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Mattlidens Gymnasium

Finland, Espoo

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Swedish, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 16 - 19 years
Pupil numbers 760
Type Co-educational
Opened 1957
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Finnish Curriculum
Taught languages Swedish, Finnish, English, French, Spanish, German
Typical class size 25
Strengths Languages, Visual and Creative Arts, Sport
Clubs Arts and Creative, Leadership and Professional, Community and Service
Stages Secondary School
Introduction

Mattlidens gymnasium is a municipal upper secondary school in Espoo, Finland, offering a Swedish-language track alongside an English-language International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It is the largest Swedish-language upper secondary school in Finland and the only Swedish-language IB DP school in the capital region, providing a diverse bilingual pathway for students. The IB DP forms a two-year course (DP1/DP2) with a preparatory year (preDP) in grade 10, six subject groups, and a Diploma core of CAS, Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge. The school emphasizes intercultural understanding and multilingualism, with Swedish, English, and Finnish at multiple levels and options in Spanish, French, and German. In autumn 2026 a new sports line for young athletes will balance flexible studies with professional sport. The campus shares facilities with a lower-grade campus and is connected by modern transport. About 150 students study the English IB programme. Strong pastoral support and a collaborative school culture.

Matinsyrjä 1, 02230 Espoo, Finland

The Essentials

Mattlidens Gymnasium has 760 pupils, typical class sizes of 25, instruction in Swedish, English.

Stages
Upper secondary

Type
Municipal upper secondary school

Additional learning support
Special education and study guidance are provided. The school offers a team including a special education teacher, four study counselors, a guidance counselor, a health nurse and a school psychologist.

Country affiliation
Finland

School day structure
School year 2025-2026 starts 7 August 2025. Year 1 starts at 9:30; Years 2–4 assemble at 11:30. Instruction begins according to the Wilma timetable on 8 August. Periods and project weeks: Period 1 7 Aug–26 Sep; Project week 22–26 Sep. Period 2 29 Sep–21 Nov; Project week 17–21 Nov. Period 3 24 Nov–30 Jan; Project week 26–30 Jan. Period 4 2 Feb–27 Mar; Project week 23–27 Mar. Period 5 30 Mar–30 May; Project week 22–28 May. Holidays: Autumn break 13–17 Oct; Autumn graduation and independence day celebration 5 Dec; Christmas break 22 Dec–6 Jan; Penkis 5 Feb; Gammeldans 6 Feb; Sportlov 16–20 Feb; Påsklov 3–6 Apr; Första maj (ledig dag) 1 May; Kristi himmelsfärdsdag (ledig dag) 14 May; Ledig dag (i stället för Stafettkarnevalen) 15 May; Skollördag (Stafettkarnevalen & MG Amazing Race) 23 May; Mattdagen 29 May; Våravslutning & studentdimission 30 May.
Fees
Application fees
- There is no separate application fee for the joint application route used for admission to Mattlidens Gymnasium (preDP and general admission via the national joint application system). Applications for upper secondary places are made through the national joint application (Opintopolku/Studyinfo) in the spring; direct applications to the IB Diploma Programme when places are available are submitted to the school without an additional application charge.

Tuition fees by year group (per term and per academic year)
- Pre-DP (preparatory year before the IB Diploma): EUR 0 per term; EUR 0 per academic year.
- DP1 (first year of the IB Diploma): EUR 0 per term; EUR 0 per academic year.
- DP2 (second year of the IB Diploma): EUR 0 per term; EUR 0 per academic year.
- Mattlidens Gymnasium does not charge tuition for students accepted to the preDP from August 2020 onwards (students coming directly from Finnish comprehensive school are eligible for free education). There are therefore no school tuition invoices issued to these pupils.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- For standard tuition: no tuition invoices are issued and no regular tuition payments are required for enrolled students as described above.
- For externally assessed IB examinations: the International Baccalaureate Organisation charges assessment fees per examination session. The IB assessment charge structure used by schools is a candidate registration fee and a per-subject assessed fee. Current IB student assessment charges published by the IB are: USD 160 candidate registration fee (per examination session) and USD 110 candidate subject fee (per assessed subject). Schools normally invoice families for these assessment fees in advance of the IB registration deadlines and late registration incurs additional late fees under IB rules.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Mattlidens Gymnasium does not provide boarding facilities. There are no boarding fees because the school has no boarding. Students are responsible for their own living arrangements.

