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Gymnasium am Münsterplatz

Switzerland, Basel

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 600
Type Co-educational
Opened 1589
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages German, French, English, Italian, Latin, Spanish
Strengths STEM, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Leadership and Professional
Stages Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Gymnasium am Münsterplatz sits on Münsterplatz in Basel's historic city center. It offers the Basel-Stadt cantonal Gymnasium curriculum with an optional International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB DP) and a bespoke Ergänzungsprogramm. The Basel-Stadt framework is aligned with the Rahmenlehrplan Gymnasiale Maturitätsschulen and MAR/MAV guidelines, providing Lernziele for Grundlagenfächer, Maturitätsarbeit, sport, and a Wahlpflichtbereich (Schwerpunktfach and Ergänzungsfach). Transversal Unterrichtsbereiche include ÜFK, BfKA, WP, Digitalität, ID, BNE and Politische Bildung. The school's 2016 renovation preserved its historic character while adding modern teaching spaces. Facilities include modern subject rooms, laboratories, a Mediothek and a high-quality Mensa, with a strong MINT program backed by digital resources and modern labs; in 2023 the school received the MINT label from SCNAT. Extracurricular life centers on the Student Parliament and events such as the GM Ball and GM-Fest, plus music ensembles, language options, and international study trips. An IB Diploma can be combined with the Swiss Matura and Schwerpunktfächer.

Münsterplatz 15, 4051 Basel, Switzerland

The Essentials

Gymnasium am Münsterplatz has 600 pupils, instruction in German, English.

Location
The school is located in Basel's historic heart on Münsterplatz, at Münsterplatz 15 (Building F).

Stages
Upper secondary school (Gymnasium). The IB Diploma Programme is offered in the last two gymnasial years (12th and 13th year). Immersion in bilingual classes begins in the first gymnasial year in subjects such as history, biology, geography, mathematics, art, English, or Theory of Knowledge; students may graduate with a bilingual Swiss Matura or pursue the IB Diploma depending on the option chosen.

Additional learning support
Lernzentrum and Stützkurse; Organisation von Nachhilfe; Fördermassnahmen für fremdsprachige Schülerinnen und Schüler; Individuelle Lernberatung; Self Care-Beratung; Nachteilsausgleichsmassnahmen bei Lernstörungen und Behinderungen; Begabungs- und Begabtenförderung.

Country affiliation
Switzerland

School day structure
School hours during teaching weeks are Monday to Friday, 7:00–18:00. The secretariat is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:30–12:00 and 13:00–16:00; Wednesday and Friday 7:30–12:00. The Lernzentrum is open 7:00–18:00; Arbeits- und Aufenthaltszonen (Buildings A+B) 7:00–18:00; GM-Mensa 8:00–18:00; Mediothek 7:45–16:30.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
GM-Mensa on campus provides seating for meals during breaks. GM-Mensa is open 08:00–18:00.

Governance and Ownership
Public secondary school governed by the Department of Education of the Canton Basel-Stadt (Mittelschulen und Berufsbildung).
Fees
Application fees
- There is no application fee for admission to the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz for regular applicants. Registration is handled electronically through the cantonal registration platform.

Tuition fees
- The school does not charge tuition; compulsory instruction at the continuing-secondary (gymnasium) level is provided without tuition fees. Parents are responsible only for the material and incidental costs listed below.

Mandatory material and course contributions (per pupil)
- Annual general material contribution: CHF 80 per school year (collected at the start of the school year). This contribution covers items such as licence fees, photocopies and other common school operating costs. Payment slips are issued in August and payment is due by the end of September. Refund rules for this contribution are given below.
- Lehrmittel (textbooks, workbooks, calculators, scripts and related subject-specific materials): typical total costs per pupil as indicated by the school are approximately:
- 1st year: CHF 527.50.
- 2nd year: CHF 297.40.
- 3rd year: CHF 197.00.
- 4th year: CHF 197.00.
These totals cover the regular required books and a general material-cost contribution included in the school's published Lehrmittel cost overview; individual additional purchases (e.g., some Matura reading texts, special IB items) may apply.
- IB / immersion and other subject-specific additional materials: the school publishes separate estimates for IB/immersion subjects (examples in the school's materials list total roughly CHF 160–170 for certain IB years; totals vary by subject and year). Expect further smaller subject-specific supplements (typical additional SPF/subject contributions are listed by the school at approximately CHF 30–CHF 60 in some years).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The annual general material contribution (CHF 80) is billed by payment slip (Einzahlungsschein) mailed in August and must be paid to the indicated account by the end of September. If a pupil leaves the school before the start of October, the full CHF 80 is refunded; there is no refund for departures on or after 1 October. Other material costs (textbooks, scripts) are paid either directly to the vendor or collected as instructed by teachers (scripts may be invoiced and collected by the teacher).

