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Taught languages Danish, English, German, Spanish, Mandarin
Typical class size 27
Strengths STEM, Performing Arts, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Senior Secondary School
Introduction
Viborg Katedralskole is a Danish public state gymnasium offering both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) and a bespoke STX pathway. Located at Gl. Skivevej 2 in Viborg, the school serves students aged 15 to 18 and provides boarding options. The STX curriculum begins with a Grundforløbet foundation year of about three months, followed by the Studieretningsforløbet. Before Grundforløbet, students choose a creative valgfag for 1.g and a second foreign language to supplement English. The studieretning then groups 2–3 subjects into natural sciences, social sciences, languages, or music, with a minimum of four A-niveau subjects. Viborg Katedralskole also offers an IB pathway with PreIB and the IB Diploma. With more than 900 years of history, the campus features the fest hall, balustrade, old library and modern classrooms, alongside a cinema and on-site canteen. Facilities include a sport hall, gym, laboratories and a lawn; clubs cover science, arts and climate service.
Gl. Skivevej 2, DK-8800 Viborg
Gallery
The school has not added photos
The Essentials
Viborg Katedralskole has 1,100 pupils, typical class sizes of 27, instruction in Danish, English.
Location
Gl. Skivevej 2, DK-8800 Viborg, Denmark. The school sits near Viborg city centre and close to the lakes. The boarding school is located 50 metres from the main building and houses 173 IB and STX students with six boarding school teachers.
Stages
PreIB (equivalent to the first year of Danish gymnasium/STX) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP).
Type
Public state gymnasium; boarding facilities available.
Country affiliation
Denmark
Diving Deeper
Boarding Arrangements
The school offers a Kollegiet (boarding house). The monthly price includes meals, supervision, social activities, high-speed internet, and utilities. If you wish to live at the Kollegiet, the application deadline is February 1 in the year you apply, and all applicants are notified by March 1. The maximum monthly fee is 3,997 DKK, with 600 DKK extra per month for living in the new Kollegiebygning from 2016; a 2,500 DKK enrollment fee applies when joining.
Uniform Requirement
There is no uniform requirement. Students must wear appropriate clothing for classes; gym wear is required for physical education, and covering of the face is not accepted.
Food Options
Meals are included in the monthly price for Kollegiet residents. The package also covers supervision, social activities, high-speed internet, and utilities.
Governance and Ownership
The board has the overall leadership of Viborg Katedralskole as a self-governing institution. The board hires the school leader and oversees daily operations and the institution's organization and budget. The board is responsible to the Danish Ministry of Education for the school's operation and for managing government subsidies.
Fees
Application fees
- There is no academic application fee for admission to STX, PreIB or the IB Diploma programme; admission follows the national application system used for Danish gymnasiums.
Tuition fees by year group (STX / PreIB / IB)
- There are no tuition fees charged to students for the STX, PreIB or IB Diploma studies; the school operates as a public gymnasium and does not levy an annual tuition per year group.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Boarding charges (where applicable) are billed monthly. The monthly boarding charge must be paid each month except July. Payment of any registration/entry fees is required before admittance to boarding. Non-payment of boarding charges may lead to expulsion from the boarding facility.
Boarding fees (kollegiet)
- Indicative maximum residence fee (2025): DKK 3,897 per month (maximum rate applied when parents' combined annual income meets or exceeds the income threshold used by the school). The monthly rate is calculated based on parental income and household deductions; the school provides a price calculator for individual estimates.
- Rooms in the newer kollegie building are charged an additional DKK 600 per month.
- The monthly boarding payment covers board (meals), supervision, social activities, high-speed internet and utility costs unless otherwise stated.
- On admission to the boarding facility an enrolment/registration fee is charged: DKK 2,500. The student is not admitted to the kollegium until this fee has been paid.
Other costs and typical additional charges
- Study trips: compulsory or programme-related study trips occur in 1.g, 2.g and 3.g (for example a 1.g trip to Copenhagen, 2.g language trips abroad and a 3.g study trip); costs for these trips are charged to parents/guardians as required.
- School merchandise and optional items (hoodies, T-shirts, yearbooks) are available for purchase; these are optional additional costs and are ordered separately.
- IB-specific external fees (for example any IB exam or registration fees charged by the International Baccalaureate organisation) are not listed publicly on the school's general programme pages; parents should expect that some external examination or certification fees may apply for international exam services, though the school's boarding and programme pages do not itemise school-borne tuition charges.
