FAQ

In order to receive an application package we ask that you book a private consultation with our Admissions Department where each student's individual concerns can be addressed. Application packages are distributed after each consultation. 

It is recommended that students have a proficiency roughly equivalent to Eiken grade Pre2 or higher. Given that classes taught by BC-certified teachers are strictly in English, there is a worry that students with less English experience may not be able to follow the lessons. There may be exceptions; please consult with us.

The BC/DD Program is an academic program with a heavy focus on mathematics and the sciences. The contents of the mathematics and science courses are on par with global standards and will be taught in English by Canadian teachers. As the mathematics and science courses continue through Grade 12, students who struggle with such courses may find the BC/DD Program challenging. 

Lessons at OGCIS use the same teaching method as universities abroad. Through active learning, students will develop skills such as creativity and critical thinking that are essential to be successful at Western universities.

For some Japanese universities there are special entrance procedures for students who hold a BC Dogwood Diploma. In addition, university entrance examination reforms implemented from 2020 will test students’ critical thinking ability. In the BC/DD Program students can acquire the higher order thinking skills of analysis, evaluation, and creation. These are the skills that will allow them to design, hypothesize, judge, compare, etc.; all of which will be beneficial in response to the admissions reforms.

There are four main differences between the BC/DD Program and IB programs. First, the BC/DD program employs BC-trained teachers that are certified by the government of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Comparatively, IB teachers are only required to take a 3-day workshop in order to qualify as a teacher and the IB organization states that there are no particular qualifications required. Second, as a certified BC Offshore School, OGCIS is regulated, and inspected annually by the government of the Province of British Columbia to make sure it maintains the educational standards of the Province. IB schools have a similar system but inspections are only done once every 5 years. Third, students at OGCIS are evaluated based on their cumulative performance over 3 years and not a single exam. Students in IB programs are evaluated based on the Baccalaureate exam and internal evaluations. Lastly, IB is not a government-issued diploma - it is only a qualification for university enrollment. Successful graduates of the BC/DD Program can receive a Japanese high school diploma and also a BC Dogwood Diploma. Students who successfully complete the BC/DD Program currently qualify for special admissions systems in place at Waseda and ICU. We are currently in the process of establishing special admissions channels with schools such as Kwansei Gakuin, Kansai University, Doshisha, and Ritsumeikan. Furthermore, students with a BC Dogwood Diploma may be able to apply for universities outside of Japan without obtaining TOEFL, SAT, or other qualifications.