Same Cambridge curriculum. A fraction of the cost.

Science practicals are one of the most common concerns parents raise, and it is a fair one. At Cambridge IGCSE level, the science practical component is assessed in two ways: through Alternative to Practical (Paper 6 for most Cambridge science subjects), which is a written paper testing experimental design and data analysis skills, and through actual practical exams at approved exam centres. DIS teachers cover the full practical syllabus in live classes, walking students through experimental method, results interpretation, and error analysis. Students who need to sit a live practical paper are directed to approved Cambridge exam centres in the UAE, which administer the practical papers under standard conditions. Families in Ajman typically access these via centres in Dubai or Sharjah. The written Alternative to Practical paper is the most common route for international students and is fully supported within the DIS Cambridge IGCSE science curriculum.

DIS is not a Cambridge registered centre. Students complete their Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level courses through DIS and then sit the external Cambridge examinations at approved Cambridge exam centres in the UAE, such as the British Council Dubai. This is a standard arrangement for many international students and does not affect the validity or grading of the qualification. The Cambridge certificate a student receives records the grade achieved on the external paper, not the institution through which they studied. Universities and employers recognise Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level certificates regardless of whether the candidate studied at a campus school or a live online school.

DIS students in Ajman and the wider UAE sit their Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level papers at approved Cambridge exam centres. The British Council Dubai is the primary centre used by DIS students. Additional approved centres operate across the UAE, and families can confirm availability and registration procedures directly with those centres. DIS provides students with guidance on exam registration, subject entry deadlines, and what to expect on exam day. The process is straightforward and familiar to any family that has navigated external examinations before. Exam fees are paid directly to the exam centre and are separate from the DIS monthly tuition fee.

DIS runs a Monday to Friday timetable on Gulf Standard Time, which aligns with the UAE school week and the broader GCC working week. Live classes are scheduled across the standard school day, typically from morning through to early afternoon, matching the rhythm a student would experience at a campus school in Ajman. Teachers are GCC-based, so there is no mismatch between the instructor's time zone and the student's. Parents log in to the DIS platform to view the weekly timetable, and students receive reminders before each live session. The schedule is fixed, not self-paced, so attendance expectations are the same as at any school.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications are recognised by universities across the UAE, including the University of Sharjah, American University of Sharjah, University of Dubai, and Khalifa University, as well as institutions across the wider GCC. UAE universities assess applicants on the grades achieved in the Cambridge external examinations, not on the delivery model of the school. A student who achieves A grades at Cambridge A-Level through DIS is assessed on the same basis as a student who achieved the same grades at a campus school. Families planning to apply to UK universities use the standard UCAS process, and DIS teachers submit predicted grades and academic references in the same way as any school.

DIS teachers write predicted grade reports and academic references for students applying through UCAS, the Common App, or directly to GCC universities. Because class sizes at DIS are four to six students, teachers have detailed knowledge of each student's work and can write specific, evidenced references rather than generic ones. Students receive formal predicted grades based on their performance in live classes, assignments tracked through the DIS platform, and internal assessments. The process follows the same timeline as campus schools, with references submitted ahead of UCAS deadlines. Families should inform DIS of their child's university application plans early in Year 12 so that the appropriate documentation can be prepared.

Yes, DIS accepts mid-year enrolments. A student currently attending WISE Indian Academy Ajman can join DIS at any point in the academic year. The onboarding process includes a short academic review to confirm the appropriate year group and subject set, after which the student is assigned to live classes on the existing timetable. Because DIS uses the Cambridge curriculum, a student transferring from another Cambridge school will find the syllabus coverage familiar, and any gaps can be addressed quickly by the classroom teacher. Mid-year joiners have full access to the DIS platform from day one, including the resource library, past papers, and instructor messaging.

DIS live classes have four to six students per session. A typical campus school classroom in the UAE, including at schools like WISE Indian Academy, runs at 24 to 28 students per class. The difference matters for learning outcomes because a teacher with four to six students can monitor every student's understanding in real time, address misconceptions immediately, and give substantive written and verbal feedback on assignments. In a class of 25, a teacher may interact meaningfully with only a fraction of students in any given lesson. DIS teachers are also postgraduate-qualified and GCC-based, meaning they are teaching in their own time zone, alert and present, during every live session.

Students need a laptop or desktop computer with a working camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a web browser. DIS uses a proprietary learning management system accessible from any modern browser, so no special software installation is required. The platform hosts the live lesson schedule, recorded replays of missed sessions, the resource library, assignment submissions, and direct messaging with teachers. A tablet can work for some lessons but a keyboard is strongly recommended for written work and science notation. Most families in Ajman find that a standard home broadband connection is more than sufficient. DIS provides a technical checklist during onboarding to confirm readiness before the first live class.

DIS charges AED 500 per month for the Cambridge IGCSE programme and AED 800 per month for Cambridge A-Levels. Both fees cover all subjects, all live classes, access to the full DIS platform including the resource library and assignment tracking, and direct messaging with teachers. There are no per-subject charges, no registration surcharges billed on top, and no material costs included in the monthly fee. Exam fees are paid separately to the relevant exam centre at the time of entry. There is no annual contract requirement, and families can cancel their enrolment with reasonable notice. For families currently paying WISE Indian Academy fees, the annual saving at IGCSE stage is material and compounds over multiple years.

A student who studies Cambridge IGCSE or A-Level at DIS and later transfers to a physical school enters with exactly the same Cambridge qualifications and predicted grades as any other candidate. Campus schools in the UAE and UK assess transfer students on their Cambridge results and teacher references, both of which DIS provides. Because the curriculum is identical, a student moving from DIS into a Year 12 at a campus sixth form, for example, will have covered the same IGCSE syllabus and achieved the same external grades as their peers. The transition in either direction is straightforward, and DIS can provide all necessary academic documentation to support a transfer application.

Social development at DIS happens in two places. Inside live classes, students interact with four to six classmates in every session, asking questions, debating ideas, and working through problems together. The small group format means relationships between students form quickly, and the GCC-wide student body means many families are geographically close and meet in person through sport, community activities, and exam centre visits. Outside class, DIS students in Ajman are encouraged to join local sports clubs, arts programmes, Arabic tuition groups, and community activities using the time they have reclaimed from the school run. DIS does not replace in-person community. It creates the time and energy for students to build it on their own terms.