Refund information
- The boarding enrolment/registration fee of DKK 2,500 is non-refundable on cancellation. Other refund policies for monthly boarding payments are not itemised on the public residency information beyond the non-refundable registration fee and the statement that non-payment may result in expulsion.
Fee payment options and invoicing details
- Boarding charges are invoiced monthly (with July payment-free). The school publishes official invoicing identifiers (EAN and CVR) for administrative payments and invoicing. Specific payment methods (credit card, MobilePay, bank transfer details) are not itemised on the public boarding pages; invoicing identifiers are provided for formal payments and institutional invoicing.
Summary (clear facts for parents)
- There is no academic tuition for STX, PreIB or the IB Diploma; study programmes are provided as part of the public gymnasium offering.
- For students using the school's boarding facility, expect a monthly residence charge that is income-based (indicative maximum DKK 3,897 per month for 2025), an added DKK 600 per month for rooms in the new building, and a non-refundable enrolment fee of DKK 2,500 payable on admission. Monthly boarding payments cover meals, supervision, social activities, internet and utilities; payments are due monthly (no payment in July).
Academics
Viborg Katedralskole teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 15 to 18.
Curriculum
STX at Viborg Katedralskole is structured into a Grundforløbet (foundation year) of about three months, followed by the Studieretningsforløbet (study-direction phase). Before starting, students choose a creative valgfag for 1.g and a second foreign language to supplement English, which is mandatory at a minimum B level. After the Grundforløbet, students select a studieretning in naturvidenskab (natural sciences), samfundsvidenskab (social sciences), sprog (languages), or musik (music); the studieretning is a package of 2–3 subjects that shapes the program and includes compulsory subjects plus electives. On STX, a minimum of four subjects must be at A-niveau, with options for 5–6 A-niveau subjects. Viborg Katedralskole offers many study directions and electives due to its size. The school also provides an IB pathway with PreIB and the IB Diploma.
Exam Results
Average graduation grade (STX) is 8.2 (national average 7.5) for school year 2024/25. First-year dropout is 2.8% (2.2% switched programs; 0.6% left the education system) for school year 2024/25. 47.5% are in higher education after graduation (school year 2020/21). New entrants total 360 (school year 2025/26) and total students 961 (school year 2025/26).
Higher Education Progression
47.5% of graduates are in higher education after student graduation (school year 2020/21).
Gifted and Talented
Viborg Katedralskole is certified in talent development and offers multiple programs for talented students across natural sciences, languages, social sciences and more. ArtGK is a 4-year program in collaboration with Kulturskolen Viborg, enabling a reduced workload in 2.g and 3.g for some subjects. Team Danmark partnership includes athletes across sports, with options to complete the gymnasium in 3 or 4 years and additional teaching if federation activities occur. Akademiet for Talentfulde Unge (ATU) offers advanced study opportunities with university and industry collaboration and access to researchers and innovative companies. Astra Science Talenter provides science talent opportunities with camps (Sorø). SubUniversity supports selected talented students from non-academic backgrounds with university mentoring and experiences. Cambridge C1 Advanced English is available (about 50 hours) starting in 1.g or 2.g with after-school sessions and an optional Cambridge certificate exam.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school fosters social and emotional development through an inclusive culture built on mutual respect and recognition. Social life is organized so students from different classes and year groups can engage together on equal terms, and social events are conducted without alcohol. An annual national wellbeing survey is conducted for all students, and class reports use the results to inform discussions about wellbeing and engagement. The Life at School program confirms that students can participate in all activities on equal terms with their peers, promoting belonging and positive interactions across the school community. The school's Vision 2028 commits to maintaining an inclusive community and strengthening integration between IB and STX while encouraging broad participation in school life.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school is the only English-language upper secondary programme in Denmark and provides inclusive support for students with special learning needs. A strong support structure is available when needs exceed what teachers and class teams can provide. The school follows the Danish Ministry of Education regulations and IB guidelines to implement access arrangements that remove barriers to learning and assessment. When applicants report learning challenges or medical issues, the admissions process requires relevant documentation and the school offers appropriate support from the start. Danish language support options are available, including Danish ab initio or Danish B for students who need language access support.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The PreIB year is taught in English for the vast majority of subjects, with all classes (except Danish and a creative subject) taught in English. The IB Diploma Programme is delivered in English, and English A Language and Literature is offered at HL/SL. For students who do not have Danish as a first language, Danish ab initio or Danish B are available as language options within the IB programme. Very good English proficiency is an entry expectation for the IB Diploma, and Danish language study is supported to maintain access to Danish-speaking pathways if chosen. The school supports language development and offers self-contained language choices when appropriate.
