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Country-Specific Information
1. Australia
The Australian academic year consists of two principal semesters: Semester 1 commences around the beginning of March each year, Semester 2 commences around the middle of July (check each university’s website for specific commencement dates for each academic year). Many Australian universities have three intakes in Semesters 1, 2, and 3. However, intake entries can be limited at some institutions and for particular courses, and even for some categories of students. International students, and particularly those studying outside Australia, normally apply directly to the institution concerned. There is no centralized international admissions system covering all universities; applicants should submit individual applications for each institution.
Admission to courses will be made on the basis of published entry criteria and normally on the basis of academic merit. Some courses, across a range of disciplines, have special entry requirements that must also be completed: for example, portfolios, auditions, personal or academic statements, references, or interviews. Australia operates foundation courses similar to that of the United Kingdom.
List of Australian Universities
2. Canada
Applications to Canadian universities are made directly to the institutions, with the exception of applications to universities in Ontario. Applications to these universities are made through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). Look at the website to see if there are any universities listed here to which you wish to apply. You can make 3 applications for a standard fee, plus additional choices for an extra fee. The site will provide applications for 2023 in September 2022. IICS students complete either form 105D or 105F. The application deadline for students of Ontario is January 12th, 2023.
International students applying to universities in Canada need to make their applications earlier than those living in the country. Check websites for deadlines specific to international students. Many Canadian universities may require SAT I, SAT II, and/or TOEFL scores.
Ontario Universities Info - Universities in Ontario
Apply BC - Universities in British Columbia
Canadian University Application Guide
3. South Korea
Several universities in South Korea offer 100% English-taught study programs for the bachelor level. For instance, Underwood International College at Yonsei University, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Sejong University, etc.
Korean students who completed education outside Korea are required to follow a 3-year or a 12-year track when applying to universities. Please reach out to your college counselor regarding the specific admissions requirements.
4. Turkey
Republic of Turkey Measurement, Selection and Placement Center
5. United Kingdom
Applications to most universities within the UK are centralized through the College and University Admissions Service (UCAS). For other sites that will be very useful when researching universities and subjects in the UK, check UK Council for International Student Affairs. You may apply between 6 September 2022 and 25 January 2023. If you apply to Oxford or Cambridge universities, you must apply by 15 October, and special requirements exist.
Through the UCAS procedure, you complete one application form indicating a choice of up to five colleges or universities, and this is submitted to UCAS with a confidential letter of reference. UCAS distributes the applications to the institutions that you have selected, and a decision is made to either offer you a place (usually conditional upon you gaining certain IB points) or your application will be rejected.
When you have received all notifications you decide upon two offers to accept indicating one as a clear first choice and one as ”Insurance”. Once your examination results are through, these two colleges or universities will confirm or withdraw their offer of a place (depending upon your results). If your results match or exceed those stated on your conditional offer, a place must be made available to you. If your results are lower than the conditional offer, you may still be offered a place, but this is discretionary.
There are three application deadlines for courses through UCAS:
15 October 2022 - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all professional medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and veterinary science courses, and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
25 January 2023 - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all courses except those listed
Above with a 15 October 2022 deadline, and art and design courses with a 24 March 2023 deadline.
Applying to Oxford or Cambridge Universities:
The deadline for applying to Oxford or Cambridge universities is 15 October. Applications are made through UCAS, as with usual applications. In addition to applying through UCAS, you must also apply to the university directly. Details of how to apply to these universities appear on the UCAS website. You cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same year unless you are applying for an award at both universities.
Apply for Medicine and Allied subjects:
Applying to Medicine is very competitive. Only about 9.5% are successful every year. Students can choose up to four Medical courses on their UCAS Portal. They have a fifth slot to apply for something different. Some universities also allow students to apply through university application portals directly. For most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry, the application deadline is 15 October 2022.
Foundation Courses
Students from the UK finish their high schooling after completing their A-Level examinations (after 13 years of teaching). Many other countries have a year less teaching than the UK (12 years of teaching), so to bridge this gap, foundation courses prepare you for study at a UK university. If you do not have the appropriate subject background for direct entry to the first year, or you have not studied the appropriate subjects to the required depth, you might be eligible to undertake a foundation year course to bring you up to the right level for first-year entry.
Conservatories Application Guide
UK University Application Guide
6. United States of America
For the most part, students should apply to each university through the institution’s website. However, you can also apply through the Common Application, one application that can be sent to almost 1000 universities. See the following list of universities, which uses the Common Application.
