Not every student wants to stay in the United States for college. One of the most popular destinations for Americans going to college abroad is the United Kingdom.
Universities like the University of Oxford, University of St Andrews, Cambridge University, University of Edinburgh, and others are dream schools for many. But applying to these schools can look and feel very different than applying to American institutions. It's not easy to just decide senior year to apply to a UK university. You want to know what is expected beforehand, if possible.
Here is what you need to know if you want to apply to college in the UK:
1. Recognize the systemic differences.
UK-based schools across selectivity levels tend to be more objective than holistic in their review of applications. Standardized test scores, coursework pursued in high school, both its rigor and content, and grades earned tend to carry the most weight. Activities, particularly those related to an intended course of study still play a part in the evaluation process but to a much lesser degree than they do at equally selectively US counterparts.2. Consider your interests.
In most cases, students apply directly to a single “course,” their intended major or course of study. Many undergraduate degree programs consist of three years of coursework rather than the four years most US-institutions require. These three-year undergraduate programs require few, if any, general education or core course requirements. As a result, they offer fewer opportunities to explore subject areas outside of the intended course. Being confident in one’s intended course is key.
3. Explore exceptions.
A few four-year alternatives exist. Look for “joint honors” programs, more often found among Scottish universities, where students can pursue a four-year course culminating in both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. An added bonus: These joint honors options often allow students to study two closely related subjects, like economics and mathematics or economics and sustainable development. Or, look for schools offering a “foundation program” or “foundation year” like those offered at schools like King’s College London and the University of Glasgow. Some are geared toward students looking for exploratory or additional liberal arts course opportunities before specializing in a particular course. Others are geared toward international students who need to meet course requirements. Either way, it is worth taking a look at what each might offer.4. Look at course-specific entry requirements.
One of the most selective UK options, Cambridge University, for example, requires at least five AP scores of a 5 in subjects related to the intended course of study and strong SAT or ACT scores alongside them. Compare those expectations against those at, say, the University of Leeds, where students can find a wider range of minimum requirements. As you build a list, take note of university and even course-level specifics, like a minimum number of dual enrollment, honors AP, or IB courses (and associated test scores), GPA, and SAT or ACT scores. Course-related activities, a course-focused essay, and a letter of recommendation or “reference” are also part of most applications, but these count less than the objective or quantifiable qualifications like test scores and grades.
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5. Investigate application platforms.
Seventeen UK institutions currently accept the Common App, the most widely-used application platform here in the US. If a student is applying to just one of these 17 universities, by all means, use the Common App for convenience. But if applying to more than one, use the UK-focused UCAS application. It is not only tuned toward what the UK schools seek to know about an applicant, but it allows students to write a single course-of-study-focused essay response that goes to all UK universities. And honor the expectation that applicants limit their list to five schools in the UK.6. Study, and follow, the rules.
The UCAS application limits students to five choices, with the fifth choice an optional add-on. Each choice is a single particular course, so applicants can mix and match their five choices across or within universities. One key rule: An applicant can apply to either Oxford or Cambridge, but not both. So whether a student chooses to apply to, say, an English Literature course at five different universities or an English Literature course at three distinct universities and a Classics course at two of those three, be sure to include courses where you meet the minimum requirements to help ensure admission.7. Explore costs.
In general, UK-based universities charge lower tuition and fees, even for international students, than many selective and highly selective US-based institutions, particularly those that offer only need-based aid. For full-pay families, this reality can make them an attractive addition to any list. US Federal Student Aid may be available for students who enroll at one of the relatively few eligible international schools. And a very limited number of international student scholarships are offered by individual institutions. So cast a wide net. Do note that the availability of housing accommodations varies widely, with far fewer institutions offering, let alone guaranteeing, on-campus housing than their US counterparts. Be sure to add accommodation options to your research.8. Take note of essay requirements.
If applying through the Common App, most UK schools require a university-specific supplemental essay rather than Common App’s personal statement. If using the UCAS for applications, look at their instructions for the singular, three-part personal statement sent to all UCAS choices.9. Create a UK-tuned timeline.
Visiting a campus, let alone multiple options, in person may not be possible, so make a plan for virtual information sessions, student Q&As, etc. Time to prepare for and take required tests (AP, IB, SAT, and/or ACT) is important, and some courses also require a virtual or in-person interview, too. Then, a few schools and courses have hard admissions deadlines, like October 15th for many medicine courses (including dentistry and veterinary studies) or any course at Cambridge and Oxford. But far more have rolling admission or January deadlines.10. Be prepared for a conditional offer.
These admissions responses are quite common, particularly among schools with strict testing requirements or cutoffs. AP and IB scores are not available until July, so students may be granted a conditional offer of admission in January pending final test scores. If you find yourself with a conditional offer at the end of your process, have a backup plan. Whether it takes the form of a US-based institution you would be happy to attend or a gap year that would help bring other dreams within reach, consider all of your options.READ MORE: How My Son and I Are Narrowing Down His College List
The novelist and poet Jack Kerouac advised that “there was nowhere to go but everywhere.” My hope is that “everywhere” takes at least a few of you to the UK for three, four, or far more years in the near future.
