Secondary School Scholarships

Applicants will be expected to write their responses by hand. Dictionaries may not be used in either the English or the Maths exams.

For the English examination, applicants will be required to write a ‘literary commentary’ on a piece of poetry or prose. Each exam taker should take time to plan their answer carefully. They should make sure to use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. The applicant will be analysing the poem or prose, therefore they should use literary terms where possible and respond in a well-organised manner. The committee will look for responses which are analytical, well-structured and grounded in the text.

For the Maths exam, the applicants will be allowed to use a calculator. Applicants are encouraged to bring any type of scientific calculator they are currently using or feel comfortable using. They will be required to answer a range of questions on topics most students will have covered in their Maths classes up to the age of 15/16. Applicants may also be asked to solve a number of mathematical puzzles which require some creative thinking. There is nothing specific that applicants should be studying in preparation for the scholarship exams – their hard work in school up to the exam should suffice. The exam papers have been set to reflect what is normally taught in schools up to Grade 10/Grade 11.

CIS does not provide any past scholarship exam papers. Please do not request any information about the exams additional to what is given above. In order to be as fair as possible, the school provides the same information to each applicant.

If an applicant is unable to attend the scholarship exams or the interviews due to illness or any unforeseen circumstances, they are encouraged to contact CIS Diploma Programme Coordinator, Ms. Mary Donnellan (mary.donnellan@cis.dk), to inform about their situation. While it may not be possible for the exams to be rescheduled, the school will try its best to find an alternative day for the interview. Applicants should be aware that members of the School Board may not be able to be present at a re-arranged interview.

Scholarship applicants who are invited to the interview should deliver a three to five minute presentation about themselves, about what makes them excited when it comes to learning. The presentation is the applicant’s chance to show the committee something really important about them.

Any examples such as playing an instrument, or singing, writing short stories or any other passion should be included in the presentation. Alternatively, applicants may decide to make a presentation about their passion in life, or describe to the committee how they feel about a particular issue of concern. The school can provide musical instruments, laptops, and a projector upon request for the presentation.

Once the exam papers have been assessed, all applicants will be notified whether or not they have been successful in moving to the interview stage of the scholarship process. See timeline for dates. Once they have been selected for an interview, applicants will receive further details via email, prior to their appointment. Interviews generally last about 20 minutes for each applicant.

While it is clearly an important appointment for all applicants, it is suggested that they prepare by bringing their best selves to the interview. Here are some pieces of advice that might help:

• Prepare for the presentation to be delivered. While three to five minutes may seem like a brief time, it will not be if there isn’t a structure in place
• Applicants should briefly research questions asked in interviews and prepare some potential answers.
• Applicants are encouraged to be up to date with news and current events.
• Applicants should be able to refer to and exemplify the type of skills and aptitudes they might bring to the CIS community.
• Answers that include examples are always better

Applicants will be interviewed by the Secondary School Principal, a member of the School Board, and the Diploma Programme Coordinator.

All applicants who have taken part in scholarship interviews will be informed of the result according to the published timeline. Offers must be accepted or rejected by the deadline proposed in the timeline, otherwise they are considered withdrawn.

Unless there is a major change in the applicant’s circumstances, such as having to relocate outside Denmark, or a serious illness, the school expects that students (and parents) who accept the award of a CIS scholarship to be part of the community. Applicants who are unlikely to be remaining in Denmark or at CIS throughout the duration of the scholarship, should not apply. This could possibly take scholarship offers away from students who would otherwise be able to make full use of this opportunity.

1. Arts Scholarship
   • Applicants for this scholarship must be able to demonstrate that they possess exceptional talents in the creative arts, particularly in Visual Arts, Music and/or Theatre. Submissions in creative writing, design, dance, and animation are also considered.
   • Students applying for the CIS Arts Scholarship will be expected to submit a portfolio of their best work in either paper or electronic format. This portfolio can contain between three and five examples of the students’ best work. Each piece submitted should be accompanied by a brief explanatory essay, also commenting on how the applicant feels s/he could contribute to building sustainability at CIS. At least one reference commenting on the student’s environmental/sustainable contributions should accompany the portfolio.
   • All applicants will be required to take the scholarship exams in English and Maths.
2. Sustainability Scholarship
   • Applicants for this scholarship must be able to demonstrate outstanding commitment to protecting the environment and/or advocating for a sustainable lifestyle. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to sustainability efforts during their time at CIS.
   • Students applying for our Sustainability Scholarship are asked to submit a portfolio demonstrating the work they have undertaken in support of environmental/sustainability issues in the two years prior to the scholarship applications. The portfolio can consist of paper or electronic material, and can be written or visual in nature. Each piece submitted should be accompanied by a brief explanatory essay, also commenting on how the applicant feels s/he could contribute to building sustainability at CIS. At least one reference commenting on the student’s environmental/sustainable contributions should accompany the portfolio.
   • All applicants will be required to take the scholarship exams in English and Maths.

All CIS students are expected to maintain a solid academic record, and to behave appropriately in and out of class. These expectations apply to CIS scholarship recipients as well. Scholarship students are expected to take and complete the full IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12. Students who are awarded an Arts scholarship are expected to choose one of Group 6 (The Arts) subjects – music, visual arts, theatre.

For issues related to the application form and any financial matters, please contact Admissions – admissions@cis.dk

For issues relating to the scholarship exams and the interviews, please contact the Diploma Programme Coordinator, Mary Donnellan – mary.donnellan@cis.dk