Kantonsschule am Burggraben St. Gallen

Switzerland, St. Gallen

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The school at a glance

Instructs in German, English, French

Fees Fees not listed

Ages 12 - 18 years

Pupil numbers 1400

Type Co-educational

Opened 1865

Bus Service No

Availability Not shared by this school

Academic offering

Curriculum IB (DP)

Taught languages German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Mandarin

Strengths Languages, STEM, Service and Sustainability

Clubs Social and Hobbies, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional

Stages Middle School, Secondary School, Senior Secondary School

Introduction

Located at Burggraben 21 in St. Gallen, Kantonsschule am Burggraben is a large cantonal gymnasium with Untergymnasium and Gymnasium serving around 1,400 students aged 12 to 18. The school offers International Baccalaureate programs alongside cantonal degrees, including a bilingual Matura in English or French available from 2026, and ImmerSion language opportunities. The curriculum follows cantonal frameworks and the Eidgenössischer Rahmenlehrplan, with promotion norms guiding examinations. The campus comprises Altbau and Neubau buildings, a central library with group rooms and a Library of Things, a 300-seat Mensa, a Sternwarte observatory, and on-site instrumental teaching through Kantiheim. Facilities support arts, sciences, and sports, including a Kraft- und Ausdauerraum and Sportanlagen der Kantonsschule. The school emphasizes Begabungsförderung, climate education, UNESCO affiliation, and international exchanges, with a strong focus on personal development alongside rigorous academic pathways. A welcoming community fosters collaboration, curiosity, and responsible global citizenship through diverse student activities and partnerships across campuses worldwide.

www.ksbg.ch

Burggraben 21, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland

Gallery

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Vibes and Culture

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The Essentials

Location

The Kantonsschule am Burggraben St.Gallen is located at Burggraben 21, 9000 St.Gallen. It sits in the city center of St.Gallen. The campus comprises multiple on-site locations: Altbau (old building), Neubau (new building), Sportanlagen (sports facilities), Kantiheim (cantonal house), and the library.

Stages

Untergymnasium (lower secondary) and Gymnasium (upper secondary).

Type

Public cantonal gymnasium.

Country affiliation

Switzerland

School day structure

The timetable shows a start of 07:40 for the first period, with classes continuing throughout the day. Some class blocks end around 16:33–17:23, depending on the student's timetable.

Diving Deeper

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Fees

Application fees

- No application or admission fee is charged for entry to the Kantonsschule am Burggraben; admission is handled via the official electronic registration/entry process for the Gymnasium/Untergymnasium.

Tuition / core school fees by year group (amounts in CHF)

- General tuition: there is no regular annual tuition charged to students resident in the Canton of St. Gallen; parents contribute to specific costs listed below.

- Costs that parents are asked to cover (typical ranges and fixed items):
- Personal computer (expected for classroom use): guideline CHF 1,000 (device cost).
- Annual services contribution (Dienstleistungen): CHF 300 (per school year, guideline).
- Copy/printing flat fee: CHF 15–50 per school year (charged as a pauschale).
- Course- or activity-specific costs (examples and ranges):
- BU I sport and related activities: CHF 60 up to ~CHF 500 depending on the offer.
- BU II class week (Klassenwoche): CHF 210 (guideline).
- Obligatory French language stay (2 weeks for relevant foundation subjects): ~CHF 2,000 (school contributes CHF 90 toward this).
- Obligatory English language stay for bilingual classes (4 weeks): ~CHF 3,000.
- Wahlpflicht-/project trips, excursions or camps: CHF 50 up to CHF 600 depending on the activity.
- Schwerpunktfach (advanced focus) related travel or lessons: CHF 150–600 depending on destination and duration.
- Estimated total per pupil varies by selected options; typical overall ranges are shown in the school's summary (examples given there).

