Same Cambridge Qualification. A fraction of the Nord Anglia fee.

Yes. DIS teaches the Cambridge Assessment International Education syllabus for both IGCSE and A-Level. The curriculum content, exam papers, assessment objectives, and grading scale are identical to those used at Nord Anglia International School Dubai or any other Cambridge school in the UAE. The qualification your child earns is issued by Cambridge and carries the same weight with universities, regardless of which school delivered the teaching. The delivery model is different; the academic outcome is the same.

DIS students in Dubai sit their Cambridge examinations at the British Council in Dubai or another approved Cambridge exam centre in the UAE. Students register directly with the exam centre and sit papers alongside candidates from any other Cambridge school. The exam conditions, invigilation standards, and result processing are managed by Cambridge Assessment and the exam centre, not by DIS. We support students through the registration process and provide exam preparation within the curriculum.

Every DIS class is live. There are no pre-recorded modules and no self-paced video libraries. Students log in to a scheduled lesson on the DIS platform, cameras on, and are taught by a qualified instructor in real time. Classes follow a fixed weekly timetable built around Gulf working hours, so Dubai students attend on the same schedule they would at a physical school, without the commute. If a student misses a live session, a recording is available through the resource library.

All DIS teachers hold postgraduate qualifications. Many hold a PGCE or equivalent teaching certification, and several are Cambridge-trained in their subject specialism. Teachers are GCC-based, which means they teach on Gulf time, understand the local academic calendar, and are available for instructor messaging through the DIS platform during school hours. DIS has over 100 qualified instructors across its subject range.

The DIS timetable runs Sunday to Thursday, aligned to the UAE working week. Live classes are scheduled across the school day in a format comparable to a standard Dubai secondary timetable, typically seven periods with breaks. Dubai students join from home and see the same lesson structure they would experience on a campus: registration, subject periods, and a lunch break. The timetable is published in advance and accessible through the parent dashboard.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications are accepted by universities across the UAE, including UAE University, American University of Sharjah, Khalifa University, and the American University in Dubai. These institutions specify Cambridge as an accepted qualification pathway in their published admissions criteria. The school that delivers the teaching does not affect recognition; the qualification itself is what universities evaluate. DIS also supports UCAS applications for UK universities and Common App for US institutions.

Yes. DIS accepts mid-year enrolment and can align a student to the current point in the Cambridge syllabus. The academic team will assess which units have been covered at Nord Anglia Dubai and map the student into the appropriate stage of the DIS programme. There is no penalty for joining part-way through the academic year, and the DIS platform gives new students immediate access to the resource library and assignment tracker from day one.

For Cambridge IGCSE Science subjects, the assessed component consists of a written Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical) rather than a live laboratory examination for students at most centres. DIS teachers prepare students thoroughly for this paper within the live curriculum, covering experimental method, data analysis, and practical skills in writing. Where students have access to local facilities for additional hands-on science experience, the DIS team can advise on supplementary options in Dubai.

DIS classes run with 8 to 14 students per live session. Students interact with classmates and teachers in real time through the live class platform, including question-and-answer exchanges, group discussion, and collaborative problem-solving. Outside of class, instructor messaging and the student community on the DIS platform maintain daily academic contact. DIS does not replace in-person friendships; families in Dubai retain full freedom to enrol children in in-person clubs, sports programmes, and community activities outside school hours.

Yes. A Cambridge IGCSE or A-Level result is a standalone qualification recognised globally. If a student later transfers to a physical school in Dubai or anywhere else, their Cambridge results and predicted grades travel with them. A brick-and-mortar school will assess a returning student in the same way it would assess any external applicant with Cambridge qualifications. DIS can provide academic records, predicted grades, and a student transcript to support any transfer application.

DIS charges AED 500 per month for full Cambridge IGCSE study, covering all subjects, with no per-subject fees or hidden extras. A-Level study is AED 800 per month, also covering all subjects. Both plans include live timetabled classes, access to the DIS learning platform, the resource library, assignment tracking, instructor messaging, and the parent dashboard. There is no long-term contract and families can cancel at any time.

Students need a reliable internet connection and a device capable of running a modern web browser, either a laptop, desktop, or a tablet with a keyboard. A camera and microphone are required for live classes; most laptops and tablets include these. DIS is browser-based, so no specialist software installation is needed. A stable broadband connection of at least 10 Mbps is sufficient for video-based lessons. The DIS technical team can advise on setup before the first class.