Top Boarding School Experience - International High School

A+ Academy:
A+ Academy is a challenging boarding school that prepares our students for university in a global perspective. Our classes are based aboard the Norwegian tall ship Sorlandet, and our sixty qualified 11th and 12th Grade students from around the world study in 20 different locations around the globe. Our students undertake a voyage of remarkable discovery as they and their teachers set course on a circumnavigation of the world.

Worldwide Boarding School Program for 11th & 12th Grade Students:
A+ Academy offers a rigorous two year pre-university curriculum leading to studies in the Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences and Business.

In the last two years of high school study, students enjoy the benefits of an enriched international curriculum and Advanced Placement courses.

Core Programmes: 
Students must complete each of the 4 elements of the core programme. (520 hours)

• English Literature and Composition, Level 1 or 2 – 150 hours
• Chinese Language & Culture, Level 1 – 150 hours
• Art, Communication & Technology, Levels 1 & 2 - 110 hours
• Physical Education, Level 1 or 2 – 110 hours

Elective Programmes: 
Students must complete 3 courses from any of the following 15 courses in the 3 fields of study. (450 hours)

• Science (8 courses), Level 1 or 2 -150 hours
- Biology
- Environmental Science
- Chemistry
- Physics

• Mathematics (3 courses), Level 1 or 2 - 150 hours    
- Mathematics
- Calculus (Level 2 only)

• Social Science (4 courses), Levels 1 & 2 - 150 hours                
- World History
- Macroeconomics
- Human Geography
- Comparative Government & Politics

Signature Programme: 
Students must complete each of the 3 signature programme components. (310 hours)

• The A+ Research Essay (150 hours) Levels 1 & 2: 
The A+ Research Essay (4000 words), a topic of global significance, is one of three signature A+ Academy learning experiences.

Students will learn to formulate their research topic, will engage in the personal exploration of the topic across each of the 12 to 15 international destinations visited.


• The A+ Learning Workshop (150 hours) Levels 1 & 2: 
The second A+ signature learning experience is the 21 day A+ Learning Workshop during which students move from the vessel to a quiet resort where our university faculty will lead a complete assimilation and application (A&A) "Learning package”.

All learning experiences, to attain maximum impact, require a period of reflection and a guided re-build of the take-away.

• The A+ Guest Lecturer Series (10 hours) Levels 1 & 2: 
The third A+ signature learning experience is the A+ Guest Lecturer Series.

Leading business, professional and political figures from around the world will join the students aboard Sorlandet and will speak to the complexities of the economic, social, environmental and human challenges that must be addressed in the near term.