On this page
For the full picture of senior provision, start with our international schools in Abu Dhabi directory, which lists every school by curriculum and stage. The schools below all run an examined Years 12 to 13 or Grades 11 to 12 programme that leads directly to university entry, and they admit by application rather than by catchment, with every place registered through the emirate's regulator, ADEK. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and provision changes, so confirm current pathways with each school.
If you are weighing the qualification itself, our guides to A-levels and the International Baccalaureate explain how each is examined and recognised by universities. Families focused on outcomes should also read our shortlist of the best schools for university preparation in Abu Dhabi.
The shortlist
The British School Al Khubairat
The British School Al Khubairat, known across the city as BSAK, is one of Abu Dhabi's longest established British schools and runs a full sixth form in Years 12 and 13. Students choose from a wide slate of A-level options and can combine them with BTEC Level 3 courses in areas such as business, engineering and sport, which gives the cohort an unusually broad post-16 offer for a single school. It is a natural shortlist entry for families who want a traditional British sixth form with strong subject choice.
Brighton College Abu Dhabi
Brighton College Abu Dhabi teaches A-levels in the sixth form, with most pupils taking three subjects over the two years from a broad range of options, supported by a structured careers and university guidance programme. The college is the Abu Dhabi sister school of Brighton College in England, and it publishes its A-level results each summer, including Russell Group university offers, so families can see outcomes rather than rely on reputation alone.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, on Saadiyat Island, offers A-levels in the sixth form alongside several BTEC pathways, so students can mix academic and applied subjects. The school is the Middle East partner of Cranleigh in Surrey and reports its A-level results and university destinations each year, with leavers progressing to universities in the UK, North America and beyond. Its smaller senior cohort means close subject teaching at the top of the school.
The British International School Abu Dhabi
The British International School Abu Dhabi, part of the Nord Anglia group, runs the IB Diploma in the sixth form alongside an IB Courses pathway and vocational BTEC options, with more than 30 subjects available. That flexibility, the full Diploma for the all-rounder, individual IB Courses for a tailored mix, or BTEC where it fits the career plan, makes it the strongest fit on this list for families who want the breadth of the IB at the top of the school.
American International School in Abu Dhabi
The American International School in Abu Dhabi runs a US high school programme through Grades 11 and 12 and offers the IB Diploma alongside Advanced Placement courses, so students can pursue the full Diploma or build an AP profile suited to applications in the United States and worldwide. It is the obvious shortlist entry for families on an American pathway who still want the option of the IB Diploma in the senior years.
How we chose
We included only Abu Dhabi schools we could confirm run a genuine, externally examined sixth form leading to university entry, A-levels, the IB Diploma, Advanced Placement or a combination, and that enrol students through to Year 13 or Grade 12. We did not rank them, score them or attach ratings, because the right sixth form depends on your child's subjects, the qualification universities in your target country prefer, and the fit of the school. Verify current subject lists and pathways directly, as schools add and retire options year to year and ADEK reviews provision annually.
Shortlist Abu Dhabi schools for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and priorities and the school finder returns a matched Abu Dhabi shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Sixth form fees in Abu Dhabi sit at the upper end of each school's fee schedule, and the senior years are typically the most expensive stage. Rather than quote figures that move each year and are reviewed by ADEK, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in Abu Dhabi for current tuition by school and stage, and confirm the exact sixth form figure, plus any examination and registration costs, with the school before you apply.
To build a shortlist around your child, use the school finder, browse the full Abu Dhabi schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for university preparation and special educational needs in Abu Dhabi. Families watching the budget can also see the most affordable international schools in Abu Dhabi.
Common questions
The British School Al Khubairat, Brighton College Abu Dhabi and Cranleigh Abu Dhabi all teach A-levels through to Year 13, with BSAK and Cranleigh also offering BTEC Level 3 options alongside. Confirm the current subject list with each school, as offerings change year to year.
The British International School Abu Dhabi runs the IB Diploma in the sixth form alongside IB Courses and BTEC, and the American International School in Abu Dhabi offers the IB Diploma in its high school. Abu Dhabi International School offers the IB Diploma at its MBZ campus. See our IB curriculum guide for how it is examined.
Neither is universally better. The IB Diploma is broad, with six subjects plus the core, while A-levels let a student specialise in three or four. Universities in different countries express preferences in their entry requirements, so the better choice depends on your child's strengths and target universities.
Sixth form sits at the top of each school's fee scale and is usually the most expensive stage. Figures change annually and are reviewed by ADEK, so we maintain current tuition by school and stage in our international school fees in Abu Dhabi guide rather than quote a number that dates quickly.
No. Abu Dhabi international schools admit by application, assessment and interview rather than by residential catchment, and every place is registered with ADEK. Apply directly to each school and check its entry requirements for the sixth form.