Same Cambridge Qualification. A fraction of the cost.

DIS is not a Cambridge registered centre. Students at DIS sit their Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level exams through approved Cambridge exam centres such as the British Council Dubai. This is the standard arrangement for independent candidates and students at online schools across the region. The qualification earned is identical to that awarded to students at any Cambridge-affiliated campus school. Parents should contact their preferred exam centre directly to confirm registration deadlines and entry requirements for their child's year group.

DIS students in the UAE typically sit their Cambridge exams at the British Council Dubai, which operates as an approved Cambridge exam centre. Families should register their child as an external candidate with the British Council directly, in advance of the relevant exam session. Entry deadlines vary by exam series, so we recommend checking with the British Council at least six months before the intended exam date. DIS can advise families on the registration process and the exam timetable during enrolment.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications are recognised by universities across the UAE, including the University of Sharjah, American University of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi University, and Khalifa University, as well as universities in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. The qualification is awarded by Cambridge Assessment International Education and appears on transcripts in the standard format. No UAE university admissions office distinguishes between a Cambridge qualification earned through campus schooling and one earned through a live online school such as DIS.

All DIS teachers are postgraduate-qualified and GCC-based. The teaching team includes holders of PGCE, QTS, and Cambridge-trained certifications, with subject specialism at the level they teach. Teachers deliver live, timetabled classes and are available to students and parents through the DIS platform for messaging and academic support. With class sizes of 4 to 6 students, each teacher maintains close working relationships with every student in their group, which is not always possible in a campus classroom of 24 to 28 students.

DIS runs a structured Monday to Friday timetable on Gulf Standard Time. Students log into the DIS learning management system at the start of each period, join their live class, and follow the same lesson sequence as a campus school. Registration, periods one through to seven, breaks, and a defined end to the school day are all part of the structure. There is no self-paced video content substituting for teaching. Every lesson is delivered live by a qualified teacher. Parents can view the timetable and track attendance through the parent dashboard.

DIS accepts mid-year enrolments where cohort places are available. Students joining part-way through an academic year receive an induction session with their class teacher and access to the resource library to review content already covered. The DIS team will assess the student's current position against the Cambridge syllabus and agree a catch-up plan where needed. Mid-year starts are common among GCC families relocating between countries, and the DIS admissions team handles the transition practically. Contact us to check availability for the relevant year group.

Cambridge IGCSE Sciences include a practical component assessed through the Cambridge Practical Skills paper, not solely through in-school lab sessions. DIS students complete structured practical activities using home experiment kits where appropriate, and teachers guide students through the practical methodology in live sessions. The Cambridge Alternative to Practical paper is available for candidates who cannot access a laboratory, and DIS teachers prepare students for this pathway. Families should confirm the specific assessment route for their child's chosen science subjects when enrolling, as syllabus requirements vary between Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

AED 500 per month covers all Cambridge IGCSE subjects on the DIS timetable. There are no per-subject charges, no activity levies, and no registration fees on top of the monthly fee. Included in the plan are live online classes on a fixed timetable, access to the DIS learning management system, the resource library, assignment tracking, instructor messaging, and parent dashboard access. There is no long-term contract requirement. Families can cancel without penalty. The A-Level equivalent fee is AED 800 per month, again covering all subjects with the same inclusions.

Social development at DIS happens in two places. Inside the classroom, live classes with 4 to 6 students create a small, engaged peer group where students know each other well and interact with their teacher directly in every lesson. Outside the classroom, DIS students live in their local communities and have full access to in-person sport, clubs, cultural activities, and social groups. Because there is no commute, students genuinely have the after-school hours to pursue those activities rather than recovering from travel. Many DIS families report that their children are more socially active than they were at a campus school because the school day ends cleanly.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications are fully portable between schools. If your child leaves DIS and enrols at a campus school at any point, they carry their Cambridge grades, predicted grades, and academic record with them. Campus schools in the UAE and across the GCC are familiar with Cambridge qualifications from a range of providers and do not treat online school records differently from campus school records. DIS will provide the standard academic documentation any receiving school requires. Families should check year-group placement requirements with the receiving school as part of their planning.

DIS classes run on any device with a reliable browser: laptop, desktop, or tablet. A stable broadband connection is sufficient for the live classroom platform. Most families in the UAE and GCC have the connectivity needed without any upgrade. A working camera and microphone are required so students can participate actively in live lessons. Headphones are recommended for focus during class time. DIS does not require any proprietary hardware. The LMS is accessible via browser on Windows, macOS, and iPad, and the DIS team can advise on the minimum specification if families are uncertain.

All DIS live classes run Monday to Friday on Gulf Standard Time, which is UTC+4. The timetable is designed around the standard UAE and GCC school day, so class times align with the working and school hours familiar to families in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and across the wider region. There is no adjustment required for families in the UAE. Families in other GCC countries on GST or adjacent time zones follow the same timetable without disruption. The DIS admissions team can confirm the exact daily schedule for the relevant year group at the time of enquiry.