If you’re comparing IB schools in Dubai, start with one question: Which programme would my child actually join? One school might offer the IB from primary through secondary, while another teaches a British curriculum in the earlier years and introduces the IB in sixth form. Both could be on your shortlist, but the choice matters if you’re moving to Dubai with a nine-year-old or looking for a place after IGCSE.
This guide walks you through what to check at each age, how to compare school fees, and which questions to ask before accepting a place.
How does the IB curriculum work in Dubai?
The International Baccalaureate has four programmes. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) cover the earlier years. The Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) are two options for older students. A Dubai school can offer some or all of these programmes, so check the campus and year group you’re applying for.
IB programme | Typical age range | What your child will do | What to ask the school |
Primary Years Programme (PYP) | 3–12 | Explore questions across subjects and show their learning through discussion, written work, projects, and reflection. | “Can we see how you teach and track progress in reading, writing, and maths?” |
Middle Years Programme (MYP) | 11–16 | Study a broad range of subjects, make connections between them, and complete a personal project in the final year. | “How do teachers grade work, and does the school offer optional MYP eAssessment?” |
Diploma Programme (DP) | 16–19 | Study six subjects and complete the DP core, with assessment through exams and other assessed work. | “Which subjects can my child take at Higher Level, and can those subjects fit together?” |
Career-related Programme (CP) | 16–19 | Combine at least two DP courses with career-related study and the CP core. | “Which career-related qualification is included, and how do our target universities assess it?” |
The age ranges can overlap. Ask admissions to confirm your child’s year placement, especially if you’re moving from a school that uses a different calendar or year-group system. For more on classroom learning and assessment at each stage.
What does IB primary education look like in practice?
In aPrimary Years Programme classroom, a unit on water might have children read about where water comes from, measure how much their class uses, and write up an idea for reducing waste. On a school tour, ask to see an example of student work and the teacher’s feedback. That will give you a clearer picture of how the school develops writing and maths skills alongside the project.
Which IB programmes do Dubai schools offer?
The quickest way to compare schools is to look up the exact campus in the IB World School directory. Check the authorisation for the programme your child would enter. If a school describes a programme as candidate or planned, ask what is currently authorised and what pathway your child would have if the proposed programme is delayed.
Dubai school | IB programmes listed in the directory | What to check next |
Dubai International Academy, Al Barsha | PYP, MYP, DP, CP | Check your child’s entry year and which DP subjects or CP pathways are available. |
Dwight School Dubai | PYP, MYP, DP, CP | Ask how the school supports students joining partway through the MYP. |
GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis | DP, CP | Ask which curriculum your child would follow before sixth form. |
Sunmarke School | DP, CP | Ask about the curriculum at your child’s entry year and the sixth-form pathways available. |
These examples show how programme offerings vary by campus. Check the IB World School directory for current authorisation and ask the school to confirm places, subjects, and timetable combinations for your intake.
How do you compare IB school fees in Dubai?
Compare the same entry year and academic year across schools. A published fee range can span several grades, so look up the KHDA School Fees Fact Sheet for the year your child will actually enter. If you’re moving mid-year, ask the school to confirm the amount payable for your start date.
Cost to check | Question to ask |
Tuition and mandatory charges | What is the total for my child’s grade, including charges shown separately from tuition? |
Application and enrolment payments | Which amounts are due now, and which are credited toward tuition or refundable? |
Books, uniforms, and devices | What is included, what must we buy, and can we use an outside supplier? |
Transport and activities | What will our actual bus route, clubs, and trips cost? |
Diploma-related charges | Are exam fees or subject-specific materials listed separately for the year we’re applying to? |
Once you’ve compared the costs, ask admissions for a written list of documents, assessment requirements, deadlines, and deposit terms. If you’re relocating, confirm what school records or transfer documents they need before you leave your current school.
Can your child switch to IB from IGCSE, an American school, or CBSE?
Yes, a student can enter the IB without completing the earlier IB programmes. The practical questions are when they would join, which subjects they can take, and what they may need to catch up on. Check these with the receiving school before committing to the move.
