Founded in 1829, King’s College London is one of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom, and part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of research-intensive universities, along with Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, and LSE.

King’s was ranked 42nd worldwide for reputation in the Times World Reputation Rankings 2018, and 7th in the UK by the QS University Ranking 2019, and 4th in the UK for employability after graduation according to the >Times Graduate Employability Rankings 2018. It has many illustrious alumni, including Desmond Tutu, Virginia Woolf, the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, as well as twelve Nobel Laureates, including  Frederick Hopkins (the discoverer of vitamins), and numerous politicians.

King’s has five campuses: its historic campus on the Strand, which is situated on the banks of the river Thames, is located close to the iconic Trafalgar Square, many respected think tanks such as the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Adam Smith Institute and the Royal United Services Institute, and is a short walk from the Houses of Parliament.

Student Life

King’s College London’s prime location in the heart of London makes it a fantastic (albeit rather expensive) place to be. Although there are five campuses, each maintains an inviting environment. Indeed, King’s is reputed to be a friendly university with a thriving student union, the KCLSU, and student ambassadors to help students if they have questions or concerns. There are also 2 student bars that host regular social events.

Within the University, there are frequent public lectures, including the King’s Think Tank, Europe’s largest student policy institute. There is a large selection of clubs and societies to join: from 3 gyms and over 60 competitive sports clubs, to student media (including photography, film, journalism), to volunteering opportunities.

If that’s not enough, King’s hosts many events to help students make the most of their time in London through initiatives such as the ‘Unlocking London’ programme, which organises group tours and visits to cultural venues and historic sites.

How do I apply?

As with all British universities, applications are submitted online through the platform UCAS.

Undergraduate candidates apply via the British online platform UCAS, and upload a letter of motivation (Personal Statement), predicted grades for the Baccalaureate in each subject, and a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers. For help and advice on how to complete a successful UCAS application please see here.

Note that students send only 1 Personal Statement for all the universities they apply to (maximum of 5 choices).

The Personal Statement, maximum 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study a chosen course, what aspects particularly interest them, what steps they have already taken to engage with the subject (reading, conferences, internships etc), and, if possible, what aspects they are looking forward to studying.

Different courses may request different grades. For those studying the International Baccalaureate (IB), the general required score is 34-35/45.

For French students: King’s webpage has a chart demonstrating the equivalent of A-Levels, which can be used to determine the grades needed on the French Baccalaureate (or other international equivalent) in order to meet the eligibility requirements. An A* is 16, A is 14, B is 13

For general advice and information on the application process for international students, please click here.

International students from non-English speaking backgrounds or countries will be required to provide proof of knowledge of the English language through a certificate of a recognised standardised English proficiency test. The score is dependent on the course but generally ranges between 6.0 and 7.0 on the IELTS.

King’s College London also runs pre-sessional English-language programmes lasting between 6 and 15 weeks to help candidates improve their proficiency in English.

Can I visit King’s College London ?

There are several specialised open days, depending on the campus and area of study.

King’s have been running a series of online events to allow everyone to visit from your computer. To watch the series click here.

Fees

Students from the European Union will no longer be eligible for home fee status and student loans in England from the 2021-22 academic year, the government has confirmed.

For more informations see this page.

One of only three American institutions of higher learning to pre-date the American Revolution, Yale University owes its name to a 17th century Welsh merchant who donated his earnings from the sale of 9 bales of goods, 417 books and a portrait of King George I. Today, Yale University is home to about 5,200 undergraduates students of which about 10% are international.

It is not only part of the elite Ivy League of 8 American colleges and universities and a highly ranked university, but is also an innovative, forward-looking, international beacon of learning shining on the Eastern seaboard of the US in New Haven, Connecticut.

Yale: Training Leaders in all Domains

Since its inception, Yale has trained leaders in all domains of undergraduate and graduate studies. A few of the University’s notable alumni include Presidents George H. and George W. Bush, President and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas, American journalist Anderson Cooper, actors Jodie Foster, James Franco, Claire Danes, and author Nigerian-born Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie along with 61 Nobel laureates, 5 Fields Medalists and 3 Turing award winners.

Campus Life

Proud of its campus life with over 450 student organizations and a competitive member of the Ivy League athletic conference, Yale University was the first in the USA to adopt a mascot. Seventeen generations later, “Handsome Dan XVII”, a bulldog, attends athletic events, befriends students and professors alike, and according to the University, is the best-known mascot among American colleges and universities.

