Same Cambridge curriculum, a fraction of the fees

Cambridge IGCSE science syllabuses include both written papers and a practical assessment component. At DIS, science teachers conduct live virtual lab sessions using simulation tools, data sets, and video demonstrations that mirror real experimental procedures. Students are assessed on practical skills through the Cambridge Alternative to Practical (Paper 6 or equivalent), which is a written paper covering experimental design, data analysis, and results interpretation. This route is a fully recognised Cambridge assessment pathway, not a reduced version of the qualification. Teachers walk students through each experiment in the live session, and students complete structured write-ups submitted through the DIS platform. Cambridge examiners mark the same paper regardless of whether the student attended a physical lab or completed the alternative practical route.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE is a qualification set by Cambridge Assessment International Education. The syllabus, the exam papers, and the grading scale are identical regardless of which school prepares the student. What Cambridge assesses is performance in the examination, not the delivery model of the school. DIS students sit the same papers at the same sitting windows as students in any campus school. Universities, employers, and professional bodies assess the grade on the certificate, and that certificate is issued by Cambridge, not by the school. There is no distinction on the certificate between a campus-delivered and an online-delivered Cambridge IGCSE.

DIS students in the UAE, including those based in Ajman, sit their Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level exams at approved Cambridge exam centres. The British Council Dubai is one of the primary approved centres for UAE-based students. Families in Ajman typically travel to Dubai for exam sittings, which are scheduled across standard Cambridge exam windows in May/June and October/November. DIS provides students with full guidance on exam registration, centre booking, and sitting procedures well in advance of each window. The exam centre and sitting process are the same for all Cambridge candidates across the UAE, regardless of which school they attend.

DIS employs more than 100 postgraduate-qualified teachers, all GCC-based and teaching live on Gulf Standard Time. All DIS teachers hold postgraduate qualifications in their subject areas, and many hold PGCE, QTS, or equivalent teaching credentials. The qualification bar is comparable to what British curriculum campus schools require for secondary teaching. The key structural difference is class size: DIS runs live sessions with 4 to 6 students per class. In that format, teachers provide feedback on every piece of work personally and respond to individual questions in every session. A student in a class of 4 has a materially different relationship with the teacher than a student in a class of 28.

DIS classes run Monday to Friday on Gulf Standard Time, aligned to the UAE working week. The school day is structured around a timetable that suits families in Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, and across the GCC. Live sessions are scheduled during standard school hours, typically starting between 08:00 and 09:00 GST. Students access their timetable and live lesson links through the DIS platform each morning. Because there is no commute, students log in from home and are in their first live lesson within minutes of starting the day. The timetable is fixed and consistent, so families can plan around it exactly as they would with a campus school schedule.

Ajman American Private School publishes annual fees in the range of AED 42,000 to AED 50,000 across secondary year groups. DIS charges AED 500 per month for Cambridge IGCSE, which is AED 6,000 per year, covering all subjects with no per-subject charge. For Cambridge A-Level, the fee is AED 800 per month, which is AED 9,600 per year. A family moving one child from Ajman American Private School to DIS at the start of Year 10 would save approximately AED 40,000 in that year alone. Across Years 7 to 13, the cumulative saving for a single child exceeds AED 280,000, for the same Cambridge curriculum and the same exam board.

Yes. DIS accepts mid-year enrolments across all year groups. The onboarding process is straightforward: a short assessment to confirm the student's current position in the Cambridge syllabus, placement into the relevant live class group, and access to the DIS platform including the resource library, past assignments, and instructor messaging. The DIS team maps the student's prior learning to the Cambridge syllabus and identifies any gaps to cover before the next assessment window. Most students are fully integrated into the live timetable within the first week. There is no waiting list and no September-only intake.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications are accepted by universities across the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and the UAE, regardless of which school delivered the programme. UK universities receive DIS applications through UCAS in the same way as any other school. DIS issues predicted grades and academic references for UCAS and Common App applications. US universities receive transcripts and counsellor letters from DIS through the Common App process. The qualification on the transcript is Cambridge IGCSE or Cambridge A-Level, issued by Cambridge Assessment International Education. Admissions teams assess the grades, not the school's delivery model.

DIS science teachers are subject specialists who deliver live Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level Chemistry, Biology, and Physics sessions with 4 to 6 students per class. Practical skills are taught through live virtual lab sessions, structured data analysis exercises, and experimental design walkthroughs. Students are assessed via the Cambridge Alternative to Practical paper, which tests the same skills as a physical practical exam in a written format. This is a fully recognised Cambridge assessment route. Outside the alternative practical, all other components of Cambridge science syllabuses, including theory papers and structured questions, are identical whether the student attends a campus lab or an online school.

DIS live classes run on a standard laptop or desktop computer with a stable broadband or 4G connection. A webcam, microphone, and the ability to install the DIS platform software are required. Most modern laptops sold in the UAE in the last five years meet the specification. A dedicated school device is preferable but not mandatory. DIS recommends a minimum download speed of 10 Mbps for stable live video. Ajman has reliable fibre broadband coverage through Etisalat and du, and most residential areas in the emirate support video calling without interruption. The DIS technical support team assists with setup during onboarding.

DIS live classes have 4 to 6 students per session. In that format, students interact directly with the teacher and with each other throughout every lesson. Group work, discussion tasks, and peer review are part of the normal lesson structure, not add-ons. Beyond the live class, students in the same year group connect through the DIS platform, collaborative assignments, and subject-specific channels. Because the afternoon is genuinely free for DIS students, many are more active in local in-person clubs, community sport, and social groups than their campus-school peers whose evenings are consumed by post-commute homework. DIS does not replace in-person community; it frees up the time to have one.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications are portable. If a student completes one or more Cambridge IGCSE subjects at DIS and subsequently transfers to a campus school for A-Level, those IGCSE grades are recognised by any Cambridge-delivering school. The Cambridge syllabus and grading are standardised across all delivering schools, so a Year 10 student at DIS is studying exactly the same content as a Year 10 student at a campus school. DIS provides full academic transcripts, predicted grade letters, and a school reference for any student transferring to a new school or making a university application. The transition back to campus schooling is straightforward.