Applying to university abroad: a 12-month timeline
When to research, test, apply, fund and prepare your student visa. A month by month plan for undergraduate and master's applicants.
Applying to study abroad takes longer than most people think. Scholarships close early, language tests need booking, documents need translating, and student visas can take months. Working backwards from your start date, here is a realistic timeline for a September or autumn intake.
12 to 10 months before: research
- Shortlist countries based on cost, language, post-study work rights and your field
- Shortlist 8 to 12 programmes, checking entry requirements, language scores and application deadlines
- Look at scholarships: government schemes such as Chevening (UK), DAAD (Germany), MEXT (Japan), Fulbright (US), Australia Awards, plus university scholarships
- For research degrees, identify potential supervisors and read their recent papers
10 to 8 months before: tests and documents
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