Brighton College Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A parent’s guide to entry. Practice coming soon.
Brighton College Dubai is a British curriculum school whose admissions policy has a section headed Academic Selection. Every applicant sits CAT4, writes a short piece and meets a senior member of staff; entry is open all year, with a written decision within five working days of the final assessment, so there is no single test day.
Key facts
checked 17 October 2026
- Deadlines
No closing date is published for Year 7 entry; admissions are open all year.
- Assessment format
Year 7: CAT4 (verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning, about two hours in total), then a creative writing task, then an interview with a member of the Senior Team. Recent school reports and a confidential reference from the current school are also required. The policy lists no separate English or maths test for Year 7; non-native English speakers may be given a supplementary language assessment.
- Year 7 places
Not published by the school.
Brighton College Dubai uses CAT4.
GL, who publish it, advise against practice before CAT4. What we offer is familiarisation with the on-screen format, and nothing that claims to raise a score. Start free; then one payment of $99 for every practice set.
At a glance
Last checked 17 October 2026. Every fact is from the school’s own pages unless marked Reported by prep providers or Our view
- Selective entry
The admissions policy has a section headed Academic Selection and says every pupil entering goes through a selection and assessment process of tests, interviews, reports and references. In the school’s words: “There is a selection and assessment process for all pupils entering the College”
- Type and curriculum
Private, co-educational school following the UK (British) curriculum, from FS1 to Year 13; Senior School runs GCSEs, then A levels and BTEC. Operated by Bloom Education together with Brighton College UK.
- Founded
Opened in 2018.
- Location
Al Barsha 2 (Al Barsha South), Dubai, between Hessa Street and Umm Suqeim Street, on a campus of about 40,000 square metres.
- Year groups
FS1 to Year 13 on the KHDA record. The school's FAQ says it is open to registrations for FS1 to Year 12, depending on availability.
- Regulator rating
KHDA overall rating Very good, from the inspection held 26 to 29 February 2024 (Good in 2022-2023 and 2021-2022). KHDA lists no later Dubai inspection.
- Roll
1,027 pupils on roll at the February 2024 inspection.
- Entry points
Admissions are open year round from FS1 to Year 12, subject to availability. Year 7 is the start of Senior School (age 11), but there is no single Year 7 cohort sitting: entry is rolling.
- Year 7 places
Not published by the school.
- Assessment format
Year 7: CAT4 (verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning, about two hours in total), then a creative writing task, then an interview with a member of the Senior Team. Recent school reports and a confidential reference from the current school are also required. The policy lists no separate English or maths test for Year 7; non-native English speakers may be given a supplementary language assessment.
- Timing
No fixed assessment date. After the application, the Admissions team arranges either an on-campus assessment and interview, or a remote assessment coordinated with the child's current school.
- Deadlines
No closing date is published for Year 7 entry; admissions are open all year.
- Decision timing
A written decision within five working days of the final assessment, once all documents are in (policy). The How to Apply page says one week. In the school’s words: “in writing within five working days of the final assessment”
- Application fee
AED 525 including VAT, non-refundable, payable once the online application is submitted. KHDA's fee fact sheet shows AED 500 (assessment fee included), which is the same amount before 5% VAT.
- Year 7 tuition
AED 90,170 for 2026-27. That is the KHDA-approved AED 100,298 less a school discount of AED 10,128; the school says the discount applies for 2026/27. The school asked KHDA not to raise fees for 2026-27. No 2027-28 figure is published yet.
- Deposit
An enrolment fee of up to 10% of tuition, deducted from the first term's fees. It is not refunded if a family picks another Dubai school, but is refunded if the family relocates outside Dubai (with evidence). The exact Year 7 amount is not published.
- Age rule
Year of entry follows the KHDA entrance-age rules; Senior School starts at age 11. A 31 August date-of-birth cut-off is stated in the school's KHDA registration note for overseas FS1 to Year 2 entry, and the How to Apply page has a year-group calculator.
- Applications per place
Not published by the school.
- Scholarships
Academic scholarships (a partial fee concession) are offered for Year 10 and Year 12 entry only, so none applies to Year 7 entry. KHDA's fee sheet lists an academic scholarship of up to 50%.
- Discounts
Sibling discount of 5% for the second and third child, 10% for the fourth, 15% for the fifth and beyond; referral discounts of 5% per referred family, up to three families.
The admissions journey.
Step 1Any time. Open mornings run weekly in term time; tours can be arranged in school breaks.