Mental Wellbeing
Student wellbeing is monitored through an annual nationwide wellbeing survey, with Viborg Katedralskole reporting a 2025 wellbeing index of 75 (above the national average of 74) and using class reports to guide wellbeing-related actions. The school also conducts an annual Undervisningsmiljøvurdering (UMV) evaluating the learning environment, including safety, facilities, and student welfare, with results highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. The school emphasizes a positive social tone and mutual respect in its conduct framework, contributing to a supportive learning climate. The overall focus on student wellbeing is reinforced by ongoing development to improve the school climate and learning conditions.
Safeguarding
The school runs social events without alcohol as part of a safeguarding and well-being approach, including measures such as entry screening by security at events, a no-alcohol policy for activities, and staff supervision to ensure safety. The alcohol policy also provides an alcohol-free lounge area and structured rules for student organizers to maintain a safe environment. Behavioural expectations are emphasised in the Study and Conduct Rules, which define the school's social community and require respectful conduct toward peers and staff. The combination of safeguarding policies, wellbeing monitoring, and clear conduct expectations supports a safe and inclusive school environment for all students.
Parent Experience
History
Viborg Katedralskole has more than 900 years of history. The historic campus features the fest hall, the balustrade, the beautiful corridors, and the old library, which sit alongside bright, modern classrooms to shape daily school life. The school's many traditions and emphasis on development create new experiences for students. Tradition and ongoing innovation define the school today.
Community
VK has a community of 1,100+ engaged students across STX and IB, with cultural and academic events held each year. Students share their experiences through video testimonials about life at VK. The school highlights a range of activities and events that contribute to daily student life.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
VK's venner is Viborg Katedralskole's friends association. It is a network that provides financial support to activities connected to Viborg Katedralskole and the school's students. It initiates concerts and other events and offers benefits to its members. VK's venner is for everyone connected to VK—current and former students, parents and grandparents of students, teachers and staff. Membership and donations support student initiatives such as study trips and equipment, and members can participate in school events like musicals, lectures, and alumni gatherings.
Facilities
Facilities Overview
Viborg Katedralskole blends historic architecture with modern teaching spaces. The campus includes bright modern classrooms and a laboratory. The school has its own cinema and a newly renovated, cozy on-site canteen that serves meals from scratch. The historic setting features the festsal (auditorium), the balustrade, the beautiful corridors, and the old library, alongside bright modern classrooms.
Sports Facilities
Viborg Katedralskole provides a sport hall for indoor athletics. A training center supports fitness and conditioning. There is also an on-site gym as part of the training resources. Outdoor spaces include a lawn for various activities. The campus integrates physical education facilities into daily life.
Academic Facilities
Bright modern classrooms support daily teaching, alongside dedicated laboratories for science subjects. An old library provides study resources within the historic building. The festsal, balustrade, and the attractive corridors link historic architecture with contemporary classroom spaces. The campus preserves historic elements while maintaining up-to-date facilities.
Extra Curricular Facilities
The boarding facilities provide social spaces such as a boarders lounge and a common room. There is table football and badminton available in the sport hall. Boarders can relax or watch films in the cinema. There is a lawn for outdoor games. The on-site gym supports fitness and training.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Academic & Intellectual
Bohr's Disciples is a student organisation focused on science. It organises events and presentations about how the world around us is connected.
Arts & Creative
VK hosts a broad mix of student-led arts activities. The Musical Committee produces a large, student-made musical every other year, coordinating script, stage design, and choreography. Free Visual Arts and the Choir contribute to visual and vocal arts, while Radio Wad Up provides student-led music and media coverage. The MGP Committee runs the annual Eurovision show, and the Jingle Band supports morning assemblies.
Social & Hobbies
VK supports a wide range of student clubs that foster social life and hobbies. Minerva coordinates five major annual parties, including Flower Ball and Prom. The Café committee runs Friday cafés to bring students together, and the Role Playing Club provides a space for tabletop gaming and social activities.
Community & Service
Green VK is the school's climate and environmental organisation; it works to create a greener school and daily life for students and staff. It runs an annual climate week and has helped implement a climate action plan. With more than 40 members, it influences the canteen and boarding to adopt more vegetarian options, and VK has earned the Green Flag for several years.
