Overview
The European Baccalaureate is the school-leaving qualification awarded by the European Schools, the network of schools set up to educate the children of staff working for the institutions of the European Union. It is run by Schola Europaea, the body that governs the European Schools, and is sat at the end of secondary year 7 (S7), the final year of this school system.
Who can apply
Only pupils who complete secondary years 6 and 7 without interruption — the "Baccalaureate cycle" — at a European School, or at a school formally accredited by the Board of Governors for this purpose, may sit the European Baccalaureate. A pupil cannot join directly into year 7; they must already have finished year 6 at one of these schools. The European Schools exist mainly to educate children of staff of EU institutions, though some schools also admit other pupils on a fee-paying basis where places allow.
Exam pattern
Each candidate sits five written examinations and three oral examinations during year 7.
Compulsory written exams:
Language 1 (the pupil's mother tongue)
Language 2
Mathematics, at whichever of the two levels (3-period or 5-period) the pupil has followed
The remaining two written exams come from the pupil's chosen option subjects. For the three oral exams, one must be Language 1, Language 2, or a subject taught in Language 2 such as History or Geography; the other two come from the pupil's remaining options. Where chosen, History, Geography and Economics are taught and examined in Language 2, not Language 1.
Each oral exam runs for 20 minutes in front of the pupil, followed by a further 5 minutes for the examiners to agree the mark.
Marking and results
Every subject mark is given on a scale of 0 to 10. The overall European Baccalaureate result is a weighted percentage out of 100, made up of:
50% — a preliminary mark built from classwork, oral participation and tests sat across year 7
35% — the five written examinations
15% — the three oral examinations
Written and oral exams are marked twice: once by the pupil's own teacher and once by an external examiner from another European School or accredited school. The final mark is the average of the two. If the two marks differ by more than 2 points, a third external corrector sets a final mark between the highest and lowest of the first two.
A pupil needs an overall average of 50 out of 100 to be awarded the European Baccalaureate diploma.
Important dates
For the 2026 session, written examinations run over the first two weeks of June (1–12 June 2026), with papers starting at 09:00 and 14:00 Central European Time. Oral examinations follow later in the exam period, from 22 June to 3 July 2026. Exact subject-by-subject dates are published each year on the European Baccalaureate page and can vary slightly by school, so pupils should also check their own school's calendar.
Fees
Children of staff of the EU institutions (Category I pupils) attend the European Schools without paying school fees, since their education is funded by the EU. Pupils admitted in other categories, where a school has places available, pay the fees set for their category and school. Separately, every candidate entering for the European Baccalaureate pays a non-refundable exam registration fee, due by 31 March of their final year; the amount depends on the school and on national rules, so pupils should confirm it with their own school rather than assume it is nil. Current fee schedules are published on eursc.eu's school fees page.
After the exam
The European Baccalaureate diploma is recognised across the European Union. Under Article 5 of the Convention governing the European Schools, a diploma holder has the same right as a national of any EU member state with an equivalent qualification to apply to any university or other higher-education institution in that state.
Preparation tips
Learn the split between coursework, written exams and oral exams early in year 7 — the preliminary mark already carries half the final result before the written and oral exams even begin.
Revise all five written-exam subjects together, not only the three compulsory ones, since the two option subjects count equally toward the 35% written weighting.
Practise explaining your option subjects out loud in the exam language, since each oral exam is only 20 minutes and is marked on performance on the day.
Note your own school's exact timetable early — the written and oral exam windows run for several weeks and individual subject dates vary by school.
Who is eligible to sit the European Baccalaureate?
Only pupils who complete secondary years 6 and 7 without interruption at a European School, or at a school formally accredited by the Board of Governors for this purpose. A pupil cannot enter directly into year 7.
How is the final European Baccalaureate mark calculated?
It is a weighted percentage out of 100: 50% from coursework and tests across year 7, 35% from the five written exams, and 15% from the three oral exams. A pupil needs an overall average of 50 to pass.
Is the European Baccalaureate free?
Children of EU staff (Category I pupils) attend the European Schools without school fees, since the EU funds their education. A separate, non-refundable exam registration fee still applies and is due by 31 March of the final year; its amount depends on the school.
Is the European Baccalaureate recognised for university admission across the EU?
Yes. Under the Convention governing the European Schools, a diploma holder has the same right as a national of any EU member state with an equivalent qualification to apply to any university in that state.