Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai (Swiss School in Dubai)

• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates,
• Year of foundation: 2015,
• Number of students: about 2500,
• Language of instruction: English, French, German
• Type of studying: mixed.

Swiss International Scientific School Dubai (SISD) is an international day and boarding school for children from 3 to 18 years old, offering pre—school, primary, secondary and high school education programs. The main distinguishing feature is considered to be bilingual teaching — classes are conducted by native teachers in English and "Swiss", which includes French and German to choose from.

The boarding school in Dubai began its history in 2015, enrolling about 250 students. Over the next ten years, SISD has grown enormously and has earned national and international recognition. Today, about 2,500 students of more than 100 nationalities study within its walls. Many of the students are native speakers of one of the taught languages: English, German or French, many speak Arabic fluently and consider Arabic their native language.

SISD offers an education full of benefits, from sought-after graduate degrees accepted by leading universities around the world, comprehensive support from qualified faculty and additional electives, to a variety of extracurricular activities, participation in competitions and competitions to expand academic experience, develop personal talents and interests.

Alison Roberts

Head of Marketing and Admissions at Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai (SISD)

Why do parents choose Dubai primary and secondary schools for their children?

The quality of education is one of the reasons families choose Dubai. With a plethora of international schools, offering all curriculums and positioned across all fee price points, there is something for everyone. A significant number of families are moving to Dubai, and the city is booming. Schools are seeing an exponential growth and it is a very exciting time to be in education. The level of education across the city is exceptionally high and the school regulator ensures that all schools are achieving excellent standards of education across all measures.

A distinctive feature of the educational process at SISD is bilingual instruction with the possibility of choosing a second language: German or French. The programs are conducted by qualified native teachers, which allows students to effectively achieve conversational fluency in several languages and confidently use their knowledge at further stages of their academic journey.

The academic success of students is supported not only in classrooms but also outside of school hours: pupils can turn to teachers to supplement the curriculum with individual lessons on subjects, analyze their strengths and learn about additional opportunities for their development, outline a plan for admission and start preparing in advance.

All stages of school education are available in SISD:

• Early Years — preschool department for children from 3 to 6 years old,
• Primary Years — primary classes where students from 6 to 11 years old study,
• Middle Years — secondary school for students aged 11-16,
• Upper Secondary — senior classes for students aged 16-18.

Each of the educational stages offers students a choice of language directions: English and German, English and French.

Students from 11 to 18 years old can live in a residence located on the academic grounds. Accommodation is available in three formats: full board, weekly (with departure home for the weekend) and flexible (with the possibility of choosing specific days of stay).

Pupils are accommodated mainly in double rooms with bathrooms, equipped with the necessary furniture for each tenant. High-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the residence, there is a laundry room, many relaxation and self-study areas, and a small kitchen for preparing drinks and snacks.

The dining hall offers students a balanced daily meal, which is provided by a qualified team of chefs. The menu changes every four weeks, providing students with variety and the opportunity to try new dishes from local and international cuisine. Depending on the form of studying, an appropriate meal plan is set up.:

• Those who stay in the residence for several nights or during the semester receive three meals a day.,
• Full-time students are provided with hot lunches, drinks and snacks during the school day.

If necessary, students can arrange an alternative plan that will meet their religious, medical, and dietary needs.

Subject list: Art, design, extended essay, healthy lifestyle, human and society, literature, maths, Natural science, social sciencies, sports science

The leisure program perfectly adds the academic curriculum of students, offering many directions for developing their potential, and discovering talent. Thanks to the collaboration with The Juilliard School, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UNICEF, and IMG Academy, students engage in sports, creativity, and science at an almost professional level.:

• The Juilliard School provides classes in the performing arts: dance, drama and music,
• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) supports STEM research circles and organizes meetings with leading experts in engineering, mathematics, and technology.,
• UNICEF allows students to learn a lot about environmental protection,
• the UN mission,
• IMG Academy provides an opportunity to participate in seasonal sports camps and train under the guidance of elite-level professional athletes.