Leadership & Professional
VK's student leadership is anchored by The Senate, the school's student council, which includes representatives from each class and operates with a budget to address school issues. A dedicated Morning Assembly group plans mornings features and coordinates with The Jingle Band for music. The school also runs several committees that organize major events throughout the year, including the Eurovision-style MGP show.
Lifestyle & Wellbeing
VK promotes lifestyle and wellbeing through sports and social activities. There are internal football matches between classes and volleyball in the hall. The school also hosts galla and other social events that contribute to student wellbeing.
Languages
Language Provision
Languages on offer include Danish A Literature and English A Language and Literature (HL/SL), and a Self-Taught language. Language B options include German B (HL/SL), Danish B (HL/SL), Spanish Ab Initio (SL) and Danish Ab Initio (SL). Other languages taught across the school are Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese and French. English is compulsory for all students at minimum B level.
Immersion Programs
Most classes are taught in English, with Danish used for Danish classes and a creative subject taught in Danish. The PreIB year is taught entirely in English. In the IB Diploma Programme, all IB-related written communication is in English, and instruction is delivered in English; the school maintains multilingualism as a core aim.
Admissions
Admissions
1. The school offers STX (including a PreIB path) and applicants must apply for admission through optagelse.dk. The application deadline for STX/PreIB is March 1, 2026 at 12:00. The STX admission information describes the required access criteria and the overall admission process. 2. If applicants do not meet the admission requirements for STX, they may take an admission exam (optagelsesprøve) and then an admission interview. The examination lasts four hours and covers Danish, Mathematics, English, and Physics/Chemistry, and it is graded as pass/fail. The admission interview follows once the exam results are available. 3. The early entrance exam is conducted before regional pupil allocation to schools. Passing the early entrance exam brings the applicant closer to admission, but it does not guarantee a place at Viborg Katedralskole. 4. There is also Viborg Elite, a talent program with separate admissions. The Viborg Elite application deadline is typically February 1, while applications to Viborg Katedralskole through optagelse.dk follow the standard process and deadlines (typically by March 13).
Scholarships
Viborg Katedralskole administers legates (scholarships) through two funds: Julelegater (Christmas scholarships) and the Stipendiefond (Scholarship Fund). The Stipendiefond is for graduates of Viborg Katedralskole; the application deadline is December 1, and all recipients are notified by January 1. The Julelegater are Christmas grants with an application process that collects the applicant's basic information and income details; documentation of income and related information is required, and legates are taxable under applicable rules.
School Events
The school has not added events
FAQs
Where is Viborg Katedralskole located and what age range does it serve?
Viborg Katedralskole is at Gl. Skivevej 2, 8800 Viborg, Denmark, near the city centre and the lakes. It is a co-educational upper secondary school for students aged 15 to 18, offering both STX and IB Diploma pathways, with boarding available for eligible students.
What curricular pathways does VK offer for new students?
VK offers the Danish STX pathway, which starts with a Grundforløbet foundation year followed by the Studieretningsforløbet, and a PreIB/IB Diploma pathway run in English. Students choose a studieretning (natural sciences, social sciences, languages, or music) consisting of 2–3 subjects, with at least four A-niveau subjects and English taught at least to a B level.
Is Viborg Katedralskole a boarding school and what does boarding include?
Yes. The Kollegiet sits 50 metres from the main building and houses about 173 students with six boarding staff. The monthly boarding charge includes meals, supervision, social activities, high-speed internet and utilities; there is a non-refundable enrolment fee of 2,500 DKK and a maximum monthly fee around 3,897 DKK (2025), with 600 DKK extra for living in the newer building.
Do students pay tuition for VK's STX/PreIB/IB programs?
No. Viborg Katedralskole is a public gymnasium, so there are no tuition charges for STX, PreIB or the IB Diploma programs.
What is the admissions process for VK's programs?
Applications are submitted through optagelse.dk with a March 1 deadline. If applicants don't meet entry requirements, they can take a four-hour admission exam covering Danish, Math, English and Physics/Chemistry, followed by an interview. There is also Viborg Elite, a separate talent program with its own admissions process and deadlines.
Are there scholarships available at VK?
Yes. VK offers Julelegater (Christmas scholarships) and the Stipendiefond (Scholarship Fund). The Stipendiefond is for VK graduates with a December 1 application deadline and results announced January 1, while Julelegater require income documentation and are taxable according to applicable rules.
What costs should families expect beyond boarding and tuition?
For boarding students, monthly charges cover meals, supervision, social activities, internet and utilities, with July excluded. The indicative maximum monthly boarding fee is 3,897 DKK, with 600 DKK extra for the newer kollegie building, plus a non-refundable 2,500 DKK enrolment fee. Costs for compulsory study trips and optional merchandise may also apply.
What are the main academic tracks and how is STX structured at VK?
The STX program begins with a Grundforløbet foundation year of about three months, followed by the Studieretningsforløbet. After Grundforløbet, students select a studieretning in natural sciences, social sciences, languages, or music, composed of 2–3 subjects with compulsory and elective elements. A minimum of four A-niveau subjects is required, with options to take 5–6 A-niveau subjects.
How do VK students perform academically, and what are the graduation outcomes?
In the 2024/25 school year, the average STX graduation grade was 8.2 (national average 7.5). The first-year dropout rate was 2.8% (2.2% switching programs; 0.6% leaving the education system). About 47.5% of graduates entered higher education after graduation (data from 2020/21), with 360 new entrants in 2025/26 and 961 total students in 2025/26.
What support is available for gifted students and language learners at VK?
VK runs several talent programs, including ArtGK, Team Danmark partnerships, ATU (Academy for Talented Youth), Astra Science Talenter and SubUniversity, offering advanced study opportunities. Cambridge C1 Advanced English is available (about 50 hours) from 1.g or 2.g, with an optional certificate. Danish language options include Danish Ab Initio or Danish B to support language access.
What languages are taught and how is language instruction delivered at VK?
Most classes are taught in English, with Danish used for Danish classes and a creative subject taught in Danish. The PreIB year is taught entirely in English, and the IB Diploma Programme uses English for all related written and instructional work. Language offerings include Danish A Literature, English A Language and Literature (HL/SL), German B, Danish B, Spanish Ab Initio, Danish Ab Initio, plus additional language options like Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese and French.
What facilities does VK have on campus?
VK blends historic architecture with modern teaching spaces, including bright classrooms, dedicated science laboratories, and a historic library. The campus features the festsal (auditorium), the balustrade, and attractive corridors alongside contemporary facilities and a cinema on site.
What sports and fitness facilities are available at VK?
The campus includes a sport hall for indoor athletics, a training center for fitness conditioning and an on-site gym, plus an outdoor lawn for various activities integrated into daily life.
Are there facilities specifically for boarding students?
Boarding students have access to social spaces such as a boarders lounge and a common room, plus activities like table football and badminton. The on-site cinema is available for boarders, and the canteen serves meals as part of the boarding package.
What kind of clubs and activities exist beyond lessons at VK?
VK hosts a wide range of student clubs and activities, including Bohr's Disciples (science), Visual Arts and Choir, as well as Radio Wad Up and the MGP committee. Student leaders help organize a large musical production every other year, and groups coordinate events like Flower Ball, Prom and the Eurovision-style MGP show.
What leadership and governance opportunities are available to students?
Student leadership is led by The Senate, VK's student council, with representatives from each class and a budget to address school issues. There are also committees and a Morning Assembly group that plans events and collaborates with performing groups for school life.
Are there any notable environmental or wellbeing initiatives?
Green VK runs the school's climate and environmental program, coordinating climate weeks and promoting vegetarian options in the canteen and boarding. The school maintains wellbeing initiatives and measures, contributing to a climate of inclusion and healthy student life.
How does VK support student wellbeing and safeguarding?
VK conducts an annual nationwide wellbeing survey to monitor student wellbeing, with a 2025 index of 75 (above the national average). An annual UMV assessment evaluates the learning environment, safety and welfare, and the Life at School program promotes inclusive participation and belonging. There are safeguarding policies, including alcohol-free events and staff supervision.
What SEN and EAL support does VK offer?
VK provides inclusive support for students with special learning needs and follows Danish MoE regulations and IB guidelines for access arrangements. Danish language support options include Danish Ab Initio or Danish B, and there is strong English language provision across the PreIB and IB Diploma programs to support non-native speakers.
What can international families expect regarding uniform, dress code and food at VK?
VK does not require a uniform; students should wear appropriate clothing for classes, with gym wear for physical education. For boarding students, meals are included in the monthly package, and there are on-site food options alongside the canteen.
