on time.

- IBO (IB) invoices are international invoices issued by the IBO; these invoices specify accepted payment methods (commonly international bank transfer/IBAN details) and the payment terms that apply to the IBO charge. The municipality or school handles the incoming IBO invoice according to its internal payment routines. Schools that collect IBO charges from families will set out the payment routes and timelines on the family invoice (for example bank transfer details, due dates and any instalment arrangements the school permits). Skolverket's grant process accepts the IBO invoice and proof of payment as supporting documents for grant reimbursement.

If you refer to these points when adding Carlforsska to your database, record: (1) no application fee, (2) no tuition charged by year or term for municipal programmes, (3) IB‑specific fees are invoiced by the IBO (school registration/annual/diploma and per‑subject assessment fees) and are settled via the IBO/muncipal invoicing route, (4) no boarding, and (5) other charges are limited to permitted costs such as personal tools, optional trips and voluntary activities.
Academics

Carlforsska Gymnasiet teaches IB (DP), Swiss Curriculum.

Curriculum
IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) is offered at Carlforsska. The entire curriculum is taught in English, and after earning the diploma you can continue higher education anywhere in the world. The program runs over three years with Year 1 as Pre-DP (preparatory year) and Years 2–3 as the DP. Year 1 introduces all DP subjects, builds study techniques, and develops understanding of IB concepts, including Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay (EE). In Years 2 and 3, students select one subject from each of six groups: Group 1 Language A, Group 2 Language B, Group 3 Individuals and Societies, Group 4 Sciences, Group 5 Mathematics, Group 6 Arts, with all courses preparing for the IB Diploma Programme.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates are prepared for higher education internationally; IB is recognised by universities around the world, enabling study anywhere in the world.
Parent Experience

History
Carlforsska gymnasiet started as a Handelsgymnasium in Västerås in 1953. Knut Carlfors, who gave the school its name, was its head from 1953 to 1958. From the start the school carried out a Handelsgymnasium tradition and in 1992 it changed its name from Carlforsska skolan to Carlforsska gymnasiet. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) is offered at Carlforsska and the school has been an IB World School since December 19, 2013. The IB Diploma Programme is delivered in English.

Community
Open House events are held to inform prospective students and parents about Carlforsska's programs, including the IB program. The school has an international dimension, being certified as an EU school and a partner to Amnesty International. UF (Young Enterprise) activities are part of student life, with events such as Nordic Chains UF receiving recognition.
Facilities

Academic Facilities
Entrance into year 1 (pre-DP): Year 1 of gymnasium in the IB Diploma Programme is about preparation. A small number of students may skip year 1 (pre-DP) and join directly in year 2—the first year of the Diploma Programme (DP1).

To join year 1 you must fulfil the following: you have recently arrived in Sweden (within the past 2 years); you and your parents/guardians are resident in the region (Västmanland) and have registered with the local authorities and have a Swedish personal ID number; you have a minimum of 9 years completed studies from your home country (kindergarten is not counted); you have a transcript (in English or Swedish) showing your grades from your previous two years of schooling; you are at least 16 years of age, or about to turn 16, at the start of the new term (August); you have passed both entrance tests as described below.

Two entrance tests for year one: Part 1 is a Maths exam testing basic maths skills; Part 2 is an English exam testing reading comprehension and writing.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) over three years, with Year 1 serving as a preparatory bridge from previous studies. The school lets students design their own study plan within core requirements, bridging to the diploma while maintaining the Swedish national program in Year 1. All Diploma subjects are available at Standard Level or Higher Level, enabling choices about depth and breadth. The Diploma Programme includes core elements—Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and Extended Essay—to broaden learning beyond disciplinary subjects.

Arts & Creative
The school offers Visual Art as a Diploma Programme subject. Students can include Visual Art among their three DP subjects, with SL or HL options depending on interest. The Diploma Programme framework supports creative inquiry as an integral part of academic study. The subject choices enable artistic exploration alongside other disciplines.

Cultural & Language
The entire IB curriculum is taught in English. Students choose two languages from Swedish A, English A, their own mother tongue (language A), Swedish B, and English B. The language choices foster multilingual study and international perspectives. Global Politics is available as a DP subject.

Social & Hobbies
The CAS core element stimulates social engagement, personal creativity, and physical activity. The school fosters opportunities for students to pursue creative projects and collaborative activities. CAS activities encourage teamwork and community involvement alongside academic work. The CAS component supports personal development through creative, athletic, and service experiences.

Community & Service
The CAS core element emphasizes community service and active involvement. Students plan and participate in service projects that address local needs. Creativity and physical activity are integrated with service in CAS. The school supports students in planning and carrying out CAS activities.

Leadership & Professional
The school provides a dedicated careers advisor to help with university planning, including guidance for EU universities. An IB Coordinator oversees the diploma programme and provides programme leadership. The school supports higher education worldwide and offers guidance for admissions and study planning. Admission to the IB program follows the same process as other gymnasium programs.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The CAS component includes physical activity, supporting students' health. Creativity and service experiences foster personal growth and social connection. Participation in CAS activities helps maintain balance between study and well-being. The program supports well-being by integrating creative, active, and service experiences into student life.
Languages

Language Provision
The IB Diploma Programme is taught entirely in English. Students select any two languages from Swedish A (mother tongue); English A (mother tongue); Your own mother tongue, language A; Swedish B (developing language); English B (developing language). All subjects, including languages, are offered at standard level or higher level.
Reputation

Accreditations
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) – IB World School offering the Diploma Programme.
School Events
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