Extracurricular activities that are organized on campus throughout the year are divided into several directions:

• Sports — dozens of types of team, doubles and individual sports: from football, badminton and golf to table tennis, running, water polo. Students can participate in competitions at the interscholastic/regional levels, join the national team and defend the honor of the school — or just play sports to maintain a healthy lifestyle.,
• Themed clubs — students are offered classes in fine arts, drama, music, dance, design, robotics, and many other areas of creativity, science, and technology.,
• The Student Council is an organization for students in grades 6-12, through which they learn to take responsibility and solve important issues for the student community. The Student Council influences the range of activities offered, campus amenities, and many other aspects of school life.,
• The UN Model is a team effort on projects dealing with important global issues, from sustainable development and environmental protection to diplomacy and international law.,
• The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an active participation in community projects to receive a bronze/silver/gold award.

Campus events are added with a variety of trips and excursions taking place both in the region and abroad. Throughout the year, students go to the beach, visit theme parks and shopping malls, explore the sights of the UAE, and outside the country they can expect charity trips to Tanzania, a ski program in Switzerland, and much more.

• It is one of the top 100 private schools in the world.,
• One of the 75 schools in the world offering a full academic course for an international diploma,
• Student community with representatives of more than 100 nationalities,
• Bilingual education in Dubai with the option of choosing a second language: French or German (the first language will be fixed — English),
• Excellent results from high school students who successfully pass their final exams and score higher than the global average.

The extensive educational area of SISD meets all modern educational requirements, located in one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world — Dubai. From lecture halls, computer labs and creative studios to outdoor sports fields, recreation areas and residences, all rooms are equipped with interactive technologies and include the necessary installations and materials for practical preparation.

Some of the SISD objects are:

• 10 STEM labs for studying programming, artificial intelligence, robotics and other sciences,
• Scientific and technical classes with university-level equipment supporting students' research ideas,
• Design and innovation studios for aspiring engineers, architects and entrepreneurs,
• Auditorium with a capacity of 600 people — all the main events of the year take place here,
• Music studios, rehearsal rooms with sound insulation,
• Rehearsal rooms for dancing and acting classes,
• Large dining room with cafeteria,
• Outdoor areas for walking and outdoor recreation,
• A residence occupied by a separate building.

The sports infrastructure allows students to try themselves in a variety of areas of team, pair and individual sports.:

• 50-meter swimming pool (Olympic size),
• Swimming pool for younger children,
• Full-size football field with grass surface,
• Basketball, netball, tennis courts,
• Multifunctional sports hall,
• A gym with a cardio zone,
• An athletics 400-meter track.

SISD is the first school in Dubai built according to Minergie environmental standards: eco—friendly architecture, solar energy and water conservation are part of daily school life.

The academic year lasts from the end of August to the beginning of July, and includes fall, winter, and spring holidays. Classes are conducted on weekdays: from Monday to Friday, and on weekends and holidays students have a rest. The price already includes textbooks, additional services for caring for younger children, all campus activities and a full academic program.

Additional expenses include:

• Registration and administrative fees,
• Accommodation in the residence and meals (when choosing a boarding house format),
• Lunches for full-time students,
• Some extracurricular activities, such as trips,
• School uniform,
• Transport,
• Private lessons,
• Personal educational materials,
• Medical insurance,
• Personal expenses.

Extras:

• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 13650 USD
• Deposit for a course/programme 2725 USD

Applicants need to fill out the registration form, pay the fee and provide documents, after which the admissions committee will invite them for an interview and entrance tests in core subjects. Based on the results of communication and testing, teachers make a decision on admission, sending official letters of enrollment to candidates.

SISD boasts excellent statistics on the high achievements of its high school students and graduates:

• 98% of students successfully pass the exams, 40% of them receive a bilingual diploma.,
• High school students accept an average of four offers from leading universities in the world: for example, in recent years they have been invited by the London School of Economics, University of St. Andrews, University College of London (UCL), King's College London,
• The average graduation rate is 34 points, which is significantly higher than the global average.

Applications from new students are accepted throughout the year. Upon enrollment, they begin their studies in the next semester. For admission, applicants will need:

• Personal documents: passport, medical insurance, visa or residence permit,
• Academic report cards from the previous place of study.

Upon enrollment, candidates undergo several entrance tests, based on the results of which a decision on admission is made.

SISD offers a discount system for multiple children from the same family:

• Second and third child — 5%,
• The fourth child is 20%,
• The fifth child is 50%.

The discount reduces the cost of annual tuition and can be combined with other promotions.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision