This page summarizes some of the key regulations governing the organization of studies in S6 and S7 and provides guidance to help parents and Learners choose their subjects. In the event of discrepancies, the official documents shall prevail. You may consult the official texts on the website of the Office of the Secretary-General of the European Schools.
https://www.eursc.eu/en/Office/official-texts/basic-texts/en
- General Rules of the European Schools (2014-03-D-14-en-15)
- The European School Curriculum: Structure and Organisation of studies and courses in the European Schools (2019-04-D-13-en-10)
- Language policy of the European Schools (2019-01-D-35-en-9)
- Summative assessment from s4 to s6 in the European Schools: Pedagogical and organisational arrangements (2022-12-D-19-en-5)
- Arrangements for Implementing the Regulations for the European Baccalaureate (AIREB) (2015-05-D-12-en-50)
The following document explains what optional subjects Learners may study during the Upper Cycle, why these subjects matter, and which competences and skills they will develop.
Detailed subject syllabuses can be consulted on the official website of the Secretariat of the European Schools: https://www.eursc.eu/en/european-schools/studies/syllabuses/
As of the end of January
- Organization of an information meeting for S5 Learners and their parents:
- Presentation of the general framework for the S6–S7 cycle
- Overview of compulsory, optional and complementary subjects
- Official opening of registrations for option choices, which are completed exclusively online.
February-March
- Set-up of individual interview slots with the Guidance and Integration Unit (COI):
- These interviews are open to all Learners upon request.
- They provide an in-depth discussion on the Learner’s personal project, academic strengths, and future plans.
- Individualized follow-up provided by the COI throughout this period.
- Deadline for submitting option choice forms: March 21
- Online entry of subject choices.
- Upload of the form for any potential language change.
- Organization of placement tests for certain sensitive changes, in particular:
- Language changes (L3 > L2)
- Change of course level in mathematics (MATH-4 > MATH-5)
- Adjustment of possible choices:
- In the event of a test failure
- If an option cannot be offered (due to insufficient enrollment)
April
- Extraordinary class councils organized to review and validate option choices.
- Individual choice forms sent to families for official validation.
- Parents must sign and return the forms within the specified deadlines.
Early May
- Administrative finalization of choices upon receipt of signed forms.
- Integration of the data into the school’s management systems to form groups for the start of S6.
- From this point onward, no further changes are guaranteed.
1st to 15th July
- Possibility to request a modification of the initial choice.
- The school will do its best to accommodate requests, but no positive outcome is guaranteed.
- After this point, no further changes are possible.
At the end of S5, there will be a window of two weeks for requesting a change to the initial choice, please see the “IMPORTANT DATES” section.
The school will try its best to accommodate the requests, but no positive feedback can be guaranteed.
The choice of optional subjects is binding for S6 and S7: no changes of optional subjects are allowed as from the start of the 6th year.
Between S6 and S7, the following changes are, however, permitted:
- A course started in S6 may be dropped, provided that the learner still fulfills the minimum of 31 weekly periods, including 29 periods in mandatory and optional courses, takes two optional subjects of 4 periods each, and at least one science subject.
- A learner may switch from Mathematics 5 periods to Mathematics 3 periods.
- Learners may switch between 4-period optional subjects and their 2-period compulsory course. This applies to: Biology (to STS), Geography, History, and Philosophy.