A student at the Nord Anglia International School Dubai has received an award that only 20 people across the world are privy to this year: the Trustee Scholarship at Boston University. He’s an exemplary model to the kind of students the scholarship seeks out: curious, experimental, and contributes to his community. In the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme exams, he achieved outstanding scores.
His name is Darius Cassia, and he’s getting a full-ride scholarship to BU to study economicss.
The prestige of his achievement mirrors a shiny year of NAS Dubai students heading to university for the next chapter of their lives. Located in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates which is known for cutting-edge development, their students constantly stay ahead of the curve.
“NAS has not only been a place where I have been able to develop as a person, guided by motivated and resolute teachers, but it has also been a place where I have found opportunities to grow, learn, and achieve success in both academic and personal endeavours,” says Cassia.
A remarkable year of success
There’s a collective drive in the student body to excel in higher education at many of the world’s elite universities. This year, the University Guidance and Counseling office had to sort through over 800 applications, an unprecedented figure in its history.
At NAS Dubai, getting into the world’s top 100 universities is a team effort. It takes students with determination to tackle academic rigour and cultural literacy. It takes experienced teachers who engage with their class through passion and proper attention. It requires support from counsellors who encourage self-development. Success is the culmination of the full efforts of everyone in this encouraging ecosystem – as can be seen in NAS Dubai’s results.
In 2024, 40% of NAS Dubai students achieved a score of 39 and above in the IBDP programme — nine points higher than the global average — with the highest being a perfect 45. For A Levels, 30% of their students earned A*-A grades, while 11% achieved straight A*.
“I have been blessed to attend such an amazing school that has provided me all the resources I needed to move onto the next chapter,” says graduate Bandar Alaish. “The teachers and the environment really made me feel like I belonged and I was on the right path.”
The offers for NAS Dubai graduates increase with every year of excellent results. This year is no different. Alaish was accepted into all five UK universities he applied to, including University College London and the University of Sheffield. Cassia is one of two students to get into Brown University, among other top schools. More than half of the cohort received over five offers from universities based in 25 countries.
Where they’re going next
Having an international outlook is no longer an advantage, but a necessity. Students need to understand their position in the world and the context of their surroundings and cultivate a mindset that allows them to work with people of different cultures, backgrounds, and ethics.
NAS Dubai understands this fully, and so do their students. From the early years to sixth form, students engage with a diverse campus community and take up various languages. As they grow older, the doors start to open up beyond the school gates — social purpose activities held abroad, collaborations with world-class institutions and organisations, and enrichment activities in sports, arts, and more.
All of this prepares NAS Dubai students for university and life far away from home. Most of the cohort will be heading to the UK, with over 200 offers received from top universities like Imperial College London and the London School of Economics. Others received more than 70 offers from universities in the US and over 40 from Canada. Several universities in Italy, France, Spain, and the Netherlands made offers to NAS Dubai students too.
Perhaps the greatest indication of the impact of a NAS Dubai education is how most of its students have secured full or partial rides to university. This year, students won over US$1 million in scholarships, gearing them up for an intense journey that’s set to change their lives.