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Neue Kantonsschule Aarau

Switzerland, Aarau

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Independently researched by doris.
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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
Availability Not shared by this school
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.

nksa.ch

Neue Kantonsschule Aarau, Schanzmättelistrasse 32, 5000 Aarau, Switzerland

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
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
The school has not added this information
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
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
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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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