Same Cambridge curriculum. A fraction of the fees.

Yes, DIS accepts mid-year enrolments. There is no requirement to wait for a September or January intake. When a student joins mid-year, the DIS academic team reviews where they are in the Cambridge syllabus and places them in the appropriate live class group. The transition is straightforward because DIS follows the same Cambridge curriculum your child is already studying at City School Ajman. Parents can book a 20-minute call to confirm subject alignment and year-group placement before committing.

This is one of the most practical advantages of DIS for families on GCC postings. Because DIS is a fully online British curriculum school, the school itself does not change when the family relocates. The timetable runs on Gulf Standard Time across the entire GCC region, so a student who moves from Ajman to Riyadh, Doha, or Muscat stays in the same live classes with the same teachers. There is no re-enrolment, no waiting list, and no disruption to Cambridge syllabus progress.

Students based in Ajman and the Northern Emirates typically sit Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level exams at the British Council Dubai, which is an approved Cambridge exam centre. DIS is not a Cambridge registered centre; students register for their exams through an approved centre independently. The DIS academic team provides guidance on registration timelines, entry deadlines, and what to expect on exam day. Families in other parts of the GCC can use the nearest approved centre in their country.

Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A-Level are accepted by universities across the UK, UAE, US, Canada, Australia, and most other destinations where British curriculum students apply. The qualification is issued by Cambridge Assessment International Education regardless of which school prepared the student. UAE universities including those in Abu Dhabi and Dubai accept Cambridge A-Level results for undergraduate entry. DIS does not make specific claims about pass rates or individual university destinations, but the Cambridge credential itself is the same certificate any campus-school student receives.

Every DIS class is live. A qualified teacher runs each session on a fixed timetable, Monday to Friday on Gulf Standard Time. Students join via the DIS platform at the scheduled time, cameras on, and the teacher delivers the lesson in real time with questions, discussion, and follow-up. There are no pre-recorded video modules and no self-paced tracks. If a parent checks the timetable at 8:00 am on a Tuesday, a class is running. That is the model.

All DIS teachers are postgraduate-qualified and GCC-based. The teaching team numbers more than 100 instructors, each selected for subject expertise at Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level level. Many hold PGCE or equivalent qualifications and have experience in British curriculum schools across the UAE and wider GCC. Because the team is GCC-based, teachers work on Gulf Standard Time and are available within school hours for student queries and parent communication through the DIS platform.

Cambridge IGCSE science subjects include a practical component that is assessed either through a practical exam or through a written alternative-to-practical paper, depending on the Cambridge syllabus variant. DIS prepares students thoroughly for the written alternative-to-practical route, which is available for Cambridge IGCSE Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. This is a legitimate Cambridge assessment pathway and the result carries the same weight on the certificate. Families should confirm which assessment route their chosen exam centre supports when registering.

DIS charges AED 500 per month for IGCSE-level study and AED 800 per month for A-Level. Both fees cover all subjects — there are no per-subject charges, no enrolment fees quoted separately, and no hidden levies for resources or platform access. The parent dashboard, resource library, instructor messaging, and assignment tracking are all included. By comparison, annual campus fees for British curriculum schools in Ajman typically range from AED 47,000 to AED 58,000 per year before transport and additional costs.

DIS classes run on a standard laptop, desktop, or tablet with a reliable broadband or 4G connection. A webcam and headset are recommended for live class participation; many students use the built-in camera and microphone on a laptop without issue. The DIS platform is browser-based and does not require specialist software installation. A consistent connection of 10 Mbps or above is sufficient. Most home internet connections in Ajman and the wider UAE comfortably meet this requirement.

Social development does not stop when a student moves to online schooling. Live DIS classes run in groups of 4 to 6 students, which creates closer working relationships than a 24 to 28 student campus cohort. Students interact with classmates during lessons, group tasks, and through the platform's messaging tools. Outside school hours, the time reclaimed from the commute means students in Ajman have more energy for in-person sport, music, martial arts, or community clubs. Online schooling removes the commute, not the social life.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level results from DIS are issued by Cambridge Assessment International Education, the same body that issues results for every other Cambridge school globally. A physical school assessing a transfer application will see the same Cambridge certificate regardless of where the student studied. DIS can provide formal predicted grades, academic references, and a record of syllabus coverage for any student applying to re-enter a brick-and-mortar school. The transition is straightforward because the curriculum is identical.

Every live lesson is recorded and available to the student through the DIS platform. If a child misses a session due to illness, a family commitment, or a technical issue, they can watch the recording and catch up on the material before the next class. The teacher and the student can also exchange messages through the platform to clarify anything missed. Persistent absences are flagged through the parent dashboard so families can address them early. DIS does not penalise occasional absences provided the student keeps up with assignments.