When it comes to Dubai school admissions – whether you’re applying to a totally new school, or re-enrolling in your current school – there’s no denying that there are some hefty costs involved.
While we all know that Dubai school fees can be steep, parents are often shocked to be asked for upfront payments simply to apply for a school – especially when there is no guarantee of a place. If you are applying to a sought-after school, it may be necessary to put down applications to a second, third and even fourth choice simply to safeguard a school spot for your child.
Parents can also be surprised to receive a summons to pay out thousands of dirhams in registration or re-registration deposits, often six months or more in advance of the next academic year that it relates to.
The good news is that the Dubai private school regulatory body, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), has put some rules in place to ensure that application fees and registration deposits are controlled and fair across the board. There are also some instances in which parents could be entitled to a refund of both.
Below we answer all the questions we have received from parents in the last 12-months on SchoolsCompared, and community group Parents United about application fees, registration deposits and tuition fee refunds…
What is the maximum a Dubai school can charge you to apply?
Schools are allowed to charge up to Dh500 in application fees to process the application of new students. This fee includes standard assessment fees. The application fee is not deductible from the tuition fees.
Can I get my money back?
YES – the application fee should be refunded if you’re not offered a place.
However, this Dh500 is refundable if the student is not offered a place at the school. But beware: the application fee is not refundable if the student is offered a place but chooses to decline it.
How much can I be charged for the Registration deposit?
Registration deposits are capped at 10% of tuition fees.
Schools may ask parents to pay a non-refundable deposit to confirm new enrolment. This deposit is payable only after the student has been offered a place and parents have accepted the offer. The registration deposit cannot be more than 10% of the total tuition fees, and is deductible from the total tuition fees for the academic year.
How much can I be charged for a Re-registration deposit?
Re-registration deposits cannot be more than 5% of tuition fees.
Schools may ask parents to pay a non-refundable re-registration deposit to guarantee a place for their children for the following academic year. This deposit cannot be more than 5% of the total tuition fees, or Dh500 (whichever is higher) and is deductible from the total tuition fees for the academic year.
When do I get my deposits back if I go ahead in choosing the school?
The registration and re-registration deposits are deductible from the first term’s fees.
“Deposit” is the word and the meaning when it comes to those registration costs; the payment you make should be deducted from your first term’s fees when you come to pay those.
When can schools ask me to pay the Re-registration deposit?
Schools are not allowed to ask for re-registration deposits too far in advance.
Schools with terms starting in September can only collect the re-registration deposit after the Spring Break, while those that have academic years starting in April can only collect it after the Winter Break.
Can schools charge me other fees to secure a place?
Schools cannot ask for any extra payments to guarantee your child’s place.
Apart from the registration or re-registration deposits, schools cannot ask for any additional payment to guarantee student enrolment and re-enrolment.
Should I pay a Registration fee without the written offer of a place?
A registration fee is only applicable after a place is offered.
Schools may ask for payment of registration deposit only when students have been offered a place. Always get the offer in writing.
Do I have to pay all the school fees at once?
Schools can collect annual tuition fees in a minimum of three instalments.
Schools can only collect annual tuition fees in three instalments, due at the beginning of each term. The first term’s payment should not exceed 40% of the annual tuition fees; the second payment not more than 30% of annual tuition fees; and the third term not more than 30% of annual tuition
Can I pay school fees in smaller instalments to help spread the cost?
You can negotiate to pay school fees in smaller, more frequent amounts.
Schools are allowed by the KHDA to collect annual tuition fees as 10 equal monthly instalments. The monthly repayment amount is calculated by dividing the total tuition fees by 10. This is not an obligation on the school, but it may be something you can negotiate if your school is willing and you are in need financially.
If you need help, always ask.
If we move our child from the school, do we owe back payments for Re-/Registration fees?
A school cannot ask for back payment of re-/registration fees if a child leaves first.
The school cannot collect registration/re-registration fees in cases where students leave the school before the start of the next academic year, if these fees were not collected at the time of registration/re-registration. (For example, if a student has not paid the re-registration deposit for the following year by the re-registration deadline, and that student withdraws from the school before the start of the following academic year, the school cannot ask the student to pay the re-registration deposit).
Can I get tuition and other fees refunded? How much can I get back?
You might be eligible for a tuition fee or registration deposit refund.
In the cases of both existing and new students, the registration/re-registration deposit will not be refunded unless there are extenuating circumstances. These circumstances include, but are not limited to:
- evidence of family/student relocation to another country/ emirate or any other unforeseen circumstances. Such cases may be submitted to KHDA for review.
In the case of refund, the school fees will be calculated as follows:
- Tuition fees paid prior to the beginning of the academic year are refundable and only the registration/ re-registration fees will be deducted
- If the student was enrolled in the school for two weeks or less, a month’s fees will be deducted;
- If the student was enrolled in the school for a period ranging between two weeks and one month, two months’ fees will be deducted
- If the student was enrolled in the school tor more than a month. the full term’s fees will be deducted
Please note:
- The above refund policy is applicable per term depending on the date of the withdrawal request
- The refund will be calculated from the start of the term and the date of the official request by the parent stating the intent of withdrawal and not from the date when the student was absent.
- Being on the school registrar counts as days in school
- Registration or Re-registration deposits are refundable in cases where a school’s quality rating has dropped and students wish to move to a school with a better rating, as stated in the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau report.
- Book fees are refundable if the student decides to leave the school prior to the beginning of the academic year
- Any provisions in any other policies or approvals will be repealed in the event that they contradict this policy.
Registration Deposit and Admission Fees: At a glance
As well as the conditions mentioned in the parent-school contract, the regulations for fees and deposits for admission and registration are as follows:
Existing students:
- The school may open re-registration anytime during the academic year
- The re-registration deposit should not exceed 5% of the annual tuition fees or Dh500 (whichever is higher)
- The re-registration deposit is deductible from the first term’s fees
- The school cannot ask for payment or any additional fees or deposits other than the re-registration mentioned above
- Schools that begin the academic year in September can only collect re-registration deposit after the end of the spring break
- Schools that begin the academic year in April can only collect re-registration deposit after the end of the winter break
For new students
- Schools can register new students at any time during the academic year
- New schools must have KHDA approval prior to registering students
- The registration deposit for new students should not exceed 10% of the annual tuition fees
- The registration deposit is deductible from the first term’s tuition fees
- If new students enrol at a school during the course of the academic year, the school can charge tuition fees starting from the month of enrolment. (For example, if a student enrols in a new school in the 3rd week of October, the school can charge tuition fees from the beginning of October).
- Schools cannot ask for payment of registration deposit until they have made a formal offer of enrolment. Prior to this, schools can only charge a maximum application fee of Dh500.
The application fee of Dh500 is:
- refundable if the school does not offer the student a place
- non-refundable it the school offers the student a place but the student chooses not to take it
- not deductible from the total tuition fees to be paid if the student is offered and accepts a place
Further information
Download the new Guidelines to “Fair Fees for Parents” here.
Notes
A big thank you to all of you have contacted us about fees. If you have any further questions, please share them on Parents United, or contact us at [email protected].
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