IB Diploma Programme

Lyseon opiskelijoita kävelemässä kadulla.

Alongside the national high school program, Lyseon lukio offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme. The IB diploma is recognized in Finland as equivalent to the national matriculation examination. Additionally, the diploma provides excellent preparation for further studies worldwide. The IB Diploma is currently taught in over 2000 high schools in 130 countries.

High school studies in the IB program begin with a preparatory preDP year. During this preparatory year, students acquire the knowledge and skills needed for IB studies and develop their language proficiency. The teaching mainly follows the national curriculum, and the language of instruction is English.

The actual diploma programme extends over two years, during which students study six (or seven) subjects. Students choose subjects from the following groups (subjects currently offered at Lyseon lukio are in parentheses):

  • Group 1: studies in language and literature (English, Finnish, Chinese, or independently studied other mother tongue level language)
  • Group 2: language acquisition (English, Spanish ab initio, French ab initio) 
  • Group 3: individuals and societies (economics, history, psychology) 
  • Group 4: sciences (biology, physics, and chemistry) 
  • Group 5: mathematics (3 different levels of mathematics) 
  • Group 6: arts (film) 

Subjects must be chosen so that the student has at least two languages, one of which is at least at the mother tongue language level (i.e., from group 1). In addition, at least one subject must be chosen from groups 3 and 4, and mathematics from group 5. In addition to the six (or seven) chosen subjects, the diploma requirements include the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) course, which encourages critical thinking; the CAS course, which includes creative activities, physical education, and volunteer work; and the Extended Essay, a research essay on a topic chosen by the student.

Oulun Lyseon lukio IB

Our Mission, Strategy and Vision statements

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