Admissions Availability
Please see a guide to the availability of each group below. Kindly note that we only consider applications for groups that are open, or currently have a waitlist.
If the year group you wish to apply for is closed, you may consider applying at our Dubai British School Jumeirah Park Foundation campus (Years FS1 & FS2), Dubai British School Jumeirah Park campus (Years 1 to 13), Dubai British School Jumeira (FS1 to Year 6) or Jebel Ali School (Years FS1 to Year 13).
* These year groups will be located at our new campus in Jumeirah Islands starting in the 2025-26 academic year.
| Year Group | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| *FS 1 | Currently closed | Closed - Capacity Reached | Opening January 2025 |
| *FS 2 | Currently closed | Currently closed, capacity reached | Currently closed |
| *Year 1 | Currently closed | Currently closed, capacity reached | Currently closed |
| * Year 2 | Currently closed | Open | Currently closed |
| Year 3 | Currently closed | Open | Currently closed |
| Year 4 | Currently closed | Open | Currently closed |
| Year 5 | Currently closed | Open | Currently closed |
| Year 6 | Currently closed | Open | Currently closed |
| Year 7 | Currently closed | Waiting List Open - Closing Soon Apply Here | Currently closed |
| Year 8 | Currently closed | Open | Currently closed |
| Year 9 | Currently closed | Open | Currently closed |
| Year 10 | Currently closed | Waiting List Open Apply Here | Currently closed |
| Year 11 | Currently closed | Closed (subject/exam board dependent) | Currently closed |
| Year 12 | Currently closed | Open Apply Here | Currently closed |
| Year 13 | Currently closed | Closed (subject/exam board dependent) | Currently closed |
Please note:
- Applications for FS1 2026/27 academic year open in January 2025.
- Waiting Pool: Places will be offered to all siblings and staff children first as per our admissions policy. Remaining places will be offered to external applicants.*Please note that with a large number of prospective students each year, the number of applicants will exceed the number of seats available in a designated Year group for the current or upcoming academic year. DBSEH waiting pool is an unranked group of students who have been assessed and are ready to be offered a place when a seat becomes available.
- Applications for entry to Year 11 and Year 13 are dependent on us offering the same subjects and exam boards that the student is currently studying.
- Secondary Applications: Due to KHDA restrictions on transfers within Dubai for Secondary students, only overseas applications will be considered for Term 2 and Term 3 in each academic year. Transfers within Dubai for Term 2 and Term 3 are subjected to KHDA approval.
Please note, we will accept applications from DBS/Taaleem staff and siblings even if Admissions are closed.
WAITING LIST DEFINITIONS
Closed – Waiting lists are kept open until the cap is reached, at which time they are closed and no further applications are accepted. Note, we will accept applications from DBS/Taaleem staff, and siblings even if Admissions are closed.
Open – We are accepting applications into the waiting list and anticipate making admission offers, however, we cannot guarantee place availability to all who apply. Waiting lists are maintained for all year groups and applicants may be waitlisted after assessment, depending on availability.
Open, Waitlist Only – Applications are accepted into the waiting list on the caveat that all year group places have been offered, and we do not have spaces to offer today. Children will be invited for assessment and places offered from the waiting list if they become available.
YEAR GROUPS
KHDA regulations mean that we place students in age-appropriate year groups for FS1, FS2 and Year 1. For Years 2 and above, students are placed according to their Transfer Certificate.
Families are encouraged to use the chart below to ensure that they are applying for the correct year group and to take into consideration the differences that exist in the naming of grades or years around the world. (As an example, Year 2 in the British Curriculum is equivalent to Grade 1 in IB curriculum although both programs are for 6-year-olds who turn 7 during the school year).
YEAR GROUP ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2024/25 ACADEMIC YEAR
| BIRTH YEAR | AGE | BRITISH NATIONAL CURRICULUM YEAR GROUPS | IB YEAR GROUPS | NORTH AMERICAN / EUROPE GRADE LEVEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st September 2020 - 31st August 2021 | 3+ | FS1 | ||
| 1st September 2019 - 31st August 2020 | 4+ | FS2 (Reception) | EY 1 | KG 1 |
| 1st September 2018 - 31st August 2019 | 5+ | Year 1 | EY 2 | KG 2 |
| 1st September 2017 - 31st August 2018 | 6+ | Year 2 | PYP/Grade 1 | Grade 1 |
| 1st September 2016 - 31st August 2017 | 7+ | Year 3 | PYP/Grade 2 | Grade 2 |
| 1st September 2015 - 31st August 2016 | 8+ | Year 4 | PYP/Grade 3 | Grade 3 |
| 1st September 2014 - 31st August 2015 | 9+ | Year 5 | PYP/Grade 4 | Grade 4 |
| 1st September 2013 - 31st August 2014 | 10+ | Year 6 | PYP/Grade 5 | Grade 5 |
| 1st September 2012 - 31st August 2013 | 11+ | Year 7 | PYP/Grade 6 | Grade 6 |
| 1st September 2011 - 31st August 2012 | 12+ | Year 8 | PYP/Grade 7 | Grade 7 |
| 1st September 2010 - 31st August 2011 | 13+ | Year 9 | PYP/Grade 8 | Grade 8 |
| 1st September 2009 - 31st August 2010 | 14+ | Year 10 | PYP/Grade 9 | Grade 9 |
| 1st September 2008 - 31st August 2009 | 15+ | Year 11 | PYP/Grade 10 | Grade 10 |
| 1st September 2007 - 31st August 2008 | 16+ | Year 12 | PYP/Grade 11 | Grade 11 |
| 1st September 2006 - 31st August 2007 | 17+ | Year 13 | PYP/Grade 12 | Grade 12 |
If you have any other questions please email the team on: admissions@dubaibritishschool.ae
