Discover our useful tips for a successful application to Raha International School.
Apply early:
Applications open 12 months before the start of the next academic year and do not carryover from previous years. Every year is a fresh start for applications. Set a reminder in your calendar for the first week of September, and keep an eye on our socials, so you can be among the first to apply.
For overseas applicants, go ahead and apply even if you aren’t sure you are coming. It’s completely free (and relatively painless, we promise!) and at least you get your name on the waiting list instead of leaving it too late.
Check the grade:
Make sure you apply for the right grade. It can be confusing with changing between curriculums or when schools have different academic calendars. Start by checking our admissions grade equivalency chart. The admissions team can also advise you if you are still unsure.
Involve your child:
Involve your child in choosing the right school. Children will have an easier transition if they feel they have had a voice in choosing their new school. Bring them on a tour and let us answer any questions or concerns they may have. If they can’t visit, show them the 360 tour and virtual tour of our campus and let them send us their questions by email. They usually want to know what kind of food is served in the canteen and if they will make friends. We love hearing from students! Let us reassure them and get them excited about coming to school.
Do your research:
Just like we ask our students to be curious, we encourage parents to be curious too. Take an active interest in your child’s education. Many parents may not be familiar with the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and you can find more information here on our website. The admissions team can also guide you to the latest research to help you choose the right curriculum.
There are no wrong questions, and we will always be happy to answer them or if we aren’t sure, we can direct you to someone who can.
Check documents:
Along with the documents you will need to apply, there are additional documents you will need to provide to formally register with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) once accepted. In order to avoid any delays or surprises, it’s best to check the full list of documents right from the start so you can be prepared. Read on in the section below.
To ensure a smooth registration process in line with Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) regulations, you will need to provide the below required documents. Providing these documents is crucial; without them, there may be a risk of enrolment being cancelled.
Please see below the Transfer Certificate stamp and signature requirements per country of origin:
GCC Countries:
Non-GCC Countries: (excluding Australia, Canada, USA, Western Europe*)
* Western European countries include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Australia, Canada, USA & Western Europe:
* Western European countries include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Another Emirate in the UAE:
Another School in Abu Dhabi:
Raha International School is regulated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and operates in compliance with all ADEK regulations.
All documentation must be submitted prior to the student joining the school. Incoming students whose documents are incomplete cannot be registered with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge which could result in fines.
Raha International School will not be responsible for any fines imposed by ADEK. Although grade placement is first approved by the school, the final approval lies with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).
Parents will be contacted and informed of the decision and grade placement by the Registrar.
Upon receiving the letter of acceptance, parents are requested to pay, within ten working days, 5% of the annual school fees, to secure the place. Full term fees are due one month prior to the academic year starting. Students are not enrolled until full term fees are paid. The 5% registration fee is non-refundable but forms part of the annual tuition fees and is adjusted against the first term. To complete your child’s registration, you are required to pay the balance of the first term fees at least one month before the beginning of the school year.
If during the entrance assessment, we discover a requirement for English language support or special educational support, please be advised that there may be an additional fee charged for this service. Parents will be notified of this charge prior to or within 4 weeks of the start of the academic year.
The school requires a 5% non-refundable deposit of the school’s tuition fees as a re-registration deposit to confirm the return of existing students in the new academic year. This deposit will be deducted from the total tuition fees for the academic year in which the admission is being sought. The school will advise of the amount and due date. Re-registration for continuing students will not be accepted unless all outstanding fees due have been paid in full.
Kindly note that those wishing to transfer to other Taaleem schools will also be required to fill the re-registration form and submit a copy to both schools with the non-refundable deposit paid at the new school.
For both existing and new students, deposits and fees will not be refunded if students choose not to return to school for the next academic year or choose not to take the offered places. However, a school may choose to refund the deposit under special circumstances.
In the case of refund and recovery, the school fees will be calculated as follows as per the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge bylaws:
*The value of the fee per month is calculated by dividing the total tuition fees by ten.
Term 1 Fees: a student may not start the academic year unless the first term fee has been paid in full. Payments will be only accepted via cash, credit card or cheque payable in favour of Raha International School. We cannot accept personal cheques for term 1 fees, unless submitted at least five working days prior to the start of the new academic year.