- Class / semester charges (class funds / materials) — amounts per semester and by school year (Gymnasium):
- 1st school year: 1st semester CHF 700 (books, school material, excursions etc.; includes CHF 30 orientation event), 2nd semester CHF 350.
- 2nd school year: 3rd semester CHF 300 (books, material, excursions etc.).
- 3rd school year: 4th semester CHF 250 (books, material, excursions etc.); 5th semester CHF 250; 6th semester CHF 200 (books, material, excursions etc.).
- 4th school year: 7th semester CHF 200 (books, material, excursions etc.), 8th semester CHF 150 (books, material, Matura photos, Maturatag etc.; additional Matura-related costs up to ~CHF 300 possible).
- For the Untergymnasium (two-year course) typical semester figures are lower; example items and recommended semester contributions are given in the Untergymnasium overview. Annual service and copy charges are billed separately.

- Instrumental / private-lesson fees (school music programme):
- Freifach instrumental or solo singing lessons: semester fee CHF 725. Enrollment commits to the lesson for the full school year. If more than one member of the same family takes lessons, a reduction to CHF 520 per semester (from the second child) may be granted on written request to the Rectorate (deadline stated in the school notice). Lessons within the Musik Schwerpunktfach are free of charge.

- International Baccalaureate (IB) programme additional fees:
- IB-specific additional costs: approximately CHF 200 in the 3rd and 4th school years (per year) plus IB examination fees around CHF 800.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- How fees are invoiced:
- The school issues invoices for the annual services contribution and the copy/printing pauschale (these are billed annually). Instrumental tuition is charged as a semester fee. Class/semester amounts (class funds for books, materials, excursions) are collected per semester as shown above. Special programme costs (language stays, project weeks, excursions, private external providers) are invoiced according to the provider's timetable and terms.

- Payment timing and deadlines:
- The school's documents indicate that service and copy charges are billed annually and that instrumental lessons are billed per semester; payment deadlines and exact due dates are specified on the individual invoices or on programme/provider documents (for language-stay providers the invoice and final payment deadlines are specified in the provider's terms). Example: external language-stay invoices often require final payment several weeks before departure.

Boarding fees (if applicable)

- The school operates a building referred to as the Kantiheim which is used by the school for activities and rooms; the Kantiheim has been subject to renovation and is not described as a publicly advertised permanent boarding-for-fee programme in current materials. No public, fixed boarding/boarding-fee schedule is published with the school's fee documents.

Other costs or fees

- Examples of other costs parents should expect to cover (guideline amounts in CHF):
- School-related travel and language-stay costs: CHF 2,000–3,000 depending on destination and provider.
- Project weeks, camps, excursions and Wahlpflichtangebote: CHF 50–600 depending on the program.
- Course-specific charges (e.g., special courses, exam fees for certain projects/practica): examples shown (e.g., project/practical fees around CHF 300).
- Nothelferkurs/optional extracurricular course example: CHF 100 (student-organised SO events).

Refund information

- General school-level refunds: no general, school-wide refund policy for the routine parent contributions is published in the financial summary documents; specific refund or cancellation rules are set by the provider for externally organised activities (language stays, third-party offers).
- Instrumental lessons: enrollment obliges pupils for the full school year; the semester fee applies and the written statement indicates commitment for the full school year.
- Language-stay and external provider refunds: cancellation and annulation fees are governed by the language-stay provider's conditions (examples given in provider documents show specific cancellation penalties and payment schedules).

Fee payment options

- Invoicing practice: the school issues invoices for the listed charges (annual services, copy pauschale, semester instrument fees, class/semester contributions). The invoices specify the exact payment terms and methods; for externally organised language stays and providers the payment methods commonly include bank transfer and may permit payment in the programme's currency as stated on those invoices.

Notes for budgeting

- Total parental contribution varies strongly with chosen optional offers (instrumental lessons, language stays, project weeks, Schwerpunktreisen). The school's financial summary provides semester figures for class funds and ranges for the common optional items to assist family budgeting.

