Embedded Files
Sussex University Visit Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | 10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. | Study Lounge
"Brag" Sheet- Use this to help you in your reflections for your personal statement. Make a copy of the form for your drive, and enter your answers into the document. When complete you can share it with your Counsellor and Teachers to be used for Recommendations.
How to request a Letter of Recommendation
Application Systems
Canada
Ontario Universities Application Center - 20 colleges in Ontario apply to 3 choices then $50 per additional college. The OUAC collects supplemental fees on behalf of the universities. Rolling admissions.
Transcript - GPA, Predicted grades, (no essay or recs needed except for a few universities)
Netherlands
Studielink - Register here first before completing application
Apply to up to 4 courses (only 2 can be Numerus Fixus - competitive degree programmes - January deadline)
Predicted grades, 1 reference, personal statement focused on course of study and plans after university.
UK
UCAS – 300 UK Colleges (choose up to 5 choices)
Russell Group - represents 24 leading UK universities.
Predicted grades, 1 combined reference - from all teachers, personal statement focused on course of study and plans after university. October 15th deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary.
USA
Common App – 870 universities in US, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Switzerland (pay per university)
Coalition app - 130 universities in US (pay per university)
Transcript - GPA, 1 counselor rec, 1 or 2 teacher recs, write essay from prompts, Predicted Grades form upon request. Nov 1 early deadline.
Australia
Study Australia - apply through university, transcript, ELP,
Group of 8 elite universities, have their own approved foundation programs
Transcript, predicted grades, ELP, recommendation, statement of purpose
SUMAS - The Sustainability Management School of Business in Switzerland is the university used by our IB Careers Related students for online courses.
OTHER COUNTRIES - can be searched by going to the government website that details course programs and universities.
Study and Research in Portugal
Grade 12 Suggested Timeline
August - October - finalize application list in Unifrog & individual meetings
November - start to apply (early applications), individual meetings with Ms. Weekes
December - two Applications submitted before Christmas break
January - continue to apply
Grade 11 Suggested Timeline
August - December - Attend university fairs and visits
January - Complete University research project, create a list
February - April - individual meetings with Ms. Weekes
April - June - create a short list of universities (closely researched - deadlines, application requirements);
July - complete an essay draft
Early Action vs Early Decision (US universities)
Early Action
Early action plans are non binding: Students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.
Early Decision
Early decision plans are binding: A student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college.
Approximately 450 colleges have early decision or early action plans, and some have both. Some colleges offer a non binding option called single-choice early action, under which applicants may not apply ED or EA to any other college.
English Language Proficiency
You may qualify for an exemption from the ELP test requirement if you:
Attend an eligible international school where English is the medium of instruction since grade 9
Current IB English grade of 4 or 5
Passport from a country where English is the official language
Otherwise you are required to take the IELTS or TOEFL
Here are some universities in the UAE that offers the exemption (this can change yearly)
De Montfort University, Dubai: No IELTS required if taking IB English 5.
Heriot-Watt University: No IELTS required.
Middlesex University: No IELTS required if taking IB English 5.
Rochester Institute of Technology: Dubai: No IELTS required if taking IB English 5 or EMSAT.
University of Birmingham Dubai: No IELTS required if taking IB English 5.
Any student who wants to attend university and work here in the UAE needs to complete the MOE Equivalency requirements They need to activate the UAE pass on their phones and take the EmSAT.
IB Diploma
These subjects must be within the approved lists of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Islamic Studies cannot be considered as a required subject to obtain the diploma. They must submit legalized IB Diploma transcript after they receive results
IB CP
CP + SUMAS is not eligible for equivalency at present
CP + BTEC is eligible, and the course studied at university must be related to the BTEC component
IB Subject Certificate
Complete six HL/SL subjects with a minimum grade of 3 in each subject and an overall grade of no less than 21
These subjects should include English Language, Mathematics and one Science subject and cannot include Islamic Studies. All subjects must be within the approved lists of the IBO.
Ministry of Education UAE licensed Universities
U.S. universities typically require the SAT for admissions, students can register through the College Board website. The test is now done electronically.
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