Some of the more well known student organizations include The Yale Political Union, advised by former Democratic Secretary of State John Kerry and the world’s oldest humor magazine, The Yale Record.

The architectural integrity of the original campus has largely remained intact despite the addition and demolition of various buildings since the campus opened in 1701. The oldest standing structure on campus is Connecticut Hall, built in Georgian style for the English kings of the same name and dating back to 1752. It is also a National Historic Landmark. Students and visitors will also notice Gothic, French Renaissance and mid-century modernist architecture.

A few additional traditions in Residential Colleges include “Master’s Teas” or a sort of meet-and-greet with special guests as well as weekly formal dinners.

For further information, see the campus >map.

Academics

Organization

All undergraduate students are part of Yale College. In order to graduate, all students must complete the common requirements as well as earn their major credits from their chosen major from among 80 options (shown here). Graduate programs are within the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. There are also professional schools at Yale (including Law, Medecine, Nursing, Public Health, etc.). The University’s most popular degree programs are Economics, Political Science, History and biological science-related majors. All study programs culminate with a thesis, exam or senior project.

Liberal Arts

As a liberal arts college, the Yale curriculum is vast. Students study a range of topics and have until the end of their second year to declare a major. One of the advantages of this system is that it helps students develop the critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and teamwork skills that will be crucial to students’ future careers. Yale promotes both diversity of choice and concentration in a particular area; moreover, students must take at least 2 course credits in the humanities and arts, sciences, and social sciences. Finally, they must fulfill 3 skills requirements: quantitative skills, writing and world language. 

How do I apply?

Former Dean of Admission at Yale, Jeffrey Brenzel, states: “An applicant’s academic strength is our first consideration. We review grades, standardized test scores, and evaluations by a counselor and two teachers to determine academic strength”. Aside from this, Yale also wants students who have something to bring to campus – students who have, as they say, “the potential to add to the Yale community and take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities available on our campus.” These two elements together make up the ‘holistic review’ that admissions teams use to assess applicants. Therefore, applying to Yale demands that potential applicants prepare significantly in advance and ask themselves honest questions about why they are interested in Yale. Finally, Yale says that it looks for students who wish to “stretch their limits”.

What is a holistic review?

When universities use a holistic review, this means that they are looking for students who have both a proven academic talent and also a high level of personal development and extracurricular accomplishment. Additionally, universities consider not only grades and test scores, but also on summer activities (camps, courses, online courses, internships, jobs), extracurricular activities, personal essays, teacher recommendations, and the list goes on.

What are the deadlines to apply?

	Application for admission	Application for Financial Aid
Single-choice early action	November 1st	November 10th
Regular Decision	January 2nd	March 15th

Following submission of the application documentation, students may also be contacted by Yale directly to set up an interview with a Yale alumni.

Is it possible to transfer to Yale?

Yes, currently enrolled students at accredited 2- or 4-year colleges and universities may apply to transfer to Yale before March 1st. The admit rate is just under 3%, which is an even lower admit rate than for first year students. Out of 1,000 students who apply to transfer, around 20 to 30 applicants are accepted. More information is available here.

When do you have to start preparing for the University of Yale?

Taking into account the numerous specific requirements for American universities like taking specific exams, the importance of extra-curricular activities and the numerous essays to write, we recommend you start to think about your application for the United States from the start of your penultimate year at the latest.

TIMELINE FOR AN APPLICATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Throughout Year 11 and Year 12:

• Year 11 to February of Year 12: Start researching US colleges and preparing for standardized exams.
• Spring (March to May) of Year 12: We recommend you take the standardized tests for the first time (SAT and SAT Subject Tests) plus English exam (TOEFL) if necessary and register for futures sessions of the tests.
• Summer (June to Aug): Start writing your essays for your application.

Autumn at the start of your Final year:

• Ask your teachers and counselors to complete the required documents
• Take the SAT or ACT for the second time if you think you can improve on your score significantly before the deadline.
• Early Action Candidates: October is last month in which you can take the ACT Plus Writing Test so that Yale can examine your results.
• November 1st: deadline for Early Action applicants(!) – this will be the last month you can take the SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject tests and TOEFL so that Yale can examine your results.