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- The Gymnasium am Münsterplatz is a day school (no boarding facilities). There are no boarding fees.

Other costs or fees
- Locker (spind) deposit: a one-time deposit of CHF 50 is charged for pupils who request an individual lockable locker for the four-year gymnasium period; this deposit is returned at school exit provided the locker and any loaned media are returned in proper condition.
- Klassenkasse / class-fund contributions: classes use a class-fund mechanism for shared class expenses; rules and any required contributions are set by the school and vary by class.
- Study trips, Matura trips, winter sport camps and other special events: these occasions incur separate charges which vary by trip (transport, accommodation, activity and insurance costs). The school issues specific notices and payment instructions for each special event.
- Examination / external-candidate fees: standard in-school progression and the regular Maturitätsexamination for enrolled pupils do not require annual tuition payments, but in special cases (external candidates or repeat/individual exam registrations) federal or cantonal examination fees may apply according to the applicable examination regulations.

Refund information
- Annual general material contribution (CHF 80): refunded in full only if the pupil leaves before the end of September of that school year; no refund for departures from 1 October onward.
- Locker (spind) deposit (CHF 50): refundable at school exit provided the locker and any school media loaned in connection with it are returned in proper condition; the school provides a refund form and processes reimbursement where applicable.
- Other purchases (textbooks, private purchases, third-party services): refund and return policies depend on the supplier or organiser; where the school supplies or loans items, the school's specific rules apply.

Fee payment options and methods
- The annual CHF 80 material contribution is paid via the mailed payment slip (Einzahlungsschein) to the school's designated bank account; payment must be received by the end of September.
- Locker deposit (CHF 50) is paid in person to the school secretariat when pupils register for a locker. Scripts and other small in-school charges may be collected directly by the responsible teacher or by the school office as instructed. Lehrmittel (textbooks) are normally purchased individually from bookshops or through second‑hand/occasion markets organised by the school community.

Notes: The items listed above constitute the regular and recurring cost items associated with attending the four‑year Gymnasium am Münsterplatz (material contribution, required Lehrmittel, locker deposit, class-fund and event/trip charges). Exact, per‑pupil amounts for optional activities, trips, IB examination arrangements or special cases (external candidate examination fees, repeat examinations) are variable and will be communicated by the school when applicable.
Academics

Gymnasium am Münsterplatz teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
The Basel-Stadt cantonal curriculum for Gymnasien Basel-Stadt is the Kantonaler Lehrplan Gymnasien Basel-Stadt, aligned with the Rahmenlehrplan Gymnasiale Maturitätsschulen (RLP) and with MAR/MAV guidelines. It provides the Lernziele for Grundlagenfächer, the Maturitätsarbeit, and sport, and defines a Wahlpflichtbereich that includes Schwerpunktfach and Ergänzungsfach. School-specific Ergänzungsfächer are defined by the GM. Transversal Unterrichtsbereiche include Überfachliche Kompetenzen (ÜFK), Basale fachliche Kompetenzen für allgemeine Studierfähigkeit (BfKA), Wissenschaftspropädeutik (WP), Digitalität (DIG), Interdisziplinarität (ID), Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE), and Politische Bildung (PB). The order of Lerngebiete is not binding and the curriculum aims for comparability and general studierfähigkeit.},

Higher Education Progression
Gymnasium am Münsterplatz offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). It began piloting the DP in 2010 and was accredited as an IB World School in May 2011, joining a global quality system and eligible for worldwide university recognition. The IB Diploma Programme is taught in English and offers a pathway to universities worldwide; it also provides preparation for Swiss universities through extensive English vocabulary. The DP is integrated with the school's Immersion offerings, and the DP diploma is widely recognized by universities globally, supporting access to higher education in many countries.

