Applying abroad adds a few steps to an ordinary application: your diploma has to be recognised, you may need a language test and a visa, and the calendar is often earlier than at home. None of them is difficult once you know they exist.
Choose the country as carefully as the university
- Language: the language of the course, and the language of daily life.
- Cost: tuition for students of your nationality, and the cost of living.
- Recognition: whether your school diploma gives direct access to university there.
- Afterwards: whether you may stay and work once you graduate.
Our country guides set out how each system works and what it costs.
Make sure your diploma is accepted
Each country decides which foreign school qualifications it accepts, and sometimes asks for particular subjects, minimum grades or an extra preparatory year. Check this first, on the university’s page or the national admissions service, because it decides everything else.
Prove your language level
If the course is taught in a language that is not your first, you will usually need a recognised test, and competitive courses ask for higher scores. Tests have fixed dates and results take time, so book early.
Understand the cost and the funding
- Tuition often depends on your nationality or residence. Find out which category you fall into.
- Scholarships have their own deadlines, frequently earlier than the application itself.
- For a visa you may have to show that you can pay for your first year.
Prepare your documents
- Transcripts and your diploma, with certified translations where they are required.
- Your passport, valid for the whole period the country asks for.
- References and your written statement, in the language of the application.
Translations and official stamps take longer than expected. Start them as soon as you know where you are applying. The application checklist covers the rest.
Apply earlier than you would at home
International applicants often have earlier deadlines, because visas and housing take time. Work from the dates on the university’s own page, and note the time zone.
After the offer
- Accept the place by the date given, and pay any deposit that is required.
- Apply for your visa or residence permit as soon as the rules allow.
- Arrange housing and health insurance before you travel.
Where Corinia fits
Corinia was built for students applying across borders. It matches your record with universities in the main study destinations in Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania and the Middle East, checks each requirement at its official source, and builds one plan that covers all your applications.