Winter and Spring of your Final Year:

• End of March/Early April: Admission decisions for ‘Regular Decision’ are available online.
• Mid-December: The decisions for Early Action are available online
• January 2nd: Deadline for Regular Decisions candidates(!) – this will be the last month you can take the SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject tests and TOEFL so that Yale can examine your results.
• February: Regular Decision Candidates: It is your last month to take the ACT Plus Writing so that Yale can examine your results.

What is the profile of Yale students

In its mission statement, Yale states that the University wants to “educate students (…) and develop their intellectual, moral, civic, and creative capacities to the fullest”. To this end, Yalies, as students call themselves, are extremely motivated, aware, and engaged “in every sphere of human activity”. Hundreds of student organizations exist, including dance, debate, singing, theater and ahletic clubs of all levels.

For the incoming class of 2022 (admitted spring 2019) 35,308 students applied, 95% of them in the top 10% of their high school graduating class. Of this number, nearly 1,600 enrolled in early 2019 (slightly less than the very selective 6.3% acceptance rate).

The top 15 intended majors declared at the time of application included biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer science, economic, English, environmental studies and ethics, politics & economics.

What are the school fees at the University of Yale?

The total estimated cost of attendance at Yale is near $70K per year. Tuition alone costs $50K for the year. About 50% of Yale students receive scholarships and/or other grant aid from Yale sources.

Admission to Yale is need-blind, which means that a student’s admission is not based on his or her family’s ability to pay tuition. Yale provides financial aid that is entirely need-based.

International students will be glad to know that they are eligible to receive the same financial-aid policies as American students: their admission is need-blind. They have access to financial aid to meet 100% of their demonstrated need and may avoid bank loans to finance their education.

The image of the ‘Golden State’, Stanford or Leland Stanford Junior University, was founded by its namesake in 1891. Leland Stanford decided to go west of New York in the search of gold and opportunities.

There he founded, with his wife Jane, the university which is home to a flagship of innovation in the ‘Bay Area’ of California and is in effect one of the most highly reputed universities in the world (No.2 according to the QS University Rankings 2018). Its slogan is ‘The wind of Freedom blows’ (Die Luft der Freiheit weht).

Stanford’s campus is situated in a region known for the free circulation of ideas and for its successful technological enterprises like Facebook (at Menlo Park) LinkedIn (at Mountain View), and lots of others at Palo Alto. The University is situated 34 miles to the south (around 55km) of San Francisco and 22 miles north of San Jose (around 35km)

Stanford University in a few words

Life on Stanford’s campus

The promotion of 2021 is home to more than 7 000 students from more than 75 countries. The campus is familiarly known by the name of ‘The Farm’, derived from the era when horses rather than students roamed once was once the farm of the founders of the university, Leland and Jane Stanford.

At 87 meters, the Hoover Tower dominates all the other structures on campus. Named after the former president of the United States, the tower is home to a collection of works linked to the history of the 20th century offered by President Hoover. The tower offers to students and to visitors an impressive view of Stanford and its surroundings. The Hannah Honeycomb house was constructed by Frank Lloyd Wright from 1937. This octagonal house was originally the house for the scholars of Stanford. It is henceforth considered to be a historical site. Among the most visited places on the campus, we must mention the White Plaza, which is in many ways the center of student life on campus.

How do I apply?

Apply for a Bachelor’s at Stanford

To apply to Stanford, you will need to use the Common App (or ‘common application’) centralized platform through which you can apply to the majority of American colleges and universities.

You must provide information on your family – including your parents’ professions-, provide your record of grades or high school grades, provide a mid-year report, submit 2 letters of recommendation, submit a ‘school report’, write a CV, send results of your official tests (ACT/SAT/SAT Subject tests- Note that the written parts of these examinations are obligatory), describe your extracurricular activities and, like for the majority of highly selective colleges, complete the development questions as a response to the supplementary dissertation questions specific to Stanford. You must submit all your documents before the appropriate deadline. If you are sure that Stanford is your first choice, you might want to make a request for ‘Restrictive Early Action.’ The anticipated documents must be submitted before November 1st. The university stipulates that you must complete the ACT/SAT by November.

The documents for a ‘regular decision’ application must be submitted before January 2nd. In this case, the students are allowed to choose to take the ACT/SAT at the end of February. Stanford does not require the SAT Subject Tests, but it is probably preferable to take the tests corresponding to your interests and your strong points.

