Year 7 APPLICATION FORM
Applications for the Year 7 (2027/28) waiting list are currently open only to siblings of current students on roll at one of our three DESS campuses.
Due to the high demand for places and the significant number of applications already held on our waiting lists, we are unable to accept applications from families who do not meet this criterion at this time. Any applications received that do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be processed.
Please note that places in Year 7 are first reserved for our current DESS Year 6 students, all of whom are guaranteed progression to the College. As a result, any Year 7 places that may become available for external applicants are typically limited to those released through withdrawals by existing DESS families. Consequently, the number of places available each year in Year 7 is extremely limited and cannot be guaranteed.
Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place at the College. Should places become available, offers will be made in accordance with the needs of the cohort at that time. Factors considered may include:
- Gender balance within the year group
- Age profile of the cohort
- Academic range and educational needs of the year group
- Overall cohort composition
As a result, waiting lists are not managed on a first-come, first-served basis, and the length of time an application has been on the waiting list does not determine whether a place will be offered.
We appreciate your understanding and ask that applications are submitted only by families who have a sibling currently enrolled at one of our DESS campuses.
Please note that places are highly sought and we have been consistently oversubscribed year on year. We therefore strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible. DESS College is inclusive and maintains a balanced profile for each year group.
College tours will only be available for Year groups that are open and accepting applications.
You will require soft copies of the following documents for each child (pdf format), to upload within the application form
- Birth Certificate (in English)
- Passport Copy
- Recent Passport Photograph
- Most recent End of Year Academic Report
- Most recent Mid-Year Report (if available)
- Emirates Identity Card (if available)
- UAE Visa (if available)
- Educational/Psychological Report (if applicable)
- KDHA Formal Language Exemption (if applicable)
Points to note
- Upon successful submission of your application, the Primary Parent listed on your application form, will receive an automatic acknowledgement with detailed information on the Next Steps to follow, via email. Please ensure you check your spam/junk folder. All further communication will be issued to both parents.
- An Application Fee payment of AED 525/- will be requested via email.
- An entrance assessment is required as part of our application process.
- On submission of an online application, you are declaring that ALL information provided is correct. Failure to disclose important information may result in your application being withdrawn.
- When there is two parents/guardians the email address MUST be a different email address for each parent/guardian.
- Admission is at the discretion of DESS.
- Please note Year 7 2027/28 (siblings of current DESS students) applications will close on Friday, 4th December 2026.
- Your completed application will be reviewed by our Admissions Manager, Mrs Hubert, and Headteacher, Mr Cotgrove, and if approved, placed on our current Year 7 - 27/28 waiting list.
- Whist our current year 6 students are guaranteed a place at DESS College in Year 7, any places that subsequently become available as a result of families declining their offer may be made available to suitable applicants on our waiting list. Should we be in a position to extend an offer, we will contact you directly.
- Successful applicants will receive an offer letter and terms of acceptance by email. To secure the place you must return required documentation, accompanied by a fully deductible deposit of AED 5000 within 7 working days of the date of offer.
- Students placed on our Waiting List will be considered for available places as they become available.
- Please note that the waiting list is not managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Placement offers are made with the aim of maintaining a balanced cohort in terms of gender, age, and academic profile.
- Admissions is at the discretion of the College.