Look round (optional)
Book a Senior School open morning or a private tour to meet the leadership team and see the campus before applying.
Senior School open mornings are every Tuesday at 9am and Friday at 10am, in term time only; tours in holidays go through the Book a Tour page.
Step 2Rolling. No closing date; open all year, subject to availability.
Apply online
Complete the online application form for Year 7 entry. For Year 7 and above the school says your child will also attend a personal interview.
Admissions are open year round for FS1 to Year 12; Year 7 entry is rolling, not a single sitting.
From Year 7 onwards children also attend a personal interview, in addition to the age-appropriate assessment.
Step 3With or just after the application.
Send documents
Email the child's passport copy, the last academic years' school reports, UAE visa and Emirates ID copies if already in the UAE (these can follow if you are yet to relocate), and any medical or educational psychologist reports.
Incomplete applications cannot be processed.
Step 4Once the online application is submitted.
Pay the application fee
Pay the one-off, non-refundable AED 525 (including VAT).
The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Step 5Booked by the Admissions team after it has reviewed your documents; no fixed date.
Assessment and interview
Attend the assessment and interview on campus, or, if you live elsewhere, consent to the school contacting the current school so the assessment can be sat there under invigilation.
Year 7: CAT4 (about two hours), a creative writing task and an interview with a member of the Senior Team.
Overseas applicants for Year 3 and above sit an online assessment, usually at their current school; the College may ask for an extra confidential report.
The school may ask a child back for re-assessment if they were upset or ill, or if reports and results do not match.
Step 6Within five working days of the final assessment, once all documents are received (the website says one week).
Decision
Wait for the written decision. Offer and decline letters are issued.
Decisions rest on the meetings, the assessments and the recommendations of the Heads of School; the Admissions Manager informs parents.
Preference goes to children of staff, children with a particular skill, talent or aptitude, and children with a brother or sister already at the College.
Step 7After an offer; no acceptance deadline stated.
Accept and secure the place
Return the signed Acceptance Form, pay the deposit and send the remaining documents (parents' passports, visas and Emirates ID, birth certificate, immunisation records, a photo, and a signed and stamped transfer certificate from the current school for Year 3 and above).
An offer is confirmed once the deposit is paid and the initial documents are in.
Pay the balance of first term fees at least one month before the academic year begins; a pupil cannot start until term one is paid in full.
The assessment.
What the school says
Year 7 to Year 11: CAT4 across verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning (about two hours), plus a creative writing task and an interview with a member of the Senior Team; recent school reports and a confidential reference from the current school. Overseas applicants sit an invigilated online assessment at their current school.
CAT4 is taken across four areas: verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning. The combined sitting takes about two hours. For Years 7 to 13 the policy sets this out; Year 7 entrants are then asked to do a creative writing task.
A creative writing task follows the CAT4 for Years 7 to 11, to supplement the CAT4 results. No length, time limit or prompt is published.
Years 7 to 11 have a general interview with the Head of Senior School or another member of the Senior Team, exploring interests, attitude to school life, personal qualities, ability to contribute to the College and support at home.
The assessment procedure is a mix of entry tests, interviews, previous school reports, character references, confidential reports, samples of work and, where relevant, specialist consultations. In the school’s words: “a selection and assessment process for all pupils entering the College”
The current school's Pastoral or Safeguarding Lead is asked for a confidential reference covering academic ability, attitude, behaviour and involvement in school.
The website describes two routes after documents are reviewed: an assessment and interview with a College Leadership Team member, or a remote assessment coordinated with the current school.
Overseas candidates for Year 3 and above sit an online assessment, invigilated at an educational establishment in their country of residence, usually their current school.
Applicants from non-English-speaking backgrounds may take a supplementary assessment in listening, speaking, reading and writing; the EAL policy says English proficiency at admission is assessed with the Bell Foundation EAL framework.
Applicants should disclose learning needs and share reports from the last two years; the Head of Inclusion reviews them before inviting parents to a consultation. For these pupils, the invitation to the online CAT4 is agreed between the Admissions Manager, the Head of Inclusion and parents. Some offers are conditional, and the policy says extra-support fees may not exceed 50% of approved tuition.
A child may be re-assessed if upset or unwell at the first sitting, or if there is an unexplained mismatch between school reports and results. The school may also ask for medical or educational psychologist evidence where sickness, absence, bereavement or different school systems may have affected performance.
CAT4 taken at admission also serves as the baseline for pupils joining the Senior School: it feeds each pupil's minimum expected grade and target grade.