The university does not require an English test, but they strongly recommend taking the TOEFL but does not recommend the IELTS.

Finally, the university will accept your highest scores of each section of the ACT/SAT separately, which they call ‘superscoring’.

When do you have to start preparing for the University of Stanford

Taking into account the numerous specific requirements for American universities like taking exams; consistently participating in extra-curricular activities including clubs, music, sports, and side projects; and the numerous essays to write, we recommend that students begin start to think about their path to Stanford as soon as they begin high school. The application itself is typically completed during the fall semester of students’ last year in high school.

What is the profile of the students at the University of Stanford?

The admission process at Stanford is a ‘holistic’ process with takes into consideration numerous factors at considers each application on the whole and doesn’t just focus on academic results and tests.

What is the profile of the students at the University of Stanford?

Approximate school fees at undergraduate level (all USD):

Total school fees for Bachelor’s:

$228,832 for 4 years (57,208 per year)

Total budget estimated for a Bachelor’s:

$296,692 for 4 years

Total budget for one year: $74,173

• School fees and obligatory fees: $57,208
• Accommodation: $13,618
• Books and equipment: $1,246
• Other expenses: $2,101

School fees for a Master’s

Total costs of Master’s school fees: around $61,000 per year

Total cost estimated for a Master’s: $84,280 per year

Total budget for a year of a Master’s:

• School fees and obligatory fees: $61 006
• Accommodation: $17,298
• Book and equipment: $1,000
• Other expenses: $3,887

School fees for the LLM:

Total cost of school fees for the LLM: around $65,252

Total budget estimated for an LLM: $93,740

• School fees and obligatory fees: $ 70,660
• Accommodation: $21,505
• Books and equipment: $1,575
• Other expenses: $3,900

MBA School Fees:

Total cost of school fees for the MBA: $106,416

Total budget for the MBA: $168,307

Total predicted budget for a year of MBA: $110,914

Personal expenses: $6,066

School fees: $74,400

Obligatory fees: $3,693

Insurance and health costs: $4,480

Books and equipment: $900

Accommodation: $21,375

The University of St Andrews is the most highly renowned and the oldest university in Scotland. Along with >The University of Edinburgh, St Andrews is considered to be the best university in Scotland and one of the most prestigious in the United Kingdom, on the same level as Oxford  or Cambridge.

Regularly classed as the third best university in the United Kingdom in all the national rankings, their students are the most satisfied in the U.K (Complete University Guide, 2018)! St Andrews, the university was established between 1410 and 1413- the first in Scotland- and comprising three colleges (University College, St Mary’s College and St Leonard’s College). Today, its student body of around 8000 at undergraduate level and 2000 graduates is composed of more than 135 nationalities and 45% are international students.

So, St Andrews is one of the most international universities in Scotland! The Complete University Guide classifies the Management, Divinity and the Middle Eastern and African Studies among its academic programs with the school of English, Philosophy, Anatomy and Physiology equally very well ranked by The Times and The Sunday Times.

Situated in the very picturesque city of St Andrews, the university was established between 1410 and 1413 and comprises three colleges (University College, St Mary’s College and St Leonard’s College).

Along with the University of Edinburgh, St Andrews is considered as the best university in Scotland and one of the most prestigious in the United Kingdom, on the same level as Oxford or Cambridge

The University of St Andrews in a few words

With more than 135 nationalities represented and 45% of students being international, Saint Andrews is one of the most international universities in Scotland.

The university is composed of 4 faculties. Their departments of Physics and Astronomy, of International Relations, of Information Technology, Geography, English, Management, Philosophy and Theology and African and Oriental Studies are among the most reputed at the university and are in the national top 3. Indeed, in the 2019 Complete University Guide, 24 out of the 25 subjects offered by St Andrews rank within the top 10 nationally making St Andrews one of only three multi-faculty universities (along with Cambridge and Oxford) in the UK to have over 95% of their subjects in the top 10.

Numerous illustrious mathematicians, scientists theologians and philosophers are graduates or affiliates of the University of St Andrews, from which there are six Nobel prizes.Recent alumni include the former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond; former Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon; HM British Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward; United States Ambassador to Hungary Colleen Bell; Olympic cycling gold medalist Chris Hoy; and royals Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Six Nobel Laureates are among St Andrews’ alumni and former staff: two in Chemistry and Physiology or Medicine, and one each in Peace and Literature.

