MH admission policy for IB students

MH admission policy for IB students 

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is a demanding and academically challenging two-year curriculum designed to prepare students aged 16 to 19 for university studies. Currently the DP at MH is the only upper secondary school programme in Iceland taught in English which provides qualification for entry into university. The DP at MH attracts and welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds, but eligibility is based on the following criteria:

• Age: Mainly for students aged 16-19
• Course Prerequisites: Completion of the Pre-IB programme at MH with acceptable results or completion of an equivalent preparatory course of study elsewhere (such as the IGCSE or the IB MYP).
• Language proficiency: Students must be proficient in English as it is the main language of instruction. MH requires DP candidates to be at the B1 level or higher in English according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL).

MH admission policy for Pre-IB students

MH offers a one-year preparatory course of study, known as Pre-IB, for students who intend to enrol in the IB DP programme and who have graduated from primary school in Iceland or completed an equivalent education elsewhere (completed the 10^th year of primary/secondary education). Eligibility for the Pre-IB programme is based on the following criteria:

• Age: Mainly for students aged 15-17
• Course prerequisites: Completion of 10^th grade in Iceland (Primary School) with good results or the equivalent elsewhere.
• Language proficiency: Students must be sufficiently proficient in English as it is the main language of instruction.
• Subject grade requirements: Students must have a good overall academic record and a good standing in Math and English is particularly important.

Application process

Applicants apply on innritun.is but special application forms are also required for the IB in addition to a letter of recommendation from a former teacher or trusted adult (school counsellor or employer) who knows the applicant well and who is not a family member. See the application process in more detail here: Application forms.

In the case of older applicants (students who have already completed some credits in an upper secondary school), they must have received a minimum grade of 5 (of 10) in all subjects and have an average grade of 6 or higher. It is recommended that such students have earned a grade of 7 or higher in English, Math, History and Natural Sciences. After enrolling, all students in the IB programme are required to abide by the progress rules. It should be noted that students accepted specifically into the DP do not automatically have the right to remain in MH should they leave the DP.

Residency requirements

As a public school in Iceland, MH gives preference to applicants who currently reside in the country or who have been issued a visa to do so. The Icelandic immigration authorities insist that residency issues be settled before students are enrolled in schools so MH cannot enrol students who do not have residence permits in Iceland. If an applicant or an applicant’s family is not in the process of moving to Iceland and obtaining a residence permit, MH is not able to process their application to the school. If an applicant is currently moving here and in the process of obtaining a residence permit, then they need to provide proof of this in their application.

Hamrahlíð College (MH) admission guidelines

See: Admission guidelines in Icelandic and Admission and processing of applications.

General MH admission guidelines

All those who are legal residents of Iceland may attend Hamrahlíð College on condition that they fulfil the national grade requirements for enrolling in a course of study towards university matriculation (stúdentspróf) or the special requirements for entering the IB Diploma Programme.

The majority of candidates are chosen on the basis of the grades they receive at the end of compulsory education in Iceland. The minimum grades in specific subjects are determined by the national requirements. In addition to these criteria, the following may also be considered:

• Their attendance record in their previous school, whether compulsory or secondary
• Their grades in subjects other than those specified in the national requirements
• The number of applicants the school receives that term for each course of study (Language, Social Science, Natural Science, Arts)
• The possibility of the applicant attending a similar school nearer to their home
• The applicant’s age*
• Special, individual circumstances

An applicant who does not fulfil the national grade requirements will only be accepted into the school if there is a place available and their application is accompanied by additional documentation, such as letters of recommendation indicating that the student will be able to meet the academic demands of their course of study.

*Applicants under the age of 18 will generally take precedence over older applicants for admission to the day school programme at MH.