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 examinations through approved Cambridge exam centres such as the British Council Dubai. This is the same pathway used by many students across the GCC, including those who study independently or at schools that arrange external exam entry. The qualification awarded is identical to that received by any Cambridge IGCSE or A-Level candidate worldwide. Parents in Ajman should register their child at the relevant exam centre directly, and the DIS academic team can advise on timing and subject entry requirements.

DIS students in the UAE, including those based in Ajman, typically sit their Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level exams at the British Council Dubai or at other approved Cambridge exam centres operating across the Emirates. Ajman is within straightforward driving distance of Dubai exam venues. The exams themselves, the papers, and the marking are administered entirely by Cambridge Assessment International Education, the same body that oversees every Cambridge exam globally. DIS prepares students for those papers through live teaching on the full Cambridge syllabus.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications are recognised by universities across the UAE, including institutions regulated by ADEK and the Ministry of Education. These qualifications are also accepted by universities in the UK via UCAS, in the US via Common App, and across Europe, Australia, and the wider GCC. The qualification is the same regardless of whether it was delivered by a physical school in Ajman or through DIS online. University admissions offices assess the grade and the exam board, not the delivery model.

All DIS live classes run Monday to Friday on Gulf Standard Time, which is the same time zone as Ajman. A typical school day follows a structured timetable from approximately 8 am to 3 pm GST, mirroring the schedule families are already used to from physical schools in the Northern Emirates. There is no time-zone adjustment required for UAE-based families. Students log in from home on a fixed timetable, join live lessons with their class, and follow the same weekly rhythm as a campus school, without the commute.

All DIS teachers are postgraduate-qualified and GCC-based. The minimum qualification standard across the teaching team is a postgraduate degree in their subject or in education, and many hold PGCE or equivalent Cambridge-aligned training. The team numbers over 100 instructors. This is comparable to, and in many cases exceeds, the standard at mid-range private schools in Ajman. Class sizes at DIS run at 4 to 6 students per live session, which means each teacher spends significantly more focused time with individual students than is possible in a classroom of 25 or more.

Yes. DIS accepts mid-year enrolments and structures the onboarding process to minimise disruption. When a student joins partway through a year, the DIS academic team reviews their current syllabus position and places them into the appropriate point in the Cambridge programme. This is particularly relevant for expat families in Ajman who experience mid-contract relocations or who are transitioning from the Pakistani school system. Students do not need to wait until September. The DIS platform gives new students immediate access to the resource library and assignment tracking from their first week.

A live DIS class runs on a scheduled video platform with the teacher and a group of 4 to 6 students. The teacher presents content, asks questions, takes responses, and works through problems in real time, exactly as in a physical classroom. Students can raise their hand, ask questions verbally or via chat, share their screen for feedback, and interact with peers. Lessons are not pre-recorded videos. There is no self-paced module to work through alone. The timetable is fixed, attendance is tracked, and teachers follow up directly with students and parents via the DIS messaging system if a session is missed.

Cambridge IGCSE science subjects include a practical component that is assessed either through a practical exam or through a coursework-based alternative (the Cambridge Alternative to Practical, or paper 6). DIS prepares students for the alternative to practical pathway, which assesses practical skills through written questions based on experimental design, data analysis, and evaluation. This pathway is a fully accepted Cambridge assessment route and does not disadvantage students in terms of their final grade or university recognition. Students who wish to sit a practical exam can arrange this through their chosen exam centre.

Socialising at DIS happens differently, not less. Live classes of 4 to 6 students create a genuinely close peer group where students interact daily with the same classmates, work through problems together, and build relationships over the school year. Many DIS families in the GCC actively supplement online school with in-person sport, drama, language classes, and community activities, which is easier to arrange when there is no two-hour school-run eating into the afternoon. Peer development is not limited to a school campus. It is shaped by the quality and consistency of the interactions a child has, and small live classes provide both.

A Cambridge IGCSE or A-Level grade is a Cambridge grade, regardless of the school that prepared the student. If a family returns to a physical school in Ajman, the UK, or elsewhere, the Cambridge qualifications earned through DIS carry the same weight as those from any other Cambridge-prepared school. Year-group placement on return is typically based on age and completed year groups, which DIS documents formally. The DIS academic team can provide transcripts, predicted grades, and a record of completed syllabus content to support re-enrolment at any school that uses the Cambridge or British curriculum.

AED 500 per month covers all Cambridge IGCSE subjects for that student, with no per-subject surcharge. Included in the monthly fee are live online classes on a fixed Monday to Friday timetable, access to all postgraduate-qualified GCC-based teachers, the full DIS resource library, assignment tracking, parent dashboard access, and direct messaging with subject teachers. There are no registration fees, no uniform costs, no transport costs, and no annual facility charges. The fee is the same regardless of how many subjects the student is taking across the IGCSE programme. A-Level students pay AED 800 per month on the same all-inclusive basis.

A stable broadband connection and a laptop or desktop computer are sufficient for DIS classes. A tablet can work for viewing lessons but a keyboard is recommended for written work and assignments. A webcam and microphone are required for live class participation, and most laptops include these as standard. DIS does not require any proprietary hardware. The platform is browser-based and works on Windows, Mac, and ChromeOS. Families in Ajman with standard home broadband will not need to upgrade their connection. The DIS technical team can advise on minimum specs and run a connection test before a student's first class.