Your child’s situation | What to check before accepting a place |
Finishing GCSEs or IGCSEs | Ask what grades the school expects for your child’s intended HL subjects and whether those subjects fit together. If you’re also considering A Levels, compare the IB and UK curriculum pathways. |
Moving from an American school | Confirm grade placement and ask how previous coursework will be reviewed. If the school offers AP and the IB Diploma, compareIB vs AP before choosing. |
Moving from CBSE | Ask how the school reviews prior maths, science, and language study, and whether it offers an induction or bridging plan. See IB Board vs CBSE for the differences in assessment. |
Transferring during the IB Diploma | Send the receiving school your child’s subjects, levels, and coursework status. Ask the DP coordinator to confirm what can carry over, including Internal Assessments, Extended Essay progress, and CAS records. |
Before you pay a deposit, ask the school to confirm your child’s year placement and proposed subjects in writing. For Diploma entry, ask what happens if a subject has too few enrolments or clashes with another choice.
How do IB Diploma subjects, assessments, and scores work?
In the IB Diploma Programme, students take six subjects, usually three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL). The DP core includes Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). Depending on the subject, assessment can include exams, oral work, investigations, or coursework.
Each subject is graded from 1 to 7. TOK and the Extended Essay can add up to three points, bringing the maximum to 45. To earn the Diploma, students need at least 24 points and must meet the IB’s other passing conditions, including completing CAS. A university course may ask for a higher total or specific grades in particular HL subjects.
How should your child choose HL and SL subjects?
Work backwards from a few university courses your child might consider. For example, if they’re interested in engineering, check what each university asks for in maths and physics, including whether it specifies a particular maths course or level. Then ask the Dubai school to confirm that the combination is available in the same timetable.
Check the exact maths course and level. Use SEV7N’s guide to IB Maths AA vs AI alongside the entry requirements for each university course.
Look at the work before choosing HL. Ask for a sample assignment or assessment. For example, the IB Chemistry syllabus guide shows how SL and HL content differ.
Put deadlines on one calendar. Ask when major subject assessments, the Extended Essay, and mock exams tend to fall. This helps your child see where several deadlines may land in the same week.
How can parents support their child in the first term?
Start by looking at one recent piece of feedback with your child. A comment like “explain your reasoning” gives you something specific to discuss with the teacher. If the same feedback keeps appearing, ask the teacher what improvement would look like on the next assignment.
Ask your child to show you one assignment they understand well and one they’re unsure how to start.
Use a shared calendar for larger projects, with a first-draft date ahead of the school deadline.
After a move, check whether the difficulty comes from missing subject knowledge, unfamiliar assessment expectations, or several deadlines landing together.
If your child needs help with a specific IB subject or wants to understand how their work is assessed, SEV7N’s IB tutors in Dubai offer one-to-one online support. Bring a recent assignment, teacher feedback, or a topic your child finds difficult to the demo so the discussion can focus on what they need.
Frequently asked questions
Do all IB schools in Dubai offer the Diploma Programme?
No. Authorisation is programme-specific. A campus can offer the PYP or MYP, while another may offer the DP and CP in its final years. Check the exact campus in the IB directory and ask what is available for your child’s intake.
Can my child take the IB Diploma after IGCSE?
Yes. Ask the receiving school which IGCSE grades it expects for your child’s intended HL subjects, whether it requires an admissions assessment, and when subject selections are due.
Is the IB harder than A Levels?
The workload is different. The full IB Diploma spreads work across six subjects and the core, while A Levels usually let students specialise in fewer subjects. Compare the subjects your child would actually take, their assessment formats, and the university courses they may want to apply for.
How can I check whether a Dubai school offers a specific HL subject?
Ask for the subject list for your child’s entry year and confirm the timetable with the DP coordinator. Ask whether the subject will run, whether there are entry requirements, and whether it can be taken with the other HL subjects your child wants.
Can my child apply to university in the UAE or abroad with an IB Diploma?
Universities set their own admission requirements. Check the exact degree for required subjects, grades, and any documentation. For a UAE application, ask the university whether school-certificate equivalency applies to your child and what evidence it requires.
