Same Cambridge curriculum. A fraction of the fees.

Cambridge IGCSE science subjects include a practical assessment component. At DIS, teachers deliver the theoretical and analytical elements of practical work live in class, using diagrams, data sets, and guided experimental write-ups. For subjects with an alternative-to-practical paper (such as Cambridge IGCSE Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), students sit that paper at an approved exam centre rather than completing a school-based practical assessment. DIS teachers are trained to prepare students thoroughly for alternative-to-practical questions, which test the same skills as lab work through written analysis. Students who require a school-based practical component for specific syllabuses are advised during enrolment, and DIS will identify an appropriate exam centre arrangement.

DIS students in the UAE, including those based in Ajman and the northern Emirates, sit their Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level exams at approved Cambridge exam centres. The British Council Dubai is the primary centre used by DIS students. DIS is not itself a Cambridge registered centre; students are registered through the exam centre directly, with full support from the DIS academic team. Ajman families typically travel to Dubai for exam sessions, which are scheduled in the standard Cambridge May/June or October/November windows. The DIS team provides exam registration guidance as part of the enrolment process.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications are internationally recognised regardless of the delivery model. UAE universities, including the University of Sharjah, Ajman University, and American University of Sharjah, accept Cambridge A-Level results for undergraduate admissions. The certificate issued by Cambridge Assessment International Education does not specify whether the student was taught at a physical campus or via a live online school. For UCAS applications to UK universities, Cambridge A-Level results are fully accepted in the standard way. DIS teachers provide predicted grades and academic references, which are required by both UCAS and most UAE university admissions processes.

DIS runs live classes Monday to Friday on Gulf Standard Time, which aligns with the UAE school week. Classes follow a structured daily timetable beginning between 07:30 and 08:00 GST and running through to the mid-afternoon, mirroring a standard secondary school day. This means Ajman-based students are in class during the same hours as their peers at campus schools, with no time-zone adjustment required. The timetable is published in the DIS student dashboard, and students receive their weekly schedule at the start of each term. There are no pre-recorded lessons substituted for live sessions.

All DIS teachers hold postgraduate qualifications, and many hold QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) or PGCE credentials from UK institutions. DIS employs more than 100 qualified instructors, all based in the GCC. Teachers are subject specialists — a Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics teacher teaches mathematics, not a generalist covering multiple subjects. This is comparable to staffing at established British curriculum campus schools. In addition to qualifications, DIS teachers are assessed on their live teaching performance, since every lesson is delivered in real time to a small group of 4 to 6 students where engagement and responsiveness are immediately visible.

Yes. DIS accepts mid-year enrolments, which is a significant advantage for expat families in Ajman who are relocating, changing schools, or dealing with waitlist situations. The DIS academic team conducts a short placement assessment to identify the appropriate year group and subject set, and produces a transition plan to cover any syllabus gaps from the previous school. Because classes run on a fixed timetable rather than a self-paced format, a new student joins an ongoing live cohort rather than starting from scratch. Mid-year enrolment is available for Lower Secondary, IGCSE, and A-Level year groups.

DIS live classes require a laptop or desktop computer with a stable broadband connection. A webcam and headset or earphones with a microphone are recommended for clear audio during live sessions. The DIS proprietary learning management system runs in a standard web browser; no specialist software installation is required. Ajman families with a standard home broadband package typically have sufficient connection speed. The DIS technical team provides a pre-enrolment connectivity check and setup guide. A tablet can be used as a secondary device but is not recommended as the primary device for live class participation.

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry and Biology include practical assessment, and DIS handles this through the alternative-to-practical paper route where the Cambridge syllabus permits. Teachers cover experimental technique, data analysis, and scientific method through structured live class sessions, using worked examples and practice papers drawn from Cambridge's published alternative-to-practical materials. Students develop the same analytical skills assessed in the exam. For any syllabus where a school-based practical assessment is mandatory rather than optional, DIS advises families at the point of enrolment and works with approved exam centres to arrange appropriate assessment. This is discussed individually during the initial 20-minute onboarding call.

DIS charges AED 500 per month for IGCSE year groups, and AED 800 per month for A-Level year groups. Both fees are all-inclusive: all Cambridge subjects, all live classes, access to the DIS learning management system, the resource library, assignment tracking, and direct instructor messaging are covered. There are no per-subject charges, no registration surcharges within the monthly fee, and no fees for the parent dashboard. Exam centre registration fees are paid separately to the exam centre and are not included in the DIS monthly fee, as they are set by the Cambridge exam centre rather than by DIS. Enrolment requires one month's notice to cancel.

DIS live classes run with 4 to 6 students, which means interaction between peers is a natural part of every lesson. Students discuss problems, respond to teacher questions, and work through exam-style questions together in real time. Beyond the classroom, DIS students are based across the GCC and connect through the DIS platform's messaging and group study features. Ajman-based students typically use their reclaimed afternoon time for in-person activities: sport, community clubs, tutoring, or socialising with neighbourhood peers. DIS provides the academic structure; families retain full flexibility over how after-school hours are used.

Yes. A Cambridge IGCSE or A-Level result from DIS is the same qualification as one earned at a physical school, and the transcript is accepted by campus schools for re-enrolment purposes. Families who move back to a physical school setting — whether in the UAE or elsewhere — find that the Cambridge curriculum studied at DIS maps directly onto the year group and subject sets at most British curriculum schools. DIS teachers can provide academic references and subject reports to support the transition. There is no academic penalty for having studied at a live online school; the qualification and the grade are what the receiving school sees.

DIS is a fully live school operating on a fixed daily timetable, not a self-paced video platform. Every lesson is taught by a qualified teacher in real time to a live group of 4 to 6 students. Students log in at their scheduled class time, participate with cameras on, ask questions, and receive teacher feedback during the session. There is no option to watch a recorded lesson instead of attending live; the model is built around the live class as the primary learning experience. Recorded session replays may be available for review purposes, but they do not substitute for live attendance, which mirrors the attendance expectations of a physical campus school.