Lahden lukio Gaudia

The name 'Gaudia' is derived from Latin and means 'joy.' The school's educational philosophy centers on the student, aiming to foster a deep sense of joy through goal-oriented work, self-challenge, and the discovery of personal strengths. This approach is intended to build long-term self-confidence and prepare students for the future.

The school offers four main educational tracks: a general upper secondary programme (yleislinja), an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, a visual arts and design track, and a music track. The IB programme includes a preparatory year and core components such as the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge (ToK), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). The curriculum covers a wide range of subjects including sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, geography), mathematics, languages (Finnish, English, Swedish, German, Spanish, Russian, French), humanities (history, social studies, psychology, philosophy, religion), and arts.

The school provides comprehensive student welfare services, including access to school nurses, a psychologist, and a curator. Special education teachers are available to support students, and study counselors (opinto-ohjaajat) are assigned to specific student groups to assist with academic planning and course selections. Support is coordinated through the Wilma platform.

The school participates in the national joint application process (yhteishaku) for students transitioning from primary education. Applicants must rank their preferences, and selection is based on academic performance, with additional entrance examinations, hobbies, and portfolios required for the specialized arts, design, and music tracks. Students without a Finnish primary school certificate may apply through a discretionary process, which may include a Finnish language test. For students from outside the EU, tuition fees apply, currently set at 8,953.47 euros per academic year plus a 1,500 euro fee for food and learning materials.

The academic year typically begins in mid-August. The school provides specific deadline calendars for IB students (e.g., G23ib-calendar, G24ib-calendar) to manage internal assessments and final examination requirements. Key dates, including application windows and result announcements, are published via the national Opintopolku portal and the school's website.

Located at Terijoenkatu 7 in Lahti, the campus houses specialized facilities for its various tracks, including studios for visual arts, ceramics, sculpture, and fashion design. The school provides access to a library, IT environments, and Moodle for digital learning. Administrative and student support services, including health and counseling, are centralized on-site.

The school offers specialized tracks in visual arts and design, as well as music, which involve specific entrance requirements and portfolios. Students engage in a variety of subjects including theatre, animation, game design, and fashion/wearable design. The school also maintains an active student body presence on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.