Other costs or fees
- IB assessment fees (charged by the IB per candidate and per subject) are the principal externally determined charge that families may be asked to pay; see the IB assessment fee amounts above.
- School-provided daily lunch is organised for Espoo schools and is provided free of charge as part of Espoo's school meal services for pupils and upper secondary students; families typically do not pay for the standard daily school meal.
- Parents may be asked to pay for optional or voluntary items and activities such as international study trips, optional excursions, course-specific materials, instrument hire, voluntary extracurricular courses, personal supplies, or non-compulsory study materials. Amounts and invoicing for these items vary by activity and are billed separately when applicable.

Refund information
- There are no tuition fees to refund for the standard preDP/IB tuition described above.
- Refunds or cancellation rules for IB assessment fees, optional trips or other charged items follow the specific charging body's policies (for example, IB deadlines, late fees and any refund rules apply to IB assessment fees; schools or vendors set refund terms for trips and optional services). The IB assessment guidance notes that late registration and amendments to subject registrations may incur additional fees.

Fee payment options
- When the school issues an invoice for assessment fees or optional activities, the invoice will include payment instructions and the acceptable payment methods for that charge. Common municipal and school billing arrangements in Finland are settled via official invoices and payment channels (for example bank transfer or e-invoice), and schools generally provide clear payment details on each invoice. For IB assessment fees, payment instructions and deadlines are communicated to candidates by the school at the time of registration and invoicing.
Academics

Mattlidens Gymnasium teaches IB (DP), Finnish Curriculum for students aged 16 to 19.

Curriculum
Mattlidens gymnasium is the largest Swedish-language upper secondary school in Finland and offers an English-language IB Diploma Programme; the IB Diploma Programme began in 1990 and the school has had a double intake since 2001. The IB Diploma Programme is a two-year course (DP1/DP2, grades 11–12) preceded by a preparatory year (preDP, grade 10). There are six subject groups in the DP; students choose one subject from each group with three subjects at higher level and three at standard level; subjects include Studies in language and literature, Language acquisition, Individuals and societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and the Arts. The Diploma core includes CAS, Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge. The Diploma Programme is internationally recognized and qualifies candidates for admission to universities worldwide.

Higher Education Progression
The IB Diploma Programme is internationally recognized and qualifies candidates for admission to universities worldwide.
Parent Experience

History
Mattlidens gymnasium is the largest Swedish-language high school in Finland and the only Swedish-language high school in Espoo. It is located next to Västerleden, the Iso Omena shopping centre, and the Mattby metro station, providing good transport connections to Helsinki, Kirkkonummi, Espoo and Kauniainen. The school currently operates a Swedish-language high school track and an English-language IB program. In autumn 2026, a new sports program for young athletes will start, combining flexible and successful high school studies with professional sport. In the 2025–2026 academic year the school has about 760 students, of which about 150 study in English for the International Baccalaureate. Both diplomas provide general eligibility for university admission. Mattlidens gymnasium is part of the Mattlidens skolcentrum, which also includes a preschool and a primary school; the campus has over 1,300 students in total. The high school shares the cafeteria, auditorium and gymnasiums with the primary school, but has its own classrooms and study spaces.

