A-Level in United Arab Emirates for international students

• Multiculturalism and English Quality

International schools in Dubai, Jumeirah and Abu Dhabi are mostly attended by foreigners, which is not surprising, because the UAE is 85% inhabited by foreigners, so the environment in schools is by definition tolerant and multicultural. At the same time, a significant number of immigrants from the United Kingdom study in schools with the A-level program: this is due to the fact that schools with A-level in the UAE for foreigners offer world-class quality education, but for less money than in British educational institutions.

• Global Passport

After graduating from the A-level program at a private school in the UAE, graduates will have an excellent opportunity to enter one of the universities in the UK or universities in countries such as the USA, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and EU states.

• Study in English

Historically, since colonial times, English has been of great importance in the UAE, and although Arabic is mandatory in schools, the main language of instruction in A-level schools for foreigners in the UAE is English. A significant proportion of English-speaking foreigners living in the country (up to 30-40%) will provide a wide range of opportunities for everyday language practice.

• Excellent infrastructure

European private schools have to provide for themselves, but in the UAE, the government invests heavily in supporting international schools, both directly and through numerous foundations. This allows them to purchase the most modern equipment, build sports facilities of international and even Olympic class, and compete in the capabilities of laboratories even with European universities. Educational buildings are literally "stuffed" with modern technologies with panoramic glazing, perfectly inscribed in futuristic landscapes. Many schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have won international awards in the field of architecture, design, green building and smart consumption.

• Climate

On the one hand, the coast of the Persian Gulf provides ample opportunities for water sports and beach holidays. On the other hand, the temperature here does not fall below +25 Celsius, dust storms are not uncommon in summer - only air conditioners help to survive. The good news is that there are a lot of them, from schools and shops to public transport stops!

• Cost

Studying at an international school in the UAE is not cheap: the average cost of A-level programs in the UAE at a day school varies from 20 to 40 thousand USD, which is comparable to similar programs in the UK. However, in the UAE, everyone has a chance to get a discount on tuition - you just need to know in which direction to act. Contact our consultants.

• Accommodation format

90% of local schools are full-time attendance, there are few boarding schools.

• Cultural characteristics

Despite the obvious globalism of the UAE, education here is associated with the need to pay tribute to national holidays, honor the religious traditions of the local population and observe a certain dress code. Schoolchildren often study Arabic, local culture and the basics of Islam in order not to get into trouble and learn to conform to the local mentality.

All officially registered schools in the UAE are collected on a special page of the website of the Department of Education and Human Development: they are ranked there by the level of teaching and the quality of programs, the level of proficiency in the main languages (English and Arabic), they are carefully selected and certified. This is a great tool, but it is much more convenient to choose a school on our website: here you can find all the necessary information about the school, the programs offered and the choice of disciplines, electives and other opportunities (and all in Russian). You can always contact our specialists, who will be happy to answer any questions related to studying under the A-level program in the UAE.

It is quite easy to enter a school in the UAE, 90% of local schools accept students year-to-year, there are no queues or any other barriers. The main thing is to speak English at a level sufficient for free learning at school (IELTS 5.0 and above). If a student knows a little Arabic, his shares in the eyes of the admissions committee will grow, as well as the likelihood of receiving a discount on tuition fees.

Some schools require a math test. The package of documents includes copies of passports and visas of the child's resident and both parents, recent photos, a vaccination card and a certificate of transfer - transfer from the "old" school. The latter must be translated into English and undergo the procedure of consular legalization, certified by the UAE Embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

There is no nationally approved procedure - each school determines it independently. Usually, you need to fill out a questionnaire, prepare a package of documents and pass an oral interview (in person or online), in some cases, also pass exams.