Early Programmes
It is important to understand the various policies for students who wish to pursue Early Action and/or Early Decision Programmes for US institutions. Admission offices are able to cross check early candidate lists.
VIS students must carefully follow the early policies of the college or university to which they are applying to. Check each school's website to clarify their policy. Also, double check deadlines, and find out if there are priority applications (or rolling admissions).
UK institutions: UCAS Conservatoires music applications (beginning of October): application deadline for UCAS Conservatoires music applications. Applications for dance, drama, and musical theatre courses may have a different deadline – check conservatoires’ websites for information.
UK institutions: UCAS - Oxford and Cambridge, and for most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science (mid-October): deadline for applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and for most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science.
Priority applications (for example for Canada): A priority application is a type of college/university application that recommends students to submit their materials earlier than the regular application deadline. Colleges/universities offering priority applications usually evaluate these applications on a rolling basis, allowing students to receive admissions decisions sooner than they would with a regular application.
US institutions: Early Decision (ED): In this type of application students applies early, typically in November, and receive admission results in December. If admitted, and there are no financial issues, the student is committed to attend and must withdraw all pending applications worldwide immediately.
When applying through this system, students may simultaneously apply to rolling application colleges/universities. Some early decision colleges and universities also allow simultaneous applications to non-binding early action (not single-choice early action) schools.
Upon admission, students are required to send a non-refundable deposit well in advance of the 1st May deadline.
US institutions: Early Decision II (EDII): A second round of Early Decision, typically with deadline in January, and results are usually provided in February. When applying through EDII, students can simultaneously submit regular decision or rolling applications. If the student is admitted (and there are no financial issues), they are committed to attend and must withdraw all pending applications worldwide immediately. A student can apply EDII after being denied or deferred EDI by another college/university.
US institutions: Early Action (EA): It is another early programme, where students applying early receive early notifications of results. Unlike the Early Decision (EDI and EDII), the EA is non-binding. Students have until the 1st May to accept or decline their offers of admission, allowing them to continue applying to other colleges/universities even if admitted through EA. Some colleges/universities will also permit simultaneous applications to another early decision institution, depending on whether the university offers a Restrictive Early Action o a Non-restrictive Early Action.
Restrictive Early Action (also known as Single Choice Early Action): Typically, a student may not apply to any other college/university under their Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Early Decision, or Early Notification plan. Some universities might allow exceptions for applying to a public university's early programme.
Non-restrictive Early Action: Typically, a student may apply to any other college/university under their Early Action, Non-restrictive Early Action, Early Decision, or Early Notification plan.
Institutions in Hong Kong: Some universities have early rounds (for example HKU has a first round with a deadline on 15 November). You must double check deadlines, as these might be different for different universities.
Dutch institutions: Some University Colleges: Deadlines can vary from December to February. You must double check deadlines, as these might be different for different University Colleges.
Dutch institutions: Numerus fixus: Usually on the 15th January. You must double check deadlines, as these might be different for different universities.
Other universities around the world: There are universities and colleges that will have other preferential or early rounds. It is important to double check.
Regular Programmes
Rolling Admission: Colleges and universities with rolling admissions evaluate applications as they are received versus waiting to evaluate all applications after a hard deadline. Colleges and universities will continue to evaluate applications until they’ve filled all the slots for their incoming class.
US institutions: Regular Decision: Students applying through Regular Decision submit their applications by the standard deadline, typically in early January but as late as March. Admission decisions are usually returned to students no later than the 1st April, and the students must respond by the 1st May.
UK institutions: UCAS (end of January): equal consideration deadline for applications for most undergraduate courses.
UK institutions: UCAS (end of June): applications received by this deadline will be sent to universities and colleges. After this time, applications are automatically entered into Clearing.
Deferred entry
Whether you're considering taking a gap year, exploring opportunities, or fulfilling personal commitments before starting your academic journey, a deferred entry option offers flexibility and support to applicants seeking to defer their university entry.