Applying to University 2025 as an expat student

This month’s guest newsletter was written by the founder of Expat Student, Louise Thomson Fernet. 

Expat Student was founded in 2018 to help families with their children’s applications to study abroad, applying to prestigious universities in the UK, Europe, and Canada. With advisors based in the UK, France and the USA, they support students from all over the world.

Here Louise breaks down the application process step-by-step and explains what students can expect, wherever they might be thinking of applying.

So, what can you expect when preparing for your university applications?

Register with the relevant admissions service

If you would like to attend universities in the UK or The Netherlands you need to register with the relevant body, for example UCAS for UK universities, Studielink for The Netherlands.

For universities in other countries, such as Spain, Italy and Canada for example, applications are made directly to the university.

Deadlines for 2025 entry

This is the most important information to know, as each university or admissions service has its own deadlines for applications.

• For UCAS, applications are open now with the deadline, 25 January, but we advise submission in December.
• Studielink opens for applications from 1 October and deadline is 15 January for the most competitive (Numerus Fixus) courses, (Business, International Relations, Engineering, Psychology). For other courses, deadlines vary, so always worth checking.
• IE Madrid and Esade in Barcelona have rolling applications since October.
• Bocconi in Italy have three sessions a year for applications – Early, (September), Winter (26 November to 24 January) and Spring (12 March to 4 April).
• The Canadian universities take applications with deadlines between January and February.

We always advise getting your application sorted way before the deadline dates. This allows the students to show how organized and motivated they are.

Personal Statement or Motivation Letter

Applications to the UK require a Personal Statement. Other universities and countries will have differing requirements, but often a motivation letter in one form or another is required.

This can be one of the most challenging aspects of an application! Standing out from the crowd is crucial if you want your application to be noticed and remembered. That’s where we can take away some of the overwhelm and help you. We ensure that your Personal Statement includes all the required elements, (and more, depending on the course and university that you choose):

• Structure – This can make or break your application. Paragraphs should flow – too much detail could be boring to read, but too little can make you appear lazy.
• Plan ahead – some universities have guides for what they expect to see, so planning is crucial.
• Be original – Your Personal Statement needs to be what it says on the tin – personal! We advise avoiding stereotypical statements, it’s about being creative and showing detail without waffling. There are required elements, such as why you’re right for the course, any work experience you may have, or a summer school you may have attended. This is a chance for you to show you know the syllabus and how it is relevant to the goals you have for your future – we can help you with that!
• Be positive – it needs to be cheerful, optimistic, and upbeat, show that you believe in yourself and focus on your strengths and skills proving you’d be a fantastic candidate.
• Proofread – it is vital that your grammar and spelling is perfect.

Choose the right course and university!

The university and course must be suitable for you, your qualifications, and your end goal. With our vast experience of the courses available, we can guide you in the right direction.

It’s worth spending the time and effort to ensure everything is aligned to the career path you want to follow.

Some universities expect you to also prepare for an interview, especially if you’re applying for medicine, dentistry, or veterinary science, as well as some of the more competitive subjects, such as business or engineering. Again, this is something we can coach you through, so you are prepared well in advance.

Getting offers

University offers will be conditional or unconditional.

A conditional offer means you must meet the expected grades in your exams to be accepted onto your chosen course/university.

An unconditional offer means you’ve already met the entry requirements, so your place is not dependent on your exam results. But getting good degrees will help in your future with employment.

In Conclusion

Choosing to study abroad is a big decision with a huge impact on your future job prospects. We use our extensive knowledge and experience to help you choose a university and course aligned with your goals and aspirations, providing you with invaluable information on the options available. We get to know you personally and always have your best interests in mind – we work for you, not the universities!

You can take advantage of a first non-obligation appointment to discuss your goals and the best way to reach them and we guide you through the different university systems and their application processes.

To find out more about Expat Student, visit their website or contact the team by email .

This article was written for our October 2024 Newsletter. Sign up here to receive our monthly updates, stories and resources from relocation specialists, education experts, entrepreneurs and international families who have built a life abroad, straight to your inbox.

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