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Neue Kantonsschule Aarau

Switzerland, Aarau

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees CHF 20,500 - 22,500
Ages 15 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 917
Type Co-educational
Opened 1787
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Swiss Curriculum, IB (DP)
Taught languages German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Swedish, Latin
Strengths STEM, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Secondary School, Sixth Form, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Neue Kantonschule Aarau (NKSA) is a Swiss gymnasium in Aarau offering the Swiss Curriculum alongside the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, with students aged 15 to 18. The school provides a bilingual Matura (English/German) and one IB class per year group; graduates earn both the Swiss Matura and the IB Diploma. The year-by-year program begins with core subjects in year one and adds Physics in year two, while year three and four expand with Schwerpunktfach and project work, Ergänzungsfach, Maturaarbeit, and free subjects. A Flex teaching model supports independent learning in years 3 and 4, with opportunities for English immersion and specialized tracks such as Infcom.ch in information technology and communication. Facilities include a green campus, Mediothek library, Kraftraum gym, and Makerspace@NKSA with 3D printers and studios. The campus houses Altbau and Neubau buildings adorned with artwork. The school has a vibrant arts program, science initiatives, and language and cultural offerings.

Neue Kantonsschule Aarau, Schanzmättelistrasse 32, 5000 Aarau, Switzerland

The Essentials

Neue Kantonsschule Aarau has 917 pupils, instruction in German, English.

Location
Located in Aarau, Switzerland, at Schanzmättelistrasse 32, 5000 Aarau. It is situated in the Zelgli quarter, a green neighbourhood. The school offers a learning environment described as family-like and world-open.

Stages
Gymnasium and Fachmittelschule (FMS) pathways; Fachmaturität opens study opportunities at Fachhochschule or Pädagogische Hochschule.

Country affiliation
Switzerland
Diving Deeper

Food Options
The Mensa is the heart of NKSA: a coffee station, lunch table and meeting place in one. The SV service offers here daily three freshly prepared menus as well as salads, snacks and desserts. The current offering is published on the Mensa's own website.
Fees

Annual tuition at Neue Kantonsschule Aarau ranges from CHF 20,500 to CHF 22,500 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- For regular entry to the Gymnasium or the Fachmittelschule at the Neue Kantonsschule Aarau (NKSA) there is no routine one‑time application charge for pupils resident in the Canton of Aargau; admissions for these programmes are handled via the cantonal registration process.

- Specific adult/continuing‑education offerings tied to the canton (for example: the Aargauische Maturitätsschule für Erwachsene (AME) and certain Passerelle or preparatory courses) carry a payable application/enrolment charge. Where applied, that enrolment charge is CHF 200 and is credited against the first semester's course fee. Other adult‑programme admission items (for example, certain Berufsmaturität admission steps) may carry separate fixed fees (examples in cantonal rules include CHF 300 for certain BM admission procedures).

Tuition / Schulgeld (by programme, with per‑year and per‑semester figures where applicable)

- For pupils who are resident in the Canton of Aargau: attendance at public cantonal schools (including the NKSA) is provided without a tuition charge for the instruction itself; public law provides that instruction at cantonal public schools for canton residents is unentgeltlich (no tuition). Parents should expect that the standard course of instruction is not invoiced as a tuition charge for in‑cantonal residents.

- For pupils whose place of residence is outside the Canton of Aargau (i.e., ausserkantonal students) the payable Schulgeld is set under the regional inter‑cantonal agreement (the RSA) and is billed according to the RSA tariff applicable to the specific programme. The RSA gives amounts both per school year and per semester; two NKSA examples from the RSA tariff schedule are:
- Standard Maturität / regular Gymnasium pathways at NKSA: CHF 20,500 per school year (CHF 10,250 per semester).
- Immersion (double‑diploma) programme at NKSA (Swiss Maturität with International Baccalaureate Diploma): CHF 22,500 per school year (CHF 11,250 per semester).

- For adult/continuing programmes administered under AME / Passerelle rules: course fees are generally invoiced per semester; a standard example in the cantonal fee rules is CHF 1,000 per semester for those AME study‑courses (with the CHF 200 enrolment charge credited to the first semester).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Where RSA Schulgeld applies (out‑of‑canton pupils), tariffs are stated both on an annual and a per‑semester basis; payment and invoicing are governed by the RSA arrangements between the sending canton/authority and the receiving canton/school (the RSA schedule lists per‑year and per‑semester amounts).

