Stockholm Students Celebrate Studying in English

Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet Södermalm (IEGS) celebrates its 10th anniversary on Friday May 7, 2010. Not bad for a school that teaches primarily in English.

"We've been going since 2000," says current principal Dr Margret Benedikz. "After starting out in Enskede we moved to Allhelgonagatan and the old Teaterhögskolan building in July 2008."

Since moving from Enskede the school has gone from strength to strength.

"Three years ago we had just over 200 students. This August we will have over 700 students studying primarily in English," says Dr Benedikz. "It's a fabulous indication of just how popular English has become with students in Stockholm. A lot of our students want to go and study abroad so it's perhaps natural for internationally-minded students to come to us."

This year Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet's students have already won places at Cambridge University, Edinburgh University and Aberystwyth University and some of last year's graduates are already at Durham University, University College and Nottingham.

Helen Farrants, who graduated from the Natural Science Programme and is currently studying at Edinburgh University after spending the summer at MIT in the USA says: "IEG definitely prepared me academically for university. I’m on par with the Scottish students when it comes to academics."

Friday will be filled with music performances, theatre, a food fair, an auction and exhibition of art.

"Unfortunately Internationella Engelska Skolan Chairman Barbara Bergström, who founded Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet, is unable to make the celebrations on Friday because she's in the USA," explains Dr Benedikz.

"She's had a busy spring what with Internationella Engelska Skolan opening three new schools this year. Nevertheless, we'll be celebrating for her in Stockholm."

Here's to the next ten years of education in English in the heart of Södermalm!

Check out the programme for the Anniversary Celebrations.