Academics

Curriculum

Cantonal curricula and promotion regulations guide the school's programs. The Gymnasium and Untergymnasium follow official Stundentafeln: Stundentafel L, W, S, I, M; Stundentafel N, P; Schwerpunkt N with IB and Schwerpunkt P with IB (valid until August 2025). The school publishes Lehrpläne for Instrumentalunterricht and Lehrplan Ergänzungsfächer. The cantonal framework curriculum (Eidgenössischer Rahmenlehrplan) applies alongside local regulations. The Matura pathway is supported by Maturaprüfung at the end of the fourth year, Vormaturaprüfungen, Maturaarbeit, and, for IB pathways, Extended Essay; promotion norms govern examinations.

Higher Education Progression

The Matura provides general university entrance eligibility and advanced maturity, enabling study at universities and higher education institutions in Switzerland and abroad. The Gymnasium is the direct path to this qualification. Matura signifies more than study readiness; it denotes personal maturity. Vormaturaprüfungen and Maturaarbeit are part of the process, and the IB pathway includes an Extended Essay; promotion norms guide the examinations.

Gifted and Talented

Gifted education is central to the school's mission. The school runs Untergymnasium and Gymnasium with a broad, attractive educational offering and is a Talent School. A school for talents. About 1,400 talented students attend with the aim of obtaining the Matura and pursuing higher education.

Wellbeing

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Parent Experience

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Facilities

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Extra-Curricular Activities

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Languages

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Reputation

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Admissions

1. Requirements: Entry to the Untergymnasium requires an entrance examination and a one‑semester probation. The entrance examination content corresponds to the cantonal middle‑school curriculum in German and Mathematics. Because this program is a voluntary offering in talent promotion, students from outside the Canton of St.Gallen are not admitted. 2. Information events: An orientation for parents and students to clarify prerequisites for attending the Untergymnasium is held on Monday, November 16, 2026 at 19:30 in Aula Neubau, and on Tuesday, January 5, 2027 at 19:30 in Aula Neubau. 3. Admission examination: Entry to the Untergymnasium involves an entrance examination and a one‑semester probation. The examination tests the material of the middle school in German and Mathematics. It is prepared entirely by the paritarian Aufnahmeprüfungskommission, composed of Cantonal School and primary school teachers of the middle school. The examination takes place in March at the Cantonal School. 4. Examination dates: The German exam is scheduled for Wednesday, March 10, 2027 and Thursday, March 11, 2027. It includes an 80‑minute language test (reading comprehension), a 45‑minute listening/viewing test, and a 60‑minute writing task (320–420 words). The Mathematics exam consists of a 30‑minute session without notes and an 80‑minute session with notes; required materials are a ruler, a protractor, and a compass; calculators are not allowed. Competencies cover three areas (Numbers and Variables; Form and Space; Quantities, Functions, Data and Chance) and three performance aspects (Operating and Naming; Exploring and Arguing; Mathematising and Representing), and topics tested include percentages, equations, symmetry, probability, and volume calculations; use of electronic aids is not relevant. 5. Anmeldung zur Prüfung: Registration for the examination is carried out by guardians through an electronic registration portal (Anmeldeportal) at zentrale.nesa-sg.ch. The registration portal opens on November 24, 2026 and the deadline for registration is February 9, 2027.

School Events

The school has not added events

FAQs

Where is Kantonsschule am Burggraben located?

The school is in the city centre of St. Gallen at Burggraben 21, 9000 St. Gallen. The campus comprises the Altbau and Neubau buildings, Sportanlagen, Kantiheim, and the central library, with the Sternwarte observatory on site.

What is the age range and size of the school?

The school serves students aged 12 to 18 and has about 1,400 pupils. It operates as a co-ed cantonal gymnasium with Untergymnasium (lower secondary) and Gymnasium (upper secondary) on a single city-centre campus.

What curriculum and pathways does the school offer?