An excellent search tool, Big Future, is provided by College Board, a site that will allow you to find a suitable college or university which meets your needs.
For many universities, the completion of the SAT or ACT is mandatory. Some colleges require the completion of subject tests too, so it is important you research the requirements early and plan accordingly. Some universities do not require the SAT. Please see the following link for more information through Fair Test.
Deadlines for applying to US universities vary considerably. It is your responsibility to establish when that is. The same is true for early applications, which normally range between November 1st and 15th. However, some universities stipulate a deadline as early as October 15th and others as late as January 1st. The deadline for regular decision applications is normally between January 1 and February 1, depending on the college. Others operate a rolling admissions system, but most universities recommend that you complete your application by March 1st.
US University Application Guide
7. Other countries
o Europe
o Germany
Most students who are enrolled at the Federal State's higher education institutions do not pay tuition fees. However, a few German universities have to start reintroducing tuition fees as €1,500 per semester for all non-EU students in order to make up for the state’s deficit, such as the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg. From international schools, IB Diploma, A-Level, AP, or equivalent is a requirement for university entrance. There are approximately 160 English-taught courses offered in many German universities for the undergraduate level.
DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst German Academic Exchange Service
Recognition of the IB Diploma in Germany
Database on admission requirements
International Programs in Germany 2025-2026
Studienkollegs in Germany - Bridging Program
hochschulstart.de - For admission ranking-based course - Get the BID (Applicant ID) and BAN (Applicant authentication number)
o Ireland
o Italy
How to Apply and Study in Italy
o Prague
o Singapore
Singapore has six public universities offering different disciplines and programes that lead to higher education degrees for post-secondary students. They are the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore Institute of Technology, and Singapore University of Social Sciences. For minimum entrance requirements, some courses are open to applicants with a high GPA on the high school diploma and good SAT scores. IB, A-Level, AP, and equivalent are well recognized. Please contact the university directly if you are interested in learning about that particular university.
Post-secondary - Ministry of Education Singapore
Spain is part of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and offers official bachelor’s degrees (Grado) through both public and private universities. Degree options and admissions procedures are largely set by each autonomous community and individual university. For many public universities, international applicants are asked to validate or translate their secondary-school credentials into Spain’s admissions framework—often via UNEDasiss, which can issue an admissions credential and, when required, incorporate PCE subject-test results to generate an admission score used for selection in higher-demand programs. Students with the IB and other widely accepted international qualifications may qualify through established routes, but requirements differ by institution and program. Private universities commonly use their own assessment methods (such as interviews, internal exams, or portfolio review) and may not rely on the same scoring system. Public-university tuition in Spain is generally more affordable than many destinations, but costs vary by region, degree type, and EU/non-EU status, while private universities and business schools are typically higher. For the most accurate pathway and document list, families should confirm requirements directly with each university.
Using AP courses alone rarely provides a clear, direct route into Spain’s public universities, since admissions are usually based on Spain’s credential evaluation and subject-matching rules rather than APs functioning as a stand-alone entry qualification. For applicants with a U.S. High School Diploma (with or without APs), the process typically includes:
Homologación: official recognition of the U.S. diploma as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato, handled through the Spanish education authorities.
UNEDasiss admissions credentialing: documentation review and issuance of an accreditation used in university applications.
PCE subject tests (when needed): taken to meet subject prerequisites and/or improve the admission score for competitive programs.
AP subjects may still be useful in certain contexts (for example, supporting academic preparation, placement, or potential credit recognition), but this depends on the specific university and degree, so students should always review the admissions page for their target programs.
Spain has also been updating its national regulations related to university access for students with foreign diplomas. Some groups (such as applicants from EU/reciprocity pathways and IB routes) are clearly covered under existing access rules, while the implementation details for other foreign qualifications continue to evolve—so families should verify the applicable requirements for the student’s intended entry year.
UAB's Documents required and procedure to follow
o Switzerland
How to Apply and Study in Switzerland
o The Netherlands
Fees for the Netherlands are higher than for Germany but are still modest compared to many other countries. There is a very wide choice of degrees available in English. IB, A-Level, AP, or equivalent is a university entrance requirement. Higher education in the Netherlands is offered at three types of institutions: Research University, University of Applied Sciences, and Vocational Education. There are over 450 English-taught programs at the undergraduate level. Only a few colleges offer on-campus housing.
Dutch Universities take steps to manage influx of international students
Dutch Research University Consortium
University College In the Netherlands
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