- For cantonal adult education courses (AME / Passerelle) billing is on a semester basis; the enrolment fee (when charged) is credited to the first semester's invoice. The cantonal fee rules specify refund conditions for that enrolment fee (see refund item below).

- For pupils in RSA situations, invoicing and payment are usually arranged between the responsible authorities (sending canton/authority) and the receiving school; for other fees charged directly to families (exam/assessment fees, course‑specific charges, study materials, trips), the NKSA/cantonal administration will issue invoices to the legal guardians or the student as appropriate.

Boarding / accommodation fees

- The Neue Kantonsschule Aarau is operated as a day school and does not operate boarding houses as part of its standard provision; there are no routine boarding fees associated with the NKSA day programmes.

Other costs and typical additional charges

- Examination / external assessment fees: pupils taking externally assessed programmes (for example International Baccalaureate assessments) are subject to the International Baccalaureate Organization's assessment charges; those assessment invoices are issued and administered through the IB system and are normally handled through the school (students/families may be asked to cover the IB assessment charges if the school does not absorb them). Expect IB assessment charges to be invoiced separately from cantonal tuition/Schulgeld.

- Learning materials and course‑specific contributions: at the Sekundarstufe II level the canton and schools may require cost contributions for certain learning materials, consumables, specialist course materials and optional activities outside regular instruction (for example extended trips, specialist art or design materials, or course‑specific supplies). The cantonal fee rules explicitly allow such cost contributions for items outside the scope of free instruction.

- Instrumental or extra‑curricular lessons and special courses: where the school or the linked music schools provide optional instrumental instruction or specialist extracurricular tuition, a separate fee may be charged (the cantonal regulations permit cost contributions for non‑compulsory offers such as instrumental tuition).

- Materials for vocational or practical subjects: in some public vocational or creative preparatory offerings the administration may require a deposit or a cost‑advance for materials; the cantonal fee rules contain examples of fixed deposits or cost‑advances for particular preparatory courses.

Refunds and cancellation rules (examples from cantonal rules)

- Where an enrolment/enrolment fee is charged for specified adult courses, that enrolment fee (CHF 200 in the cited cantonal provisions) is refunded if the enrolment is withdrawn more than two months before course start or in specified cases such as not passing a linked admission examination. The cantonal fee rules set these refund conditions explicitly for those adult/preparatory programmes.

- For Schulgeld paid under the RSA (out‑of‑canton situations), billing and any refund arrangements are handled under the RSA / inter‑cantonal procedures applicable to the sending and receiving authorities. The RSA tariff schedule shows the tariff bases (per year / per semester) used for inter‑cantonal payment calculations.

Fee payment options (how fees are normally settled)

- Inter‑cantonal Schulgeld (RSA) is settled between public authorities under the RSA procedures and the tariffs shown in the RSA schedule; families are ordinarily not directly invoiced for RSA inter‑cantonal payments where the sending canton covers costs under RSA arrangements.

- For fees invoiced directly to families (semester‑fees for adult courses, course‑specific charges, IB assessment charges, materials, trips), the school or the cantonal administration issues invoices. Schools and the IB typically provide standard payment channels (in practice these are settled by bank transfer / e‑banking or by the payment methods specified on the invoice); IB invoices and school invoices include the IB / school payment instructions for the payer. Expect bank transfer / e‑banking to be the normal practical payment method for canton/school invoices and for IB assessment invoices.


If you need the figures formatted or transcribed into your database fields exactly as shown (currency CHF and the per‑year and per‑semester values), use the RSA tariff entries above for non‑resident Schulgeld and the cantonal fee rules above for the adult/semester charges and enrolment rules.
Academics

Neue Kantonsschule Aarau teaches Swiss Curriculum, IB (DP) for students aged 15 to 18.