What is the profile of the students at the University of St Andrews?

Because of the high selectivity of the university, we recommend to send your application to these universities only if you can demonstrate that you have excellent academic results and are sure of obtaining at least a ‘Bien’ grade at Baccalaureate.

Established in 1746 and therefore one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the US, Princeton University is now one of eight elite American universities in the Ivy League. Additionally, it was ranked between 1st and 2nd best university worldwide for 16 of the 18 years between 2001 and 2018 by US News & World Report. QS World University Rankings places it at number 13 in 2018.

This private university has just under 5,400 undergraduate and about 2,700 postgraduate students. Its most well-recognized programs are consistently in the arts & humanities, natural sciences and social socials & management

Princeton University in a few words

The school is named for the famous alumni, the 28th president of the United States and former president of Princeton. Students enjoy its 600 acres set in suburban Princeton, New Jersey, which is about an hour by car from Philadelphia and about an hour and a half from New York City.

Concerning its academics, the highly reputed Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs delivers degrees from undergraduate to PhD. Among undergraduates the most popular majors include Public Policy Analysis, Computer Engineering, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, History, and Operations Research. Nearly 75% of classes have fewer than 20 students and many are taught in small, interactive groups around tables in seminar style; general and beginner courses are taught as in a lecture setting.

Princeton Tigers, as its students and their mascot are known, are particularly faithful to their alma mater and many attend an annual reunion on campus held each May. Graduating from Princeton is indeed, like many American universities, equal to gaining lifetime access to a club, in this case, a very selective one!

How do I apply?

To apply to Princeton University, you will need to use the Common Application, a centralized platform through which you can apply to most American colleges and universities. You will need to fill in information about your family – including the occupation of your parents -, provide your transcript or high school grades, submit two teacher reference letters and a guidance counselor letter of reference, draft a résumé or CV, send official test scores (SAT, SAT Subject Test scores, ACT and English language test scores), describe your extracurricular activities and as with most highly selective colleges complete the essay questions on the Common App as well as answer additional essay questions specific to Princeton known as the Princeton Supplement. The application will be due on January 1st unless you are applying for Single Choice Early Action in which case you must submit all materials by November 1st.

The selection process for Princeton is divided into several steps that we describe to you below:

When do you have to start preparing for Princeton?

Taking into account the numerous specific requirements for American universities like taking exams; consistently participating in extra-curricular activities including clubs, music, sports, and side projects; and the numerous essays to write, we recommend that students begin start to think about their path to Stanford as soon as they begin high school. The application itself is typically completed during the fall semester of students’ last year in high school.

Candidacy for ’Regular Decision’

What is the profile of students at Princeton?

With a rate of acceptance of 6,5% for Bachelor’s level, admission to Princeton is on an extremely competitive level at both Bachelor’s and Master’s level. According to our research, to have a good chance of being accepted,you must be at the top of your class and have a SAT score close to 1600 or an ACT score of around 35.

The University of Nottingham is a public research university situated in the East Midlands in England, UK. Described by the Times as “the nearest thing Britain has to a truly global university”, Nottingham stands out because of its campuses in Malaysia and China as well as in the UK. Its status as a global university is reinforced by Nottingham’s rank in 2010 as 13th in the world for the number of former alumni listed among CEOs of the Fortune Global 500, sharing the position with Tohoku University in Japan and none other than Stanford University in California.

Renowned for its exceptional employability rating, Nottingham has been described as “one of the most employer friendly universities in the world” by Virgin’s Alternative Guide to British Universities. Likewise, in the Times Higher Education world ranking, Nottingham places amongst the top 15 most targeted universities in the world by leading employers. A place at the University clearly leaves you in good stead when it comes to career prospects – but what’s it actually like to study there?

Student Life

Student life at Nottingham is characterised by societies, sports clubs, volunteering projects, student-run groups and networks, and events such as pub quizzes, live music, club nights and comedy nights. Its established Students’ Union (SU) is to thank for the plethora of different activities on offer and is even responsible for the critically acclaimed and award-winning cinema and theatre group ‘The Nottingham New Theatre’. Likewise, Nottingham’s status as a ‘campus’ university means that students – in particular first year undergraduates – are within close proximity of one another. The campus allows for the presence of a centrally located social hub – in the form of a Students’ Union – where students can congregate and get to know one another. Nottingham’s principal campus – known as ‘University Parks Campus’ – is located within the City of Nottingham and just west of the city centre. The campus is very green and the vast array of social space means that students are often seen picnicking outside when the weather permits. Described as “one of the most attractive (campus’s) in the UK”, by the study-in-UK website, Nottingham’s beautiful and green campus really is home to thousands of happy students.