The school follows cantonal curricula and promotion regulations. The Gymnasium and Untergymnasium use Stundentafel L, W, S, I, M and N, P; Schwerpunkt N with IB and Schwerpunkt P with IB (valid until August 2025). The cantonal framework curriculum also applies, with Matura, Vormaturaprüfungen, Maturaarbeit, and Extended Essay for IB pathways.

Is there a tuition fee for Swiss residents?

There is no regular annual tuition for students resident in the Canton of St. Gallen. Families mainly contribute to costs such as a personal computer (about CHF 1,000), annual services (CHF 300), copy/printing charges, and various course- or activity-specific fees.

How does the admission process work for Gymnasium and Untergymnasium?

Entry to the Untergymnasium requires an entrance examination and a one-semester probation. The exam tests German and Mathematics and is prepared by a cantonal, teacher-led commission. Admission for Untergymnasium is not open to students from outside the Canton of St. Gallen, and entry is via the official electronic registration process for the Gymnasium/Untergymnasium.

Are there any fees for application or admission?

No application or admission fee is charged. Invoices are issued for annual services contributions, copy charges, and semester instrument fees, while other program costs (language stays, excursions, etc.) are invoiced according to provider terms.

What are the main diploma pathways at the school?

The school offers the cantonal Matura path, supported by Maturaprüfung, Vormaturaprüfungen, and Maturaarbeit. There is also an International Baccalaureate (IB) pathway with Extended Essay, and a bilingual Matura option in English or French.

Is there a bilingual or IB program, and how is it delivered?

Yes, the school offers the IB Diploma Programme with one class per year group; some IB subjects are taught in English. Schwerpunkt N and Schwerpunkt P can be paired with IB, and from 2026 a bilingual Matura can be combined with IB.

What is the focus for gifted students?

Gifted education is central to the school's mission, and it operates as a Talent School. The school aims to challenge motivated students while supporting personal development across Untergymnasium and Gymnasium.

What facilities are on campus?

The campus comprises two buildings (Altbau and Neubau), on-site sports facilities, the Kantiheim for instrumental teaching, and a central library. The Sternwarte observatory and a 300-seat Mensa are also part of campus life.

What resources does the library offer?

The library provides broad research resources, group rooms (like I30 and I34), printing and laminating services, and a Library of Things for borrowing non-book items. It supports Lernwerkstatt events throughout the year.

What sports and other on-site facilities exist?

Sports facilities include a Kraft- und Ausdauerraum (fitness room) and the school's Sportanlagen. The school hosts athletic events such as the KSBG Championships and Sporttage.

What extracurricular activities and student life opportunities are available?

Students can engage with SO – Die Schüler:innenorganisation, contribute to the Ultimatum student newspaper, and participate in Klimarat. The Sternwarte hosts public astronomy events, and the school runs language stays and exchanges (ImmerSion and Austauschprogramme).

Are there leadership or language link programs?

Leadership-oriented programs include the Matura Navigator and ImmerSion experiences. The school also runs UNESCO initiatives and Klimaschule activities to foster global learning and leadership.

Are language stays and exchanges available?

Yes. Language stays and international exchanges are offered, and in the IB Diploma Programme a compulsory four-week language stay in an English-speaking area is required in the second year.

What wellbeing and safeguarding provisions exist?

The school provides on-site health services and a school psychological service for assessments in exceptional cases. English is offered as a subject, with EAL support via language stays and exchanges, and safeguarding is supported by the health and psychological services.

Is there support for students learning in a language other than German?

English is taught as a subject and supported by exchange programs and language stays. The IB English-language components and bilingual Matura options support students studying in English.

Is there mental health support on campus?

Yes. A health service and a school psychological service are available to support student wellbeing and provide assessments if needed.

Is there a boarding option at the school?

There is a building (Kantiheim) used by the school, but there is no publicly advertised permanent boarding-for-fee program in the current materials, and no fixed boarding schedule is published.

What about food on campus?

The school runs a Mensa on campus with daily freshly prepared menus and a salad buffet, seating about 300 people.

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