Gifted and Talented
Begabungs- und Begabtenförderung is a core part of the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz identity. The school provides a broad range of offerings, with individualized advice for gifted students and tailored solutions. It maintains weekly tutoring and learning-centre support, including targeted assistance in various subjects. For students who are underchallenged in a subject area, Begabtenförderung can provide pathways to courses at the University of Basel with partial dispensation from regular classes, and there are opportunities for advanced talents in non-university contexts such as elite sport (e.g., via the Swiss Olympic Talent Card).
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Self Care-Beratung is a low-threshold health-psychology counseling service available to all GM students, offering pre-therapeutic support for stress and mental health. It addresses family and social burdens, school-related stress, unhealthy coping with oneself, gender identity concerns, and handling social media, and provides strategies for health promotion. In Self Care-Beratung, strategies are developed through exercises such as mindfulness, relaxation, monitoring social media activity, a sleep diary, exercise, nutrition, focusing on strengths, and activating personal resources. It is available to all GM students in grades 1–4 who face stress; access is via lunch-time drop-in or by appointment, with parents able to register their child and teachers able to refer students with the student's consent. The contact person is Sylvia Zihlmann (via Microsoft Teams or sylvia.zihlmann@edubs.ch).

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Nachteilsausgleichsmassnahmen for students with a diagnosed disability or developmental disorder are available. The Fachstelle Förderung und Integration (FFI) assesses whether the conditions are met. For final examinations, the examination board requires an attestation to be presented by the end of October before the exam. The guidelines and the application form can be found on the FFI information page. If needed, GM can provide financial support from its own funds and foundations.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is offered as a modern language alongside French, Spanish and Italian. The Modern Languages program includes test preparation for language certificates (Cambridge) giving access to international certificates. Latin and Greek have optional courses in English, and Cambridge Certificate Preparation is available to finish with an internationally recognized certificate. English-language studies open doors to universities and future opportunities.

Mental Wellbeing
Self Care-Beratung provides health-psychology support for students experiencing stress, operating as a low-threshold, pre-therapeutic service focused on first-aid for stress. Topics include family and social burdens, school stress, unhealthy self-management, gender identity issues, handling social media, and strategies for health promotion. Access is via lunch-time drop-in or appointment, with options for parental registration or teacher referrals with student consent. The service aims to reduce stress and, if needed, connect students with further support such as individualized learning counseling.

Safeguarding
We treat each other with respect. No physical or verbal violence is tolerated. The Gymnasium am Münsterplatz is a violence-free zone.
Parent Experience

History
The Gymnasium am Münsterplatz is located on Münsterplatz in Basel's historic city center. It traces Basel's long Humanist school tradition, symbolized by the Latin motto moribus et litteris sacrum used from 1589 to 1989. The school evolved through historical forms such as Schule auf Burg and Münsterschule, and the site was celebrated for its renovation and reopening in 2016. The 2016 ceremony marked a renewal of the school's facilities while preserving its historical character.

Community
The school offers a personal atmosphere and a diverse school life. It is a humanist gymnasium with a broad program that includes a wide range of language options. Language subjects open doors, with an extensive English immersion offering in subjects such as history, geography, mathematics, biology, and art, alongside other focus subjects like PPP, Spanish, English with IB, Latin, and Greek. The Münsterplatz location, together with renovated facilities including modern classrooms, laboratories, a learning center, a cafeteria, and a media library, supports a vibrant school culture that includes musical ensembles such as the GM choir and jazz band.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school has a Parents' Council (Elternrat GM) made up of a parent representative from each class and their deputy. The Elternrat has an advisory function and addresses matters for the first three grades as well as school-wide issues and development. Elections are held in the first quarter of the school year, and the council meets at least twice yearly, using school spaces for meetings. The Elternrat representative attends school house conferences and may invite delegations to meetings; parents may contact the appropriate class teacher as a first point of contact. Joint events include parent visit days, the GM sports day, the GM-Fest, the closing ceremony, and other occasional occasions.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Gymnasium am Münsterplatz is located on Münsterplatz in Basel's historic center. It features renovated teaching buildings with modern subject rooms, laboratories, and student work zones, and a well-equipped Mensa and Mediothek. It offers a strong MINT program with extensive courses and digital resources, supported by modern laboratory infrastructure; in 2023 the school was awarded the MINT label by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). The campus hosts a vibrant student parliament that helps shape school life with events such as the GM Ball, the WM at GM, the Götti program for new students, and GM-Fest. It provides winter and summer camps (sports and theater), subject-focused study trips, and maturareisen. The music program features performances by the GM Choir and Orchestra and the GM Jazz Band.