Community
Mattlidens gymnasium offers an inclusive and safe environment that inspires development. The school's vision and values are empathy, curiosity, community and integrity, and students learn to explore, grow and understand—together. Empathy means that we show understanding, compassion and care for one another; we greet and speak to each other in a positive, friendly tone; we listen to each other's wishes, thoughts and ideas; we always offer help and support with a low threshold according to individual needs; we have clear rules with flexibility in studies. Curiosity invites exploring and learning through a diverse range of courses, varied teaching methods, active student involvement, and encouragement to engage with new ideas; we are not afraid to ask for help and we foster initiative and enterprise; we update teaching to reflect developments in society and invite relevant guests. Community means creating a sense of belonging, emphasising collaboration and inclusion among students, teachers and staff; we organize activities to support well-being, emphasise structured group work in mixed groups, offer a broad range of clubs, and maintain tutor and Student Council activities; the school also serves morning porridge daily in the cafeteria and benefits from being a large, diverse school. Integrity means respecting each other's personal space and ensuring a safe environment; we follow honesty through correct citation, avoid plagiarism, and provide clear guidance and rules; we offer varied spaces and intervene promptly when injustice occurs. The school provides an individualized study plan; first-year students study most subjects with their base group, and from the second year onward there are more options while continuing to study mother tongue and English with the base group. The flex week in April offers intensive cross-disciplinary courses, and study trips abroad are scheduled during that week. Our facilities include a quiet reading room, group-work spaces, meeting rooms and a student lounge; there are playing facilities and a gym, and a nearby library in Iso Omena. The school is part of the Mattlidens skolcentrum, a campus that includes a preschool and a primary school; the campus hosts over 1,300 students in total.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Mattlidens gymnasium is the largest Finland-Swedish upper secondary school in Finland and the only Swedish-language gymnasium in Espoo. The school offers a Swedish-language upper secondary program and an English-language IB program. In autumn 2026 a new sports line for young athletes balancing flexible studies with a professional sports career will start. In the 2025–2026 school year about 760 students attend, with around 150 studying in English for the International Baccalaureate. The building includes a gym, two reading halls and a student lounge, and classrooms are equipped with modern technology; it is on the Mattlidens school campus sharing the cafeteria and auditorium with the lower grades.

Sports Facilities
There is a gym maintained by the StuKå board. There is also a foosball table in break areas along with game consoles and a large-screen TV. There is a table tennis table on the inner courtyard. The school offers flexible timetables to enable combining gymnasium studies with a professional sports career, and many students compete at FM level thanks to this flexibility and good transport to nearby facilities.

Academic Facilities
The school building has been continually updated and is adapted to today's needs. There are 25 students per base group and a broad range of support services, including special teachers, four study tutors, a counselor, a health nurse and a school psychologist. Students have access to a quiet reading room, a reading room for group work, meeting rooms and a student lounge. Iso Omena library is within walking distance for self-study and group work. The language program includes Swedish, English and Finnish at different levels, and also offers Spanish, French and German at B level, with internationally recognized language exams in German (DSD) and French (DELF).

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school emphasizes community and offers a broad range of clubs, a tutor program and StuKå activities, and daily morning porridge served in the cafeteria. There is a dedicated Flex Week in April with intensive cross-disciplinary courses beyond the national program, and study trips are organized to destinations such as Poland (Holocaust memory), Rome, the Alps for winter sports and culture, an art workshop in Italy, Geneva and CERN, Seville for language study, and Stockholm for culture and university visits. Activities also include band performances.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Mattlidens Gymnasium is an upper secondary school located in Espoo, Finland, and the largest Swedish-language high school in the city. It is the only Swedish-language IB Diploma Programme (DP) school in the capital region. The IB Mission Statement and Learner Profile guide the school's approach to learning, emphasizing inquiry, knowledge, and care for others. The Diploma Programme consists of six subject groups with higher and standard level options and core elements: CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service); the Extended Essay; and Theory of Knowledge.

Arts & Creative
The Diploma Programme includes Visual Arts (SL) as the arts option. Extracurricular activities include the Talent Show and Mattnatten, organized by the Student Council. The Student Council also coordinates diverse creative and cultural activities that contribute to school life.

