United Kingdom

Applying to schools in the UK requires fewer materials than North American universities. As the UK traditionally has a credential-based admissions system, acceptance is based much more on test scores. Green School students are welcome to take SAT I and SAT II or IGCSE and A-Level exams to supplement their UK applications, and we can refer students to options for those exams. Our curriculum, however, isn’t oriented toward specific exams. Green School students should consider whether a credential-based system will provide the best fit for tertiary study. If the UK looks to be the best fit, we encourage students do thorough research on their schools of interest, advocate for themselves by building relationships with faculty, and perhaps visit those schools for interviews or auditions (if possible). In the UK, faculty members (rather than admissions committees, as in the US) make admissions decisions, so those touch points and relationships can make a difference.


Also worth consideration for university study in the UK is that the secondary system with British Curriculum is designed to reach a 13th year, preparing students for a 3-year Bachelor’s degree. This is in contrast to the USA, for example, where secondary students study through year 12, then complete about four years of full-time study at university for a Bachelor’s degree. For students graduating from GS who have not yet had the 13th year of secondary school, advanced academic preparation above and beyond the 12th year is important for UK university admission. This usually requires additional testing such as SAT I plus several SAT II Subject Test, or SAT I plus at least 3-4 AP (Advanced Placement) exams, or at least four A-Level exams. This standard of academic credentials is not always required for fields in the creative arts, but a portfolio may be required.


Numerous university systems around the world, including the UK, have developed alternative paths to university for students who have studied outside the British curriculum, especially international students. UK universities now also accept SAT I exam, SAT II subject exams, and AP exams along with a student’s course grades (GPA) as an alternative to A-levels. Scores on these exams allow those evaluating a student’s application to compare the student to other applicants from around the world.


Nearly all UK university applications are accepted through UCAS, where a student can apply to up to five programs at once. Many schools also offer alternative pathways through direct application to the university and the specific program an applicant is interested in studying. Research whether your intended program accepts direct applications or only UCAS applications well in advance of your intended application process.


Most UK university programs are ordinarily three years and focus on a particular area of study from the beginning, but many also offer ‘Foundation Year’ entrance to international students. This additional year of study makes a UK university undergraduate degree about the same duration as an undergraduate degree from North America or many other countries around the world, and the standards for acceptance are usually much less demanding than direct entry to the three-year programs.


NOTE: If you are a British citizen, but you have not gone to school in the UK within the last year, you are considered an international student. This has implications for admission requirements and for costs.



A few pathways to research carefully and consider:


1. International Year One Programs designed especially for international students with strong grades and achievements, but no A-levels. This year of schooling counts towards graduation at a university, thus keeping higher education schooling to three total years.


2. Sixth form, which is competitive to get into and requires UK citizenship.


3. Foundation Year Programs. These programs are designed to lead to acceptance onto a degree course at university. They typically last between nine months and two years and do not count toward university graduation. Thus after completing this course, you enter a university and study for three more years. If you can answer yes to any of these questions, a Foundation Year could be for you: Do you need to improve your English or academic study skills before degree level study? Do you lack the formal qualifications needed to enter a British university? Do you require knowledge of a particular academic subject area to gain entry to a degree?


4. UCAS translation. For a fee, UCAS will take all of your past academic records by carefully reviewing the curriculum from your high school and exam scores and turn them into a UCAS score which can in turn be used for acceptance to university, if the score is acceptable. This translation score makes you look like all other applicants leaving British high schools. They are not generous with their translations.



Key parts of the application in the UK include:


  • Recommendation Letter
  • Personal Statement


The Personal Statement for the UK is quite different from the Personal Essay. Your Personal Statement should include the following:

  • Academic achievements, past and present
  • Why you’re interested in the subject area
  • Your knowledge of the subject area and enthusiasm to go beyond the syllabus
  • What you enjoy about studying
  • Details of your independent study skills.


Questions universities and colleges in the UK will consider:

  • Have you chosen the right subject for the right reasons?
  • Do you have a range of interests?
  • Does the personal statement confirm your interest in the subject?
  • Have you studied independently?
  • Are you motivated and committed?
  • Do you possess good numeracy and literacy skills?