Applying

IB INFO EVENING

If you would like to find out more about the IB Diploma Programme at Mattlidens gymnasium, then please participate in our IB INFO EVENING in January where MG staff and students will present the school. If you can't attend the info evening live in school, you can watch the recording of last year's IB INFO EVENING on our YouTube(external link) channel. 

• IB INFO EVENING Tuesday 17/1/2023 at 18-20

IB OPEN HOUSE

We also arrange an IB OPEN HOUSE in January, both in school and online on our Instagram. During our open house you can get a tour in the school facilities by students, meet teachers, and have your questions answered by the DP coordinator, IB guidance counsellor, and IB students. 

• IB OPEN HOUSE Thursday 19/1/2023
  • 13:30-14:30 in school (gathering in the dining hall)
  • 16.15-17:00 live on our Instagram [EXTERN LINK](external link) (will be recorded)

If you have any questions about the IB at Mattlidens, please contact the IB DP Coordinator (Anna Martikainen) or IB guidance counsellor (Anna Quagraine). 

WELCOME!

Joint application in spring 2023 (preDP)

Applications for upper secondary school are made via the joint application for vocational and upper secondary education. The application takes place during the spring (21.2 - 21.3.2023). The application form and more information can be found at www.opintopolku.fi/. 

The results of the joint admission will be published on 15 June 2023.  You will receive your admission results by email from Opintopolku. The names of those admitted are also published on our website, provided that the applicant has given us permission to publish their name.

If you have been accepted, you should officially accept your study place electronically in Opintopolku. In order for the admission process to go smoothly, we would ask that you do this as soon as possible.

After you have electronically accepted your study place, you will be sent your Wilma codes and other important information about the start of the school year via email.

If you have questions regarding the acceptance of the study place, you can contact our school secretary or principal (contact information on the website). The last day to accept the study place is 29.6.2023.

There is often a waiting list for spots in the preDP. If you are on the waiting list, but have been accepted at another school/program, you should accept that spot. If a spot becomes available at Mattlidens gymnasium, you will be informed of this via email.  

Applications outside the joint application system

If you are applying directly to the IB diploma programme (the second year of Finnish high school), you should be in touch with the DP coordinator directly. 

This is also the case for those who wish to inquire about study spots after the application period is closed. Subject upon availability, we may be able to accept late applications. 

For more information on subjects, or any other questions concerning the IB Diploma Programme at Mattlidens Gymnasium, please contact:

DP Coordinator Ms. Anna Martikainen

anna.martikainen(at)espoo.fi

mobile +358 43 8271414

All those who have completed comprehensive school (or the equivalent) are eligible to apply to the preDP year at Mattlidens gymnasium. The application must be submitted via the joint application system “Opintopolku / Studieinfo / Studyinfo” (). There are 50 study spots available in the preDP year (a maximum of 8 applicants can be accepted from outside the Finnish comprehensive school system). 

Applications which do not follow the procedures outlined below will not be considered. Please read the instructions carefully and be in touch with the DP Coordinator if you have any questions about the application process (contact information can be found on the school website). 

Applicants from Finnish comprehensive schools

Applicants who apply with a certificate from a Finnish comprehensive school MUST complete their application in the joint application system “Opintopolku / Studieinfo / Studyinfo” () by the deadline (the system is open for several weeks in February - March each year). 

If multiple schools/programs are being applied to, they should be listed in order of preference by the applicant. It is also imperative to choose the correct program:  IB-programme (special educational mission) / Lukion IB-linja (erityinen koulutustehtävä). Do NOT select the national curriculum: Gymnasium/Lukio.

The admission points are based on the GPA (academic subjects only) from the comprehensive school report  - maximum 10 points.

Applicants from outside the Finnish system

Those who are applying to the preDP without the Finnish comprehensive school certificate must also apply via the joint application system “Opintopolku / Studieinfo / Studyinfo” (), but should select the  “Ulkomailla suoritettu koulutus”/ "Utbildning utomlands" option in the question “Valitse yksi pohjakoulutus, jolla haet koulutukseen.” / “Välj den grundutbildning med vilken du söker till utbildningen.”   

If multiple schools/programs are being applied to, they should be listed in order of preference. It is also imperative to choose the correct program:  IB-programme (special educational mission) / Lukion IB-linja (erityinen koulutustehtävä). Do NOT select the national curriculum:

These applicants must also submit the following documents to the school: 

1. The latest school report (with explanations of the grading system)
2. The “Application Form” 
3. The “School’s Appraisal of the Applicant” form - filled in at the applicant’s current school and returned to the DP coordinator directly (both of these forms can be found on the school website)   

The forms are common to the IB schools in the greater Helsinki capital region (excluding the International School of Helsinki). Copies of the forms should be sent to all the schools being applied to. 