Cultural & Language
Mattlidens Gymnasium is the largest Swedish-language high school in Espoo and the only Swedish-language IB DP school in the capital region. In the IB Diploma Programme, language options include English, Finnish, and Swedish across various A and B options (e.g., Swedish B, Swedish Ab initio; English A: Language and Literature; Swedish A: Literature). Pre-DP allows students to begin Finnish or Swedish from scratch. The IB programme emphasises intercultural understanding and respect.

Social & Hobbies
All students are represented by the Student Council. The Student Council Board elects a chairperson and 18 board members each autumn, and DP1/DP2 students can earn CAS for active involvement on the Board. The Board finances school activities such as Abis and vanhojen tanssit and supports student life, including organizing events like gaming nights and the Talent Show.

Community & Service
The Student Council Board actively works to foster togetherness and wellbeing in the school and gives students an opportunity to influence decisions. The Board finances events such as Abis and vanhojen tanssit and maintains facilities for student use. The IB core—CAS, Extended Essay, and TOK—encourages creativity, action, and service connected to the school community, while the school's international orientation involves diverse languages and intercultural projects.

Leadership & Professional
The Student Council elects a chairperson and 18 Board members each autumn, with supervision provided by staff. The Board is responsible for planning and funding student initiatives and facilities, and DP1/DP2 students can receive CAS credit for Board participation. The school supports leadership through activities like Model United Nations (MUN) and Model European Parliament (MEP), which develop research, writing and public-speaking skills; the MUN team travels to international simulations with external support.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school's core values—Empathy, Curiosity, Togetherness and Integrity—shape daily life and behavior expectations, including aims to create a safe and respectful environment. The school regularly organizes activities that promote community, wellbeing and wellness throughout the year. Morning porridge is served daily in the dining hall to energize students, and clear rules govern behavior to support a positive and inclusive climate.
Languages

Language Provision
IB Diploma Programme is offered in Swedish; there is also an English-language IB track with about 150 students (2025–2026). Elective languages include French, Spanish, German and Chinese. The school offers internationally recognized language exams in German (DSD) and French (DELF). There are opportunities to start Finnish or Swedish from scratch during preDP.

Bilingual Teaching
The school has an English-language IB line and a Swedish-language upper secondary line.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Common application window in spring 2026. The common application to vocational and upper secondary education is offered. Mattlidens gymnasium provides 175 places on the Swedish-language gymnasial line, 25 places on the newly established Swedish-language sports line, and 50 places on the English-language IB line. The spring 2026 application runs February 17–March 17, 2026 through StudyInfo. The application form and further information are available via StudyInfo.

2. Application to Mattlidens gymnasium. After the application period, applicants submit their preliminary year selections for the first year. Selections are made electronically, either in Wilma (for students in Esbo's basic education) or in Google Forms (for students from outside Esbo). The link to the form and instructions are provided by the end of March 2026. It is encouraged that applicants aiming for first or second priority submit preliminary selections to facilitate timetable planning.

3. Admission results. The results of the joint admission are published on June 11, 2026, and all applicants receive their admission results by email from StudyInfo. The names of admitted students are no longer published on the school site or on social media; admitted students receive a personal admission decision by email.

4. Accepting the place and waitlist. You must officially accept your study place electronically in StudyInfo. To ensure a smooth process, please accept the study place by the day after the admission results; but you must accept no later than June 25, 2026; otherwise the place expires. You can be admitted from the waiting list until August 14, 2026. If a place becomes available, the next candidate on the waiting list is contacted by phone.

5. After acceptance. After you have electronically accepted, Wilma codes and other important information about the start of the school year will be sent to you by email in mid‑June.

Waitlist
You can be admitted from the waiting list until August 14, 2026. If a vacancy arises, the next candidate on the waiting list is contacted by phone.
School Events
The school has not added events
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