Bulgaria, Sofia
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1. Grade range and applicant pool. Meridian 22 High School provides education from 8th to 12th grade. The school is small and places are limited, with priority given to current 10th-grade students applying for 11th IB, applicants from Meridian 22 Junior High School applying for 8th grade, siblings of current or former students, international students or applicants who do not have Bulgarian as their first language, and then any other applicants if places remain. 2. Initial contact and appointment. Families should contact the school to arrange an appointment with the Head of School. At the meeting, the parents and the prospective student should bring the required documentation, learn about the school's core programme, and be informed about the admissions timeline and examination dates. The school will evaluate the application and may set dates for the relevant exam(s). 3. Admissions criteria for 8th grade and 11th IB. Applicants must sit entrance exams, usually held at the end of March or the beginning of April for a September start. The Admissions Committee makes decisions based on the exam results (including English), academic records from previous years, the applicant's potential to handle academic rigour, the school's ability to meet the applicant's educational needs, and availability of places. 4. Admission decision process. The Head of School, the Deputy Head of School for the high school, a teacher, and the school psychologist form the Admissions Committee to decide admission, taking into account exam results, interview performance, and, if applicable, the applicant's performance at any national assessments. If admission occurs after a national examination, those results are considered. After a decision is made, enrolment documents are prepared. 5. Learning support and inclusion. The school provides a limited level of support for mild to moderate learning difficulties; parents must inform the school when applying and may need to fund additional support. The Access and Inclusion Policy clarifies the available support. 6. Registration and entry for 8th grade. Registration includes submitting an application form online or on site, providing the first-term academic transcript, paying a registration fee (for applicants from schools other than Meridian 22 Junior High), and attending an interview with the candidate and their parents. The interview explores motivation, interests, and potential, with dates arranged individually. The entry exam covers Bulgarian Language and Literature, Mathematics, and the student's English proficiency; results are announced within 7 days; the admission decision follows the committee's assessment. 7. Admissions to 9th–12th non-IB grades. Registration requires the application form, an academic transcript, entry/equivalency exams as appropriate, a registration fee, and an interview. The entry exam covers Bulgarian Language and Literature, Mathematics, and English proficiency; results are announced within 7 days. There may be a one-week trial training to assess knowledge and motivation, and the admission decision is made by a committee based on exam results, interview performance, and trial results. 8. IB Diploma Programme admissions. For the IB DP, registration requires an application form, a 10th-grade transcript (average must be 4.50 or above on the Bulgarian 6-point scale), a motivation letter in English, a registration fee, and an interview. The English entry exam is based on the Cambridge Advanced Level Certificate Exam (CEFR B2–C1) and includes written and oral components; results are provided within 10 days. The entry score is the average of the English exam and the 10th-grade average. Admission decisions are made by the Admissions Committee, including the IB DP Coordinator, Head of School, Deputy Head of School for the high school, psychologist, and IB teachers. Offers are based on entry scores and interview performance; enrolment in the DP is completed after the candidate and parents acknowledge the IB requirements, with subject choices made in consultation with the IB Coordinator and Head of School. 9. Enrolment and contractual commitments. A place is offered and tuition is paid according to the schedule specified in the contract, with parents informed of the commitments they are making. 10. Documentation preparation. Upon approval, all necessary enrolment documents are prepared. 11. Scholarships. The school offers partial and full merit-based or need-based scholarships to support the school as a whole and the Diploma Programme. 12. Language and qualification requirements. As an English-language school and IB World School, good English proficiency is essential; DP applicants should demonstrate English proficiency through their academic records and/or an English exit exam at Meridian 22. If necessary, an equivalency test in English is required; a Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (minimum grade C) can exempt the applicant from the entry exam for the IB Diploma Programme.
The School offers partial and full merit-based or need-based scholarships, which aim at supporting the School as a whole and the Diploma Programme.
Meridian 22 High School is a private, English-language institution in Bulgaria offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alongside a bespoke curriculum for students aged 2 to 18. The school joined the IB in 2009/2010 and is among fourteen cohorts to graduate IB diplomas, alongside Bulgarian high school diplomas. The maximum IB score is 45. In 2024 Meridian 22 moved to a four-story building (1500 sq m) and a renovated campus (3000 sq m) with six-decare yard in an ecologically clean area; the campus houses a library with over 10,000 volumes in English, Bulgarian, and other languages, multimedia-equipped classrooms, a laboratory, spacious canteen, and on-site medical care and speech therapist. The school offers intensive English from preschool to Grade 12 and runs two-week UK language trips through Saint Andrew's College partnership. It hosts a Science Fair and clubs such as Cooking Club, InterAct Club, and music and dance activities for students.