How Do I Apply?

For students wishing to apply to Nottingham, strong academic results and rigorous preparation are needed.

What are the different stages of the application?

There are several steps:

1. Apply on UCAS
2. Receive a conditional offer
3. Meet requirements from your offer
4. Confirm your acceptance

The details of these steps are covered below and on the University’s website.

How to begin an application:

Candidates apply via the British online platform UCAS, and upload a letter of motivation (Personal Statement), their predicted exam marks, and a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers. Students may only submit one Personal Statement for all the universities they apply for (maximum of 5 choices). The Personal Statement, no more than 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study their chosen course, what aspects particularly interest them, what steps they have already taken to engage with the subject (reading, conferences, internships etc), and, if possible, what aspects they are looking forward to studying.

Conditional offer and acceptance:

If students succeed in all these stages, in January they will receive a ‘conditional offer’ of admission. This means that they will be accepted if they attain the required marks (most often a high grade in your end of high school studies, and in a standardized English exam: 7.5 in the IELTS for example).

What is the deadline for applying?

Deadlines:

The deadline for applications to the University of Nottingham is the 15th January of a students’ final year of secondary school or sixth-form college (Year 12).

Fees

University fees vary based on your choice of degree. To get an idea of how much you can expect to pay, follow the links below and select your preferred degree.

See undergraduate degrees

See postgraduate degrees

When taking into account the cost of any university, you should also consider the cost of living.

Nottingham provides an estimate for the cost of living, which can be found on this website: they provide a detailed list of costs you can expect to incur including housing and social costs.

You might predict an annual average budget of around £10,000 per year, including accommodation, transport, personal expenses etc.

When do you have to start preparing for the University of Nottingham?

It is recommended that students try to find aspects of their chosen course that genuinely interest them and to think deeply about why they wish to study this subject – after all, students are applying to study this subject full time for at least 3 years.

Is it possible to visit the campus?

Open days at Nottingham have now closed for this academic year. More information can be find here.

Situated in the very heart of the city of Montréal, McGill is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Canada and is considered to be among the best universities in Quebec.

Established in 1821 by a royal charter granted by King George V, McGill is one of the two member universities of the Association of American Universities situated outside of the United States and the only Canadian university which is a member of the Global University Leaders Forum.

In 2018, McGill University is ranked the 42nd best university in the world in the Times Higher Education rankings and holds 32nd place in the QS World University Rankings.

McGill University

Founded at the will of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, the Imperial Institute was established in 1888 and joined the University of London in 1907 before leaving it 100 years later.

With 41,000 students from 150 countries, 1700 professors and 250,000 graduates across the world, McGill offers degree programs in more than 300 fields of study.

The University comprises five principal faculties: Arts, Science, Medicine, Engineering and Management.

The application

When do you have to start preparing for McGill University?

The deadline for applying to McGill is fixed at January 15th of your final year.

All the documents must be sent to the University of McGill before March 15th.

What is the profile of the students of McGill?

The minimum required to be admitted to McGill is an ‘Assez Bien’ grade. In all cases, the most selective programs require at least a “Bien” grade on the Baccalaureate :

• Management: Series S: average generally and in mathematics of 14.5/20 and 15.5/20 in ES Series.
• Arts: 14.5/20 in series L, ES, or S
• Arts and Sciences : 15/20 with 14 in math and in science in Series S

The minimum required for the majority of the engineering programs (Bioengineering, mechanical, chemical, civil engineering) is an average of 16/20 with 16 in mathematics and in science.

The University of Manchester is a Russell Group university located in the North of England, in the riveting city of Manchester. It is a relatively new addition to the wealth of fantastic universities in Britain, having been formed by the merger of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and the Victoria University of Manchester in 2004. Despite that, its roots hark back to 1824, with the formation of the Mechanics’ Institute. What’s more, the University is a source of great pride for many Mancunians (as residents of Manchester are called), as Manchester is the world’s first industrial city, making the University one of the best in the UK for engineering and sciences. 

