The school takes a tailored approach to helping every student find a pathway where they can thrive
PARTNER CONTENT: For families approaching the final years of school, the question of what comes next? can feel increasingly complex.
University remains the ambition for many, but choosing where, what and how to study requires more than a list of prestigious institutions.
At BIS Abu Dhabi, university and careers guidance is built around something more tailored: helping each student find the pathway that genuinely fits them.
“Our students apply all over the world,” explains Rachel Batty, University and Careers Guidance Counsellor. From the UK, US and Canada to Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe and, increasingly, the UAE, the possibilities are broad – and so is the support required to navigate them.
Starting the conversation early
Importantly, that journey does not begin in Year 13. At BIS Abu Dhabi, conversations about the future begin well before Senior School, reflecting the school’s commitment to helping students understand themselves as learners and individuals.
From Year 7 onwards, students are encouraged to explore their interests, recognise their strengths, and begin thinking with curiosity and confidence about the possibilities ahead.
As they move through Secondary School, this develops naturally into more purposeful decision making around GCSE choices, work experience and, eventually, the pathways that best reflect their individual ambitions.
By Post-16, the focus becomes increasingly sophisticated. Students can research courses and universities internationally, explore online courses and enrichment opportunities, build CVs and access resources to support applications.
Year 12 also includes guidance on different international university systems, helping students understand that applying to Canada, the US, Australia or Europe can involve very different processes.
The aim is to build knowledge gradually, rather than allowing university applications to become an overwhelming Year 13 deadline.
“This level of profile can’t be built overnight,” says Rachel. “It’s something students need to start working towards from Year 10 onwards.”
Guidance that becomes truly personal
As students begin identifying their preferred destinations and courses, BIS Abu Dhabi’s approach becomes increasingly bespoke.
Individual meetings sit at the heart of the process, with students able to book appointments directly with Rachel, while parents can also arrange meetings and join conversations.
Support can extend to the practical detail of applications, including personal essays, CVs and individual feedback.
The school’s decision to establish a full-time, dedicated university guidance role reflects just how important this stage has become for families.
For Rachel, who previously taught within the school, there is an additional advantage: she has known some students long before university applications appear on the horizon.
She understands the families that she works with, which means that she knows when the most obvious pathway may not necessarily be the right one.
Finding the right fit – not simply the biggest name
One of the strongest messages within BIS Abu Dhabi’s approach is that successful guidance is about fit.
For students following BTEC pathways, for example, Rachel encourages families to consider not only whether a university offers a particular subject, but how that course is taught and assessed.
A student who thrives through applied learning and continuous assessment may be better suited to a university course that follows the same approach.
It is a thoughtful distinction and one that moves the conversation beyond rankings towards a more important question: Where is this young person most likely to succeed and be happy?
The same realism applies to international applications. Students are encouraged to consider finances, visa requirements and the considerable time involved in complex application processes alongside their academic ambitions.
Rachel is particularly conscious that applications should never become so demanding that they detract from the studies that will ultimately secure a student’s next step.
Building more than an application
Academic results matter, but BIS Abu Dhabi also helps students build the experiences that demonstrate curiosity, commitment and character.
Through opportunities including IB Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model United Nations, internships, summer courses, online learning and wider extra-curricular activities, students can develop a meaningful portfolio over time.
And in a world where technology is rapidly reshaping careers, Rachel believes genuine interest remains a powerful guide.
“It’s increasingly important that students are doing something that really interests them, excites them and challenges them,” she says, alongside developing transferable skills and gaining practical experience.
For parents, perhaps that is the most reassuring aspect of BIS Abu Dhabi’s approach. The destination matters, but so does the young person arriving there.
By combining early preparation, international expertise and highly individual guidance, the school is helping students make informed choices not simply about where they can go next, but where they are most likely to flourish.
Explore the school’s website to engage in the BIS Abu Dhabi Senior School pathways, university and careers guidance.
For further information, visit bisabudhabi.com