Academic Facilities
Renovated teaching buildings host modern subject rooms, laboratories, and student work zones. The MINT program offers extensive courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and informatics, with a high degree of digitization and modern laboratory infrastructure. A modern Mediothek provides library facilities for study and research. A high-quality Mensa supports daily academic life. An optional Diploma Programme (IB) can be combined with the Swiss Matura and GM Schwerpunktfächer. Optional coaching classes provide subject-specific support in mathematics and French.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Student Parliament actively shapes school life with events such as the GM Ball, the WM at GM, the Götti program for new students, and GM-Fest. Music programs include the GM Choir and Orchestra and the GM Jazz Band. Winter and summer sports camps, a theatre camp, and study trips linked to focus subjects and maturareisen are offered. Project weeks cover political education and career guidance.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
GM History Channel features explanatory videos produced by the History Department and student-created podcasts on historical topics. Interdisciplinary Project Days for the 1st and 2nd classes provide cross-disciplinary, project-based learning with excursions to Basel museums, the Botanical Garden, Basel Zoo, Verkehrsmuseum Luzern, and the Technorama in Winterthur. There is an elective IB History with a curriculum accessible to students, and IB history students can follow the elective curriculum. Students have a say in topic selection, and teaching emphasizes modern learning methods, opportunities to work outside the classroom, archive research, oral history, and excursions.

Arts & Creative
The GM Choir and Jazz Band provide after-school music opportunities. The Jazz Band explores jazz, blues, fusion and rock, with the option for students to try different instruments and learn improvisation; the Choir rehearses weekly and performs at GM events, sometimes traveling to a rehearsal camp with the Jazz Band. Acting in English offers a theatre-focused language course with public showcases possible.

Cultural & Language
English, Spanish, Latin and Greek are main Schwerpunktfächer; French is a foundation subject, and Italian can be a foundation with English or offered as an elective. The program also includes language electives such as Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Hebrew, and other languages, with Cambridge English exam preparation available.

Social & Hobbies
Interdisciplinary project days culminate in student presentations, with excursions to local museums, the Botanical Garden, the Basel Zoo, and science venues; there are additional off-campus learning experiences and campus-wide events. There is a Summer Sport Camp in Tenero (Ticino) and a Learning Zone developed in collaboration with the Student Body.

Community & Service
The European Youth Parliament (EYP) program runs at GM, offering debates and diplomacy-style simulations in English, with opportunities to travel within Europe and engage with students from other schools. The school also supports student-led initiatives, such as projects to develop student-friendly furniture in the GM learning center.

Leadership & Professional
Participation in the European Youth Parliament fosters leadership, teamwork and debate skills, with English-language sessions and a pathway to national/international sessions. The GM offers structured opportunities like EYP and other elective programs that develop speaking, organization and collaboration skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Self-organized learning is supported by the learning center and coaching from teachers. The campus provides a GM canteen and various spaces for breaks, with continuous emphasis on wellbeing and balanced schedules, including after-school sports and clubs. A Summer Sport Camp and other health-related support services are accessible as part of GM life.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught include English (with IB), Spanish, Latin, and Greek as Schwerpunktfächer. The English immersion is large across History, Geography, Mathematics, Biology, Art, and Learning by Project. The school uses German as the language of instruction, with immersion options in English. Support for non-native German speakers is available through language-support courses and tutoring.

Bilingual Teaching
Yes. The GM offers bilingual education through English immersion and the IB Diploma Programme. English is used for immersion in core subjects, and there is an English–German immersion option within IB. The IB Diploma can be combined with the Swiss Matura and with all GM Schwerpunktfächer. Coaching classes provide additional language and subject support.

Immersion Programs
Two immersion pathways are available. IB Diploma Programme with Immersion (English-German) provides English-language instruction in six subjects (Math, History, Biology, Art, Geography, Theory of Knowledge) in grades 10–13, with a double Matura and IB Diploma, and can be combined with all GM Schwerpunktfächer. Immersion (English-German) offers English-language instruction in five subjects with IB certificates in French, English, and German.
Admissions

Admissions
1. The registration period for the 2025/2026 school year is in January/February 2025.
2. Registration takes place via the electronic platform Schulnetz.
3. Schulnetz will be opened from January 5 to February 3, 2026 (16:00).
4. Registrations are not processed in order of receipt. When applying for the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz, it is possible to indicate whether the school or the Schwerpunktfach (focus subject) is more important (each may be selected twice).
5. Optional GM options that can be combined with each Schwerpunktfach are the IB Diploma Programme (IB Option 1) and Immersion (IB Option 2), as well as GM-Coachingklassen.
6. For questions about GM offerings, contact us (see Contacts).
School Events
The school has not added events
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