Curriculum
The gymnasium lasts four years and leads to the Swiss Matura. A bilingual Matura (English/German) is offered, with over 1000 English-language lessons from the second year in history, biology, physics and mathematics. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is an extension of the bilingual Matura; NKSA conducts one IB class per year group and students earn both the Swiss Matura and the IB Diploma. Year-by-year, the first year provides foundational subjects (German, French, English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Economics & Law, Informatics) with an accent subject and free subjects. In the second year Physics is added; in the third year the curriculum mirrors the second year but without Economics & Law and adds a Schwerpunktfach and project work; in the fourth year it remains similar, with an Ergänzungsfach and a Maturaarbeit, plus free subjects. A flexible teaching model called Flex supports independent learning in years 3 and 4 in selected subjects; immersion in English is available and can complement IB; there are free subjects and a broad music program (more than 20 instruments with instrumental instruction and ensembles); the Fachmatura Kommunikation track awards language certificates (two at least B2 in a language, plus C1 and another B2 in a second language); Infcom.ch is offered as a dedicated track focusing on information technology and communication.

Higher Education Progression
With the Matura you have access to all study directions at cantonal universities.

Gifted and Talented
Special tracks include the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Infcom.ch, which provide advanced study opportunities and preparation for international study and careers.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Counseling is offered by NKSA through the Beratung und Hilfe service. Students can access general counseling and learning coaching for study-related support. Lerncoaches provide confidential help with learning tasks. Esther Schwarz, a Fachpsychologin für Psychotherapie (FSP), is part of the counseling team. The service addresses personal and academic concerns and supports student well-being.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Learning support is provided by NKSA Lerncoaches who assist with learning difficulties in subjects such as mathematics, French, chemistry, and physics. A Lernsupport list on SchulNetz connects students with peer tutors; students contact their chosen tutor directly to arrange help, with a suggested rate of 20 CHF per hour.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
NKSA offers immersion and a bilingual Matura (English/German). From the second year, students receive more than 1,000 English-language lessons across History, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Immersion can be combined with the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB).

Mental Wellbeing
The NKSA Counseling Service provides support for personal and academic concerns. Students can speak with Lerncoaches for learning difficulties and with Esther Schwarz for confidential counseling. School-independent counseling options are available in Aarau for health questions and study planning (e.g., the school doctor Dr. Cristina Vaida and additional services such as JPD and Beratung for study guidance).

Safeguarding
A safeguarding concept ensures respectful interactions and aims to prevent and address physical and psychological abuse. The safeguarding concept forms the foundation for interactions between students and staff at NKSA, and it is available in the school's SchulNetz repository.
Parent Experience

History
The history of the Neue Kantonschule Aarau extends back to 1787, when a private girls' institute was founded in Aarau, a pioneering milestone for women's education, and a database of the first 500 female students and their teachers (1787–1874) is maintained. Towards the end of the 19th century, a teachers' seminary was established; training of male teachers together with their female colleagues began in 1966. In 1979 the teachers' seminary was converted into the cantonal Zelgli school, named after the neighborhood where the school remains. Six years later the traditional girls' school became the modern Diploma Middle School (today Fachmittelschule). In 2019 the Aargau Adult Maturity School (AME) joined under the NKSA roof, and to avoid confusion with the older institution the school is now called Neue Kantonschule Aarau.

Community
The NKSA lies idyllically in the green Zelgli district, not far from the railway station and the old town, and has preserved a familial atmosphere despite growth. Trust and tolerance are the basis for a good school climate in which learners and teachers feel at home. The school fosters a creative and cooperative learning culture, addressing socially relevant topics through challenging tasks, project weeks, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The two-language Matura (immersion with English) opens a window to the wider world, and NKSA also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The NKSA campus is a green, inviting space designed for study, collaboration, and relaxation. The Mensa is the heart of the campus, offering three freshly prepared menus daily along with salads, snacks and desserts. The Mediothek provides an on-site library for research and study. The Kraftraum is a compact gym for strength training and physical activity. Makerspace@NKSA provides space for creative ideas with modern equipment including 3D printers, an A0 printer, a film studio, a physics workshop, a sound lab, and a workshop. The historic Altbau (1955) and the Neubau (1989) form the campus and artworks are integrated into the buildings.

Sports Facilities
Kraftraum is a compact on-site gym for strength training. Outdoor green spaces and a large lawn provide places for informal sport and recreation. These spaces support daily physical activity as part of the school routine. The campus design invites movement and activity across the day.