With over 40,000 students, of which 27,000 are undergraduates, it is the largest single site university in the UK, and the second-largest in the UK overall. In addition, in the 2018-2019 QS World University Rankings, the University of Manchester ranked 6th. 

The University boasts many famous alumni, such as Ernest Rutherford, who, whilst on the university’s academic staff 1909, first split the atom. In fact, amongst the University’s former staff and students, there are 25 Nobel Prize winners!

Although the University is widely referred to as a campus university, this is not strictly correct. With its red-brick academic buildings and facilities interspersed around the town of more than 500,000, the University of Manchester is a vital part of the city. It is worth noting that most of the university is spread across two parts, that are colloquially referred to as the ‘North Campus’ and the ‘South Campus’.

Academic matters

The University of Manchester is home to the largest number of full-time students in the UK. It is extremely international, with thousands of students hailing from 154 countries around the world.

It is a research-intensive university, with the 6th largest research income of any English university. A post-graduation employability ranking published by Emerging in 2015 put Manchester in the impressive place of 5th nationally. 

The University has an impressive scientific legacy, which is demonstrated by the fact that both the contraceptive pill and the first working computer were created by academics at the University. However, science is not its only forte. The Sunday Times stated, in 2006, “Manchester has a formidable reputation spanning most disciplines, but most notably in the life sciences, engineering, humanities, economics, sociology and the social sciences.” Teaching is primarily lecture-based, but students will also have smaller, more personalised seminars. The amount of contact hours a student will have is entirely dependent on the course, as some have far more than others. For instance, English Literature students will have far fewer contact hours than students of Medicine. 

How do I apply?

Queen Mary University of London requires strong academic results and rigorous preparation is needed.

What are the different stages of the application?

There are several steps:

1. Application
2. Conditional offer
3. Acceptance

The details of these steps are covered below.

How to begin an application:

Candidates apply via the British online platform UCAS, and upload a letter of motivation (Personal Statement), their predicted exam marks, and a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers. Students may only submit one Personal Statement for all the universities they apply for (maximum of 5 choices). The Personal Statement, no more than 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study their chosen course, what aspects particularly interest them, what steps they have already taken to engage with the subject (reading, conferences, internships etc), and, if possible, what aspects they are looking forward to studying.

Further information specific to the University of Manchester can be found on Manchester’s website.

Conditional offer and acceptance:

If students succeed in all these stages, in January they will receive a ‘conditional offer’ of admission. This means that they will be accepted if they attain the required marks (most often a high grade in your end of high school studies, and in a standardized English exam: 7.5 in the IELTS for example).

What is the deadline for applying?

Deadlines:

The deadline for applications to the University of Manchester is 15th January of a students’ final year of secondary school or sixth-form college (Year 12).

What is the profile of the students at the University of Manchester?

When do you have to start preparing for the University of Manchester?

It is strongly recommended that students begin preparing from the end of Year 11 or beginning of Year 12. If possible, start any reading and thinking about what to write about in a Personal Statement as early as possible. Some candidates, particularly those with a weaker level of English, need to consider preparing even earlier. See this link for useful information for international candidates.

It is recommended that students try to find aspects of their chosen course that genuinely interest them and to think deeply about why they wish to study this subject – after all, students are applying to study this subject full time for at least 3 years.

Is it possible to visit the campus?

To check the Open Days dates see this page.

The University of Concordia comprises 4 principal faculties (Arts and Science, Engineering and IT, Fine Arts and the John Molton School of Business) and numerous schools, centers and research institutes.

The university offers more than 300 undergraduate programs and 100 programs at Master’s level.

The University of Concordia

The John Molson school of Business at the University is among the best management schools in Canada and benefits from a good international reputation.

Concordia also boasts more than 200,000 graduates around the world.

Studying at Concordia constitutes an interesting alternative to >McGill University for students who wish to study in Quebec in English and in which the average sits around 11 to 14/20.

How do I apply?

The selection process at the University of Concordia is divided into multiple steps that we will describe below:

How can I submit my application to Concordia?

You must submit your application on the Concordia website which must comprise the following elements:

• Your score in an English test (IELTS, TOEFL)
• Your official school report from 11th and 12th grade.
• Your predicted results from the Bac.

When do you have to start preparing for the University of Concordia?

The deadline for applying to Concordia is fixed at January 15th of your final year.

All the documents must be sent to the University of Concordia before March 15th.

