In this article
- IE University’s 2027 admissions calendar
- Why Round 1 is the real deadline, not just the nearest one
- The ieGAT: one attempt only, so prepare before you click
- Beyond the test: the online assessment and the interview
- Our take: three profiles, three strategies
IE University’s early round closed on 18 September. For everyone targeting Madrid or Segovia for September 2027, the next milestone is Round 1, which closes on 6 November 2026, with decisions communicated by 11 December at the latest. In plain terms: a file submitted in the next four weeks can be settled before Christmas.
We re-checked the full calendar and the test rules on IE University’s official pages on 5 October. Here is what you need to know, and what it actually changes for your application strategy.
IE University’s 2027 admissions calendar
IE University works in rounds, with identical evaluation criteria from one round to the next. For Bachelor entry in September 2027:
- Early round: closed since 18 September 2026 (decisions communicated by 23 October 2026)
- Round 1: apply by 6 November 2026, decision by 11 December 2026
- Round 2: apply by 15 January 2027, decision by 19 February 2027
- Round 3: apply by 5 March 2027, decision by 23 April 2027
- After Round 3: from May 2027, applications are reviewed on a first come, first served basis, subject to places remaining
One detail worth knowing: decisions are communicated throughout each round, not only on the deadline date. Applying now rather than on 5 November often means hearing back well before the stated decision date.
Why Round 1 is the real deadline, not just the nearest one
Two mechanisms make this round matter more than it looks. First, places: IE admits round by round, and programme availability shrinks as the cycle advances. Second, money: financial aid is allocated progressively, with more resources available in the earlier rounds.
The precise point many families discover too late concerns the IE Foundation scholarship: the financial aid application must be complete by 28 February, which in practice means being admitted in Round 2 at the latest. Applying in Round 1 on 6 November gives you a safety window: if a document is missing or a step runs late, Round 2 remains open without sacrificing access to scholarships.
The same autumn logic applies across Spain: we covered it for ESADE, whose rolling admissions for 2027 are also open.
The ieGAT: one attempt only, so prepare before you click
IE University’s admissions test is taken online, in English, with machine proctoring available around the clock. It lasts between one and a half and two hours in total and measures reasoning rather than knowledge: numerical reasoning (12 minutes, 37 tasks), verbal reasoning (12 minutes, 49 tasks), deductive logical thinking (6 minutes) and learning efficiency (5 minutes). Applicants to School of Science and Technology programmes also sit a 60 minute mathematics assessment.
The rule you can never afford to forget: the test may only be taken once. There is no retake, which makes it the exact opposite of the SAT. Before booking your slot, train seriously on every question format: our IE University admissions test preparation guide walks through each section.
IE also accepts alternative tests: SAT from 1200, ACT from 24, LNAT from 22. Watch the calendar if you choose the SAT route: the next sitting is on 7 November 2026 (registration by 23 October, late registration by 27 October), one day after Round 1 closes. A November SAT therefore cannot count for Round 1: it naturally points you to Round 2 on 15 January, using the 7 November or 5 December sittings (registration by 20 November).
Beyond the test: the online assessment and the interview
The IE application also includes an online assessment with video and written questions, designed to evaluate your communication skills, followed by a personal interview with the admissions committee before the final decision. This is where a good file becomes an admitted file: the coherence between your background, your project and the programme you are targeting has to be obvious, in a few minutes of video as much as in the interview.
These steps should be prepared like an oral exam: mock runs in real conditions, critical review of your written answers, work on your personal story. That is precisely the core of our IE University application guide and coaching.
Our take: three profiles, three strategies
If your file is ready and you are sitting the ieGAT, aim for Round 1 on 6 November: a decision before Christmas, with places and scholarships fully available. If you are going the SAT route, build your plan around Round 2: sit on 7 November or 5 December, submit by 15 January. And if you are still weighing IE against other Spanish or European options, set the overall strategy first: our Bachelor admissions page covers the parallel calendars (UK, Spain, Italy, Netherlands) to build a balanced list. Non-EU candidates: start visa procedures as soon as you are admitted, IE explicitly recommends it.
Since 2019, 44 of our students have been admitted to IE University. Figures taken from our admissions database, classes of 2019 to 2025; these are minimums, as the 2017-2018 and 2025-2026 classes are not yet consolidated. For a precise view of your chances and the right round for your profile, book a strategy call with our team: 160+ Google reviews speak for the method.
Sources: ie.edu and satsuite.collegeboard.org, consulted 5 October 2026.
Author
With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam co-founded Your Dream School in 2018. Since then the company has coached more than 1,000 students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.
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