Same Cambridge qualification. A fraction of the fees.

Cambridge IGCSE science subjects include a practical assessment component, and this is one of the most common questions families ask. DIS teachers deliver the theoretical and analytical elements of practicals through live online classes, using virtual laboratory tools and working through Cambridge-specified practical skills in real time. For the formal Cambridge practical examination or coursework submission, students follow the Cambridge Alternative to Practical paper where available, which assesses the same skills through a written examination. For subjects where a supervised practical session is required, DIS advises families on approved local centres in Ras Al Khaimah and across the GCC that can host the session. Your DIS subject teacher will brief you on the specific requirements for each science subject your child is taking.

DIS students in Ras Al Khaimah sit their Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level examinations at approved Cambridge exam centres. The British Council Dubai is one such centre and is used by DIS students across the UAE. Families in Ras Al Khaimah may also have access to approved centres closer to home; DIS will confirm the nearest available centre during enrolment. DIS is not itself a Cambridge registered centre, so students register through the approved centre directly. The DIS academic team coordinates this process and ensures students have the correct entry codes and subject registrations ahead of each exam series.

Yes. Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A-Level qualifications are recognised by universities across the UAE, including the American University of Sharjah, the University of Sharjah, and other institutions that accept British curriculum applicants. The qualification is issued by Cambridge Assessment International Education and appears on a student's transcript in the same form regardless of whether it was studied on a campus or through an online school. UAE university admissions offices assess the grade, the subject, and the exam board, not the delivery model. Families applying to institutions in the UK via UCAS or to US institutions via the Common App will find Cambridge A-Level is fully accepted on both routes.

DIS charges AED 500 per month for IGCSE-level students, covering all Cambridge subjects within the programme. A-Level students pay AED 800 per month, again with all subjects included. There are no per-subject add-ons, no registration fees on top of the monthly rate, and no facility levies. The monthly fee covers live online classes, access to the DIS learning platform, the resource library, instructor messaging, assignment tracking, and the parent dashboard. Families can cancel at any time. For context, RAK American Academy's published annual tuition runs from approximately AED 46,000 at lower secondary to AED 62,000 at A-Level, which works out to roughly AED 3,800 to AED 5,200 per month.

DIS runs live classes Monday to Friday on Gulf Standard Time, which aligns with the UAE and wider GCC school week. Class schedules are set in advance and published on the DIS platform, so families can see the full weekly timetable before enrolment. A typical school day for a senior student runs from approximately 08:00 to 15:00 GST, with breaks built into the schedule. Because the timetable is fixed and the school week mirrors the UAE calendar, there is no time-zone mismatch for families based in Ras Al Khaimah or elsewhere in the GCC. Students in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain also follow the same timetable without adjustment.

All DIS teachers hold postgraduate qualifications, and the school employs over 100 GCC-based instructors. Many hold PGCE or equivalent teaching qualifications and have prior experience in British curriculum schools in the UAE and wider GCC. Teaching a live class of 4-6 students requires the same subject knowledge and classroom management as teaching a campus class, and in some respects demands more, because every student is visible and accountable in every session. DIS does not use pre-recorded content as a substitute for teaching. Every lesson is live, with a named teacher who marks the work, issues grade reports, and is available via the platform's instructor messaging tool.

Yes. DIS accepts mid-year enrolments. If your child is currently at RAK American Academy and you decide to move during the academic year, the DIS academic team will review the Cambridge syllabus your child has covered so far and place them appropriately within the current teaching sequence. For IGCSE students in Year 10 or Year 11, this means picking up from the correct point in each subject's two-year course. For students joining at the start of a Cambridge unit, the transition is straightforward. For those joining mid-unit, the teacher will provide a short catch-up plan. Contact us to discuss the specifics for your child's year group and subject combination.

DIS live classes run with 4-6 students per session, which means every student speaks, contributes, and is known to the teacher and their classmates. Peer relationships form through regular interaction in class, through group tasks, and through the DIS online community. Outside school hours, DIS students in Ras Al Khaimah continue to attend in-person clubs, sports teams, and community activities, because the school day ends earlier than a campus day and no time is lost to commuting. Socialisation in a small live class is qualitatively different from being one of 28 in a room, and many families find their child is more confident speaking up in the DIS format than they were in a large campus class.

Students need a laptop or desktop computer with a reliable broadband connection, a webcam, and a microphone. A tablet can work for some subjects but is not recommended for mathematics or sciences where written working is important. DIS recommends a minimum internet speed of 10 Mbps download for stable video in live classes. The DIS platform works through a standard web browser, so no specialist software installation is required. A quiet workspace where the student can attend class without interruption is important. Most families in Ras Al Khaimah already have the required setup at home. The DIS team will run a short technical check before a student's first live session.

DIS teachers write predicted grades and academic references for UCAS applications, exactly as a campus school teacher would. The DIS academic team is familiar with the UCAS process and the Common App for US university applications. Students receive guidance on personal statement structure, subject choices for A-Level, and the timeline for submitting UCAS applications in the autumn of Year 13. Because class sizes are small, the teacher writing a reference knows the student's academic profile in detail. DIS does not have a physical careers department, but the teaching team provides subject-specific guidance and works with families to ensure the application is as strong as possible.

Yes, and this happens regularly. A student who has completed Cambridge IGCSE or a period of A-Level study with DIS carries a Cambridge transcript that any British curriculum school can read and act on. If a family returns to the UAE from abroad, or if circumstances change and a campus school becomes preferable, the Cambridge grades and predicted grades from DIS transfer directly. Schools assess the Cambridge grade, the subject, and the year group, not which school issued the report. DIS keeps full academic records and can provide a formal transcript and teacher reference on request to support any transfer.

Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level include non-exam assessment components in certain subjects, including coursework, oral assessments in languages, and portfolio work in creative subjects. DIS teachers manage these components within the live teaching programme. Deadlines are tracked on the DIS platform, and teachers brief students on Cambridge's submission requirements for each component well in advance. For subjects with an oral component, the assessment is conducted live during a scheduled session. For written coursework, drafts are submitted via the platform and teachers provide structured feedback before the final version is submitted to the exam centre. Families are kept informed of all deadlines through the parent dashboard.