**What happened and who is affected**
The UAE Ministry of Education and the International Baccalaureate Organisation confirmed that final IB examinations scheduled for May 2026 in the UAE will not go ahead, citing security concerns related to the ongoing regional conflict. The IB has said it will apply an alternative grading or assessment method for affected candidates. The move follows similar announcements reported across Middle East centres and will primarily affect Diploma Programme (DP) candidates planning to use May 2026 results for university entry.
**Immediate impact on students in Jordan and the region**
Students in Jordan and neighbouring countries who study at UAE-based IB schools, or who expected May results as part of their university applications, face uncertainty over final marks and the timing of official results. Universities often use IB final results to confirm offers and scholarships; any change to result release schedules or the evidence used for grades can affect conditional offers, scholarship eligibility and visa timelines for international study.
**Practical steps students should take now**
- Contact your school’s IB coordinator immediately to request details about the alternative assessment process, timelines for predicted or calculated grades, and documentation the school will provide.
- Inform all universities and admissions offices holding your offers — ask how they will treat calculated or predicted IB grades and whether they will accept interim documentation to meet offer conditions.
- Ask your school and the IB about opportunities to sit exams at a later session (for example November where available) or to submit additional coursework evidence.
- If you planned to start study abroad in the fall, check visa and enrolment deadlines: many universities require final verification of grades before enrolment; get written confirmations of any extended deadlines.
**Alternatives and options for Jordanian students**
Students who now face delayed or modified IB results should consider parallel plans. These include applying to Jordanian universities — Shatnawi can support admissions across 30+ Jordanian institutions; students applying through Shatnawi receive partner registration discounts (Applied Science Private University — 10% off, University of Jordan — 20% off, Jordan University of Science & Technology — 25% off). For students aiming for medicine or dentistry, Georgia (Batumi and Tbilisi) remains a practical alternative with WHO/EU-recognised English-medium programmes from roughly $4,000/year. Shatnawi offers application support, scholarship matching and career guidance to evaluate these options.
**How Shatnawi can help and next steps**
Shatnawi for College Admissions & Academic Consultations can help you: liaise with universities about conditional offers, prepare documentation for equivalency (document equivalency service available for 70 JOD), explore alternative destinations (Georgia, Turkey, UK, Germany, Malaysia), and provide exam preparation support (IELTS, IB, SAT, AP) if you opt to re-sit or change plans. Time is critical — contact your school and admissions advisers this week, and notify any universities holding offers so they can record your situation.
For personalised guidance and fast help with applications or deadlines, reach out to Shatnawi on WhatsApp at +962791888699 or visit shatnawiedu.com. Stay in close contact with your IB coordinator and prospective universities for official updates from the IB organisation.