Source: Admissions Policy, Brighton College Dubai (PDF, version 12, October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Source: Inclusion Policy v10, Brighton College Dubai (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Source: How to Apply | Brighton College Dubai (opens in a new tab)
Source: EAL Policy v5, Brighton College Dubai (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Source: Assessment, Recording and Reporting Policy v5, Brighton College Dubai (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Parent questions.
- When do we apply for Year 7 in September 2027, and is there a deadline?
The school says admissions are open all year, from FS1 to Year 12, subject to availability. It publishes no closing date and no single test day for Year 7, so you apply online whenever you are ready and the Admissions team arranges assessment dates.
- What will my child actually sit for Year 7?
A CAT4 reasoning test (verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative, about two hours in total), then a creative writing task, then an interview with a member of the Senior Team. The school also asks for recent school reports and a confidential reference from the current school.
- Is there a separate English or maths exam?
The admissions policy lists CAT4, the writing task and the interview for Year 7 and does not mention a separate English or maths paper. Children from non-English-speaking backgrounds may be given a supplementary language assessment.
- How quickly will we hear back?
The policy promises a written decision within five working days of the final assessment, once all required documents are received. The How to Apply page says the decision is communicated in one week.
- What does it cost to apply, and what is the Year 7 fee?
The application fee is AED 525 including VAT and is non-refundable. Year 7 tuition for 2026-27 is AED 90,170 after the school's discount on the KHDA-approved AED 100,298. A 2027-28 fee has not been published.
- We live outside the UAE. How does my child sit the assessment?
For Year 3 and above, an online assessment is invigilated at an educational establishment in your country of residence, usually the current school. The College may ask for an additional confidential report.
- What if my child has additional learning needs or English as an additional language?
Tell the school at application and share reports from the last two years. The Head of Inclusion reviews them before inviting you to a consultation. Offers can be conditional, and extra support may carry additional fees, which the policy says may not exceed 50% of approved tuition. Children with learning differences are assessed on their commitment to fulfilling their own potential.
- What else counts besides the test?
The school weighs entry tests with interviews, previous school reports, character references, confidential reports and samples of work. Decisions follow the meetings, the assessments and the Heads of School's recommendations.
- Can my child be re-assessed?
Yes, in set circumstances: if they were upset or sick at the first assessment, or if there is an unexplained mismatch between school reports and assessment results. The school explains the reasons to the family.
- What happens once we are offered a place?
Return the signed Acceptance Form and pay the deposit (up to 10% of tuition, deducted from fees). The offer is confirmed once the deposit and initial documents are in. A transfer certificate from the current school is needed for Year 3 and above, and first term fees must be paid at least one month before the year begins.
- Is there a scholarship for Year 7 entry?
Not on the pages we read: the school's academic scholarships are for Year 10 and Year 12 entry only.
- Can practice guarantee a place, or raise my child's CAT4 score?
No. The school publishes no pass mark and no number of places, and says decisions rest on several things. Our own position is that practice is familiarisation with the on-screen format only, and we make no claim that it raises scores or secures an offer.
Our view
Tell me when it opens.
The school’s own pages
Always check dates and requirements with Brighton College Dubai directly. These links open the school’s site in a new tab.
- Admissions overview(opens in a new tab)
- Admissions process(opens in a new tab)
- How to apply(opens in a new tab)
- Apply now (online application)(opens in a new tab)
- Admissions policy (PDF, version 12)(opens in a new tab)
- Admissions policy (PDF, link from the policies page)(opens in a new tab)
- Terms and conditions(opens in a new tab)
- FAQs(opens in a new tab)
- School fees(opens in a new tab)
- Weekly open mornings(opens in a new tab)
- Book a tour(opens in a new tab)
- Contact details(opens in a new tab)
- Scholarships (Year 10 and 12 entry)(opens in a new tab)
- Term dates 2026/27(opens in a new tab)
- School policies(opens in a new tab)
- Inclusion policy (PDF)(opens in a new tab)
- Assessment, recording and reporting policy (PDF)(opens in a new tab)
- Ratings and accreditation(opens in a new tab)
- KHDA school page(opens in a new tab)
- KHDA Year 7 fees fact sheet 2026-2027(opens in a new tab)
- KHDA inspection report 2023-2024(opens in a new tab)
- BSO inspection report, October 2025 (PDF)(opens in a new tab)
Mockplan links to schools; we never ask a school to link to us, and nothing here implies endorsement. Facts last checked 17 October 2026.