Academic Facilities
Mediothek serves as the on-site library for research and study. Makerspace@NKSA offers space for creative projects with modern equipment including 3D printers, an A0 printer, a film studio, a physics workshop, a sound lab, and a workshop. These facilities support hands-on, project-based learning across STEM, arts, and humanities. The Altbau (1955) and Neubau (1989) form the campus footprint for learning, workspaces, and collaboration. Artwork integrated into the campus enhances the learning environment.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Makerspace@NKSA supports student projects and clubs with flexible spaces and modern equipment. Equipment includes 3D printers, an A0 printer, a film studio, a physics workshop, a sound lab, and a workshop. This enables hands-on exploration and peer-driven learning outside regular classes. The campus architecture and art presence provides additional avenues for creative activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The NKSA emphasizes independent, self-directed learning and the development of cross-disciplinary competencies. Project weeks extend learning beyond the standard curriculum and encourage experiential, horizon-broadening exploration. The school supports science through Swiss Youth in Research and science Olympiads, highlighting student achievements in scientific competitions.

Arts & Creative
Music is central to school life, with ensembles, concerts, and performances that showcase student talents. Art and Design are fostered on campus, with works created there and exhibited in Aarau and Lenzburg. Theater, Film and Literature bring productions and readings to the stage and invite broad student participation.

Cultural & Language
The NKSA offers a bilingual Matura with English immersion and also provides the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP), reflecting its global orientation. Language and cultural awareness are integrated throughout campus life and curriculum.

Social & Hobbies
Celebrations and special occasions light up the school year, including Maienzug eve and Kantibühne performances. The NKSA hosts theatre, concerts, sport events, and other activities that enrich student life. Debating is a valued part of the culture, with events and occasions that encourage lively discussion.

Leadership & Professional
The NKSA builds leadership and professional skills through independent learning and self-management. Project weeks encourage initiative, teamwork, and real-world problem solving. Debate and public-facing activities help students develop communication, leadership, and professional skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sport and Dance are integral to student life, with opportunities to compete in tournaments and events. The school hosts sport days and wellness-oriented activities as part of a balanced daily routine. A vibrant arts and culture program—music, theatre, and visual arts—contributes to broad, well‑rounded well-being.
Languages

Language Provision
English is a Grundlagenfach. From the 3rd class, students may choose French or Italian as a Grundlagenfach. Freifächer include Italian, French, Latin, Russian, Swedish, Spanish, and Chinese; Arabic, Chinese and Hebrew are offered in collaboration with the Alten Kantonsschule. The school also provides language certificates such as DELF B2 for French and English proficiency pathways (CAE/CPE) for English.

Bilingual Teaching
Two-language Matura Deutsch/Englisch is offered with Immersion instruction. In Immersion English, the first two classes are taught the same as the standard track; the 3rd and 4th classes proceed as an IB-phase with instruction in English and integration of IB components. The Immersion option can be pursued as a bilingual Matura or in combination with the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB).

Immersion Programs
Immersion English covers Geography, History, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics taught in English. The programme includes Theory of Knowledge and an Extended Essay as part of the IB framework (CAS is also integrated). Immersion can be paired with the IB Diploma, with dedicated IB-focused weeks and project work.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Choose a study path. The school offers four gymnasium study paths: the Gymnasium with the standard Swiss Matura; the Zweisprachige Matura with immersion; the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma; and the infcom.ch track. The Zweisprachige Matura includes immersion in English starting in the second year, with more than 1,000 lessons in History, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Immersion can be combined with the IB Diploma. 2. Zweisprachige Matura and immersion. From the second year, students follow an English-immersed curriculum across core subjects, with more than 1,000 English-language lessons. The immersion prepares students for study and professional work in an international context. Immersion can be combined with the IB Diploma. 3. International Baccalaureate (IB) pathway. The IB program is an extension of the two-language Matura, and students earn both the Swiss Matura and the IB Diploma. The school runs one IB class per year group. When demand is high, admission is decided by previous school performance; no prior English knowledge is required. 4. Costs and financial support. A four-year Gymnasium costs around CHF 2,800. In the first year, approximately CHF 1,500 is for mandatory teaching materials and the department week; in the second through fourth years, costs include additional teaching materials and possible project weeks. To ensure affordability, financial support is available for families who cannot finance. 5. Exchange opportunities. The school offers an exchange stay (Austauschurlaub). Such stays take place best in the second class and last a semester or a year. They provide language practice and cultural exposure.
School Events
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