All application documentation must be submitted by the deadline of March 29th  in order to be considered. Documents can be uploaded to the Opintopolku application, but if there are problems with this, email OR regular post are also fine. Contact information and the mailing address can be found on the school website (please note that the mailing address is used for post and the street address for applications being sent by courier). If email is being used as the mode of submission, please make sure that the APPLICANT’S name is in the subject line of the message. Also, the school’s appraisal of the applicant form should be sent directly from the school writing the appraisal (this is a confidential document which shouldn’t be seen by the applicant) - if being sent by email, please be sure to put the APPLICANT’S name in the subject line. If being sent by post, it should come directly from the school OR in a sealed envelope with the other application documents.  

Results

The names of the students who have been admitted to the preDP are published on the school’s website in mid-June, unless the student has requested that this information not be published. Admitted students must accept their study place online during the days defined for that particular year. Information about how to do this will be sent via email to all accepted students.

Applicants who have been accepted to IB1/DP1 will be notified by email in late spring. Final decisions about study spots cannot be made until it is known how many spots are available. 

Late applications

If there are spots available after the application period has ended (preDP) and/or the academic year has started, it may be possible to be accepted to the school. In either case, the applicant must submit the following documents: 

1. The latest school report (with explanations of the grading system)
2. The “Candidate Application Form” 
3. The “School’s Appraisal of the Applicant” form - filled in at the applicant’s current school and returned to the DP coordinator directly

The school also reserves the right to test these applicants in Maths and English. 

Applying directly to the IB diploma programme (IB1/DP1)

If there are spots available, it is possible to apply directly to the IB diploma programme. The application is submitted directly to the school (NOT via the joint application system - Opintopolku / Studieinfo / Studyinfo). 

These applicants must submit the following documents to the school: 

1. The latest school report (with explanations of the grading system)
2. The “Candidate Application Form” 
3. The “School’s Appraisal of the Applicant” form - filled in at the applicant’s current school and returned to the DP coordinator directly

The forms are common to the IB schools in the greater Helsinki capital region (excluding the International School of Helsinki). Copies of the forms should be sent to all the schools being applied to. 

All application documentation must be submitted by March 29th in order to be considered. Documents can be sent by post OR email. Contact information and the mailing address can be found on the school website (please note that the mailing address is used for post and the street address for applications being sent by courier). If email is being used as the mode of submission, please make sure that the APPLICANT’S name is in the subject line of the message. Also, the school’s appraisal of the applicant form should be sent directly from the school writing the appraisal (this is a confidential document which shouldn’t be seen by the applicant) - if being sent by email, please be sure to put the APPLICANT’S name in the subject line. If being sent by post, it should come directly from the school OR in a sealed envelope with the other application documents.  

Results

Applicants who have been accepted to IB1/DP1 will be notified by email in late spring. Final decisions about study spots cannot be made until it is known how many spots are available.

Late applications

If there are spots available after the application period has ended and/or the academic year has started, it may be possible to be accepted to the school. In either case, the applicant must submit the following documents: 

1. The latest school report (with explanations of the grading system)
2. The “Candidate Application Form” 
3. The “School’s Appraisal of the Applicant” form - filled in at the applicant’s current school and returned to the DP coordinator directly

The school also reserves the right to test these applicants in Maths and English. 

How do I apply?

There are different procedures depending on if you are applying from a Finnish comprehensive school OR from outside the Finnish system. Please consult the school website for more detailed information on how to apply. 

How do I submit all the additional documents required when applying from outside the Finnish comprehensive school system?

All the additional documents required (school report, candidate application form, and appraisal form) can be returned by post or by email. Applicants applying via Opintopolku can also upload files directly to Opintopolku. 

If you are sending your application by post/courier, make sure you are using the correct address (the postal address is different from the street address). These addresses can be found on the website. If the school’s appraisal form is being returned in the same package, it should be in its own sealed envelope as this is a confidential assessment of the candidate by the school. 

Applications submitted by email should have the applicant’s name in the subject line and be sent to the DP coordinator. Appraisal forms should be sent directly to the DP coordinator by the school (we will not accept appraisal forms submitted by the applicant themselves). 

All application documents should arrive at the school by March 29th at the latest.  We cannot guarantee that we will process applications which arrive after this date.

Does it matter which position I put Mattlidens gymnasium on the common application? 

Yes, the school/program you put as your first choice is the one which will be selected for you if you fulfill the entrance requirements and are in their top points. It is important to put the schools in the order of preference for you.

Do I need to have a guardian living in Finland? 

We highly recommend this.

Do you have boarding facilities? 

No. Students are responsible for their own living arrangements. 

How much is tuition? 

There are no tuition fees. Students accepted to the preDP from August 2020 onwards (provided they are coming directly from comprehensive school) are eligible for free education. 

Is the IB hard? 

The IB Diploma Programme is an academically challenging course which teaches you the knowledge and skills needed for university. Very often it involves a lot of independent projects, but then you can go in depth in subjects and areas that you are interested in. 

Where do your graduates go once they’ve received their IB diploma? 

Many of our graduates go to the UK to study. In recent years, the Netherlands has become a popular choice. That being said, the IB Diploma is also highly valued in Finnish universities and many of our graduates choose to continue their studies in Finland, as well. In addition, the IB Diploma prepares our graduates in a wide variety of fields - from medicine to engineering to international business to studies in literature, even fashion design!