IB Diploma Programme (International Baccalaureate®)
Choose Your IB Stream: English–French or English–German
Starting in 2024, the German International School Toronto became an IB World School, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) for Grades 11 and 12. The IB DP is one of the world’s most respected high school programs, known for its academic rigour and global focus.
Until now, students at GIST have graduated with the German Bilingual IB Diploma (GIB), a distinction earned by only about 25% of IB students worldwide for advanced study in two languages.
From the 2026–2027 school year, the program will evolve.
The IB DP at GIST will be taught primarily in English, with German as an additional first language or French as a second language. This makes the program accessible to students with prior knowledge of English and either German or French, while maintaining the high academic standards of the IB.
Learn more about the new IB Diploma programme offering at GIST!
Learn more about the IB programme here
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IB 2026/2027 Info Session
February 5, 2026
2:30 - 3:15 PM (EST)Learn more about our expanded IB Diploma Programme offering for 2026/2027 in a dedicated session with our faculty members.
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Virtual Open House
March 11, 2026
2:00 - 2:45 PM (EST)Our Virtual Open Houses are a unique opportunity to meet our faculty members and learn more about our school and admissions process.
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School Tour
Available upon request
Come explore our classrooms, meet our community, see our school in action, and ask all your questions!
Grade 11/12
Inquirers. Thinkers. Risk-Takers. The IB educates the leaders of tomorrow.
As an IB World School, GIST offers the IB Diploma Programme to students in grades 11 and 12. The goals of this programme go beyond fostering academic excellence to include a strong focus on nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, and engagement with complex global issues. Through an inquiry-based teaching and learning approach, students learn to become the main drivers of their educational journey, learning how to research complex topics, finding out how they can complete complex and challenging tasks, and developing the confidence, skills and knowledge base to transition to the next phase of their education successfully.
Tima Nisbet, IB Coordinator
“The IB is not only the most renowned credential to enter universities all around the world. It shapes a student’s educational journey fundamentally by building their confidence to tackle global issues with an open-minded approach.”
Subjects
Students in the GIST IB Diploma programme take six subjects:
English
German or French (New!)
Mathematics
Biology
History
Geography
In addition, they take three core DP subjects:
Theory of Knowledge
Creativity, Action and Service
Extended Essay
Languages
All subjects are taught in English. For languages, students choose between German A: Language and Literature or French B: Language Acquisition, with English also offered at Higher Level. Students who choose German graduate with the bilingual IB Diploma, a strong credential that reflects high-level academic success in two languages.
Transitioning
Our students earn qualifications that enable them to apply to universities in Germany, Canada, and around the world. This qualification opens doors to universities in Canada and Germany and is accepted by many institutions globally as an entrance credential.
Focusing on developing internationally minded, independent learners, the IB DP is widely recognized as one of the leading university-preparation courses in the world. Students who graduate with the IB Diploma have the maximum flexibility in choosing their study program. This is due to 10 reasons:
1
It increases academic opportunity.
Research shows that DP graduates are much more likely to be enrolled at top higher education institutions than entrants holding other qualifications
2
IB students care about more than just results
Through creativity, action, service (CAS) you learn outside the classroom and develop emotionally and ethically as well as intellectually.
3
It encourages you to become a confident and independent learner
For example, the extended essay requires independent research through an in-depth study.
4
It’s an international qualification
The DP is recognized globally by universities and employers.
5
Graduates are globally minded
Language classes encourage an international mindset, which is key for increasingly globalized societies.
6
The IB encourages critical thinking
Learn how to analyze and evaluate issues, generate ideas and consider new perspectives.
7
DP students have proven time management skills
Take good study habits and strong time management to further education and the working world.
8
It assesses more than examination techniques
Learn to understand, not just memorize facts or topics and prepare for exams.
9
Subjects are not taught in isolation
Theory of knowledge (TOK) classes encourage you to make connections between subjects.
10
It encourages breadth and depth of learning
You are able to choose courses from six subject groups and study subjects at different levels.
Source: ibo.org
Grade 9/10
Fostering open-mindedness through academic challenges.
Our high school continues the school’s philosophy of inquiry-based learning. High academic standards are fostered by engaging learning experiences both in the classroom and in our surrounding areas. Our high school classes combine the skills, strategies and subject areas of the German and Ontario educational systems, teaching students the organizational, socio-emotional and academic skills they will need to succeed beyond the school years. At this level, some of our classes are taught in German and some in English to satisfy requirements for both Germany and Canada. In grade 10, students take the OSSLT, and throughout their high school years, they are guided through obtaining the volunteer hours required in Ontario.