What is the profile of the students at the University of Concordia?

Concordia is a selective university. The admission decision is based on your 3 class reports of your penultimate year and your first report of your final year, your predicted results and your final Bac results (in the case that you already have them).

The minimum requirement to be admitted to Concordia is,  according to the programs, between 11 and 15/20 on the French Bac (see this website for equivalent in your country).

In all cases, the most selective programs require at least a ‘Bien’ grade at the Baccalaureate.

Moreover, you must also demonstrate a very good command of the English language (a minimum of 7 in the IELTS or 90 in the TOEFL).

Columbia University in a few words

In 2017, its student population was 32,429 (8,868 students in undergraduate programs and 23,561 in postgraduate programs), with 42% of the student population identifying themselves as a minority and 28% born outside of the United States.

Since its creation, Columbia University has educated American and world leaders, beginning with Alexander Hamilton – class of 1777-, later to become the primary economic advisor to George Washington, the first American President. The University is well-acquainted with success as just this year, In addition, Professor Joachim Frank shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry. The University itself awards the famed Pulitzer Prize each year in twenty-one categories for excellence in newspaper journalism, literary achievements and musical composition. This year, the University also graduated a diverse group of 16,000 students from more than 100 different countries.

Campus

Despite its location in busy Manhattan, the 32 acre (13 hectare) campus of Columbia University is gated, and therefore provides the best of both worlds within the Morningside Heights neighborhood on the border of Upper West Side and Harlem.

Among the most-loved places to spend time on campus, the “Low Steps”, the nickname for the staircase leading up to Low Memorial Library, probably take the prize. The building is also one of many buildings National Historic Landmark sites at Columbia. Built in 1895 by then University President Seth Low as Columbia’s central library, it would later be replaced by the Butler Library, the university’s largest single library with over 2 million volumes. Philosophy Hall also bears the historical honor as the site of the invention of FM radio with WKCR, the radio station run by Columbia students.

Almost two dozen undergraduate dormitories (purpose-built or converted) are located on campus or in Morningside Heights. As a consequence, undergraduate students are guaranteed on-campus housing during their studies.

How do I apply?

According to Columbia, about 10% of the Class of 2017 were educated abroad, representing over 30 countries. As the University says, “We also value the fact that international applicants, regardless of citizenship, have much to offer from their backgrounds and experiences as global citizens” (https://barnard.edu/admissions/internationalstudents). In addition to the requirements listed below for Columbia University, applicants may also chose to participate in an optional interview with an alumnus/a of the University.

To apply to Columbia, you will need to use the Common Application, a centralized platform through which you can apply to most American colleges and universities. You will need to fill in information about your family – including the occupation of your parents -, provide your transcript or high school grades, submit 2 teacher recommendation letters, submit one “school report”, draft a résumé or CV, send official test scores (SAT, SAT Subject Test scores, ACT and English language test scores – note that the essay portion of the ACT/SAT is not required), declare a major or intended area of study, describe your extracurricular activities and as with most highly selective colleges complete the essay questions on the Common App as well as answer additional essay questions specific to Columbia.

You must submit all your materials before the appropriate deadline. If you are sure that Columbia is your first choice, then you may want to apply for Early Decision, which may increase your chances for admission. Early Decision materials must be submitted by November 1st. The University stipulates that you must complete ACT/SAT/an English language test by November. Materials for Regular Decision must be submitted by January 1st. In this case, students may opt to take the ACT/SAT/an English language test (TOEFL, IELTS, DET) as late at February. SAT subject tests are not required by Columbia, however it is probably a good idea to take the tests that correspond to your interests and strengths. Finally, the University will accept your highest scores from each section of the ACT/SAT separately. This is known as “superscoring”.

When do you have to start preparing for Columbia University

What is the profile of students at Columbia University

“The admissions process at Columbia is a “holistic” one, taking many factors into careful consideration. Columbia does not rely on standardized testing and grades alone and instead looks at all parts of every application to help inform its judgment. Admissions reads personal statements to try to understand each candidate and what motivates him or her. Admissions reads teacher recommendations carefully to understand a candidate’s contributions in the classroom and what that candidate might offer his or her Columbia classmates.”

It is worth noting that applying to Barnard College, is also open to female students. Out of 7,716 applicants, 15% – 603 students – were admitted to the class of 2011. That’s 10% more than at Columbia University overall.