Dubai National School - Albarsha

Credit System

The high school experience is something much more significant than another four years of school. It is a compilation of traditions and influences; of individual growth and collective spirit. The lessons learned in classrooms and laboratories constitute only a small part of the education offered. We urge you to embrace all that Dubai National School has to offer you. 

The High School curriculum has been systematically developed and aligned with the standards of the State of Massachusetts to meet the different needs, interests, and abilities of our ninth through twelfth graders. The program of study includes a number of core subjects, within which elective courses will be offered, alongside a set of non-core elective subjects designed to meet your individual strengths and interests. This will ensure that you will have a broad, balanced collection of subjects to study that will motivate you in this important next stage of your learning.

With the equivalency requirements of the UAE Ministry of Education, advanced placement programs (AP Courses) have been widely implemented. In addition, the school provides each student with suitable guidance for a better understanding of his/her choices. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

A  Credit or Unit at Dubai National School indicates a subject studied throughout the academic year for four (4) periods per week each of 55 minutes. 

  • 4 weekly periods x 55 minutes each x 33 weeks =7260 minutes ÷ 60 = 121 hours of instructions.
  • DNS credit or unit is 121 classroom hours of instructions.

High school students will have to complete twenty-five (25) credits by the end of the twelfth grade in order to graduate according to the School requirements for graduation and equivalency.

The following chart summarizes the targeted credits throughout the four years of the high school at Dubai National School- Al Barsha. All High School students have to earn at least 25 credit hours of the offered credits shown below. Selections of core and non-core credits are subject to the KHDA and UAE MOE regulations and resolutions.