Victoria Shanghai Academy University Counsellors provide comprehensive university guidance for students in grades 9-12. 

The VSA University Guidance Counsellors believe “college is a match to be made, not a prize to be won” (Frank Sachs). 

Our highest priority is to help students clarify their values, assess their strengths, and identify their goals for post-secondary education and then provide them and their parents with accurate information and guidance about colleges and the admissions process.​

The VSA University Counselling Office team (UCO) aims to help students make thoughtful and informed choices about their futures. Our work is guided by principles of honesty, integrity, transparency, equity, fairness, and respect for other students and their families and fellow professionals. Each of the VSA University Guidance Counsellors is a member of the International Association of College Admissions Counselling (International ACAC) and regularly attends Council of International Schools and other regional international university admissions events. In addition to maintaining the highest level of up-to-date knowledge about college admissions, the UCO takes seriously the professional ethics of International ACAC, adapted in partnership with the National ACAC. These give clear professional and ethical standards, policies, practices, and procedures that guide and govern the activities of the secondary, post-secondary, and third-party participants in the college admissions process.

VSA starts its programming in Year 6 with careers sessions run in Flex for each of years 6, 7, and 8. In year 8 students also do the middle years YouScience Assessment.  College/University Admission Counselling and Planning begins in Year 9 with an introduction to the process during Flex classes. Delivering workshops and information during Flex lessons as well as lunchtime workshops continues into Year 10, 11 and 12. Each university counsellor is responsible for advising and counselling the students in their respective allocated House groups.