Global Application Timelines

This episode breaks down university application deadlines worldwide to help parents guide their teens through a complex process. In the U.S., students face Early Decision (binding), Early Action (non-binding), and Regular Decision deadlines between November and February, plus rolling admissions. The U.K. works through UCAS, with an October 15 deadline for Oxbridge and medicine, and January for most others. Canada uses rolling admissions, but top schools close around January–February. Australia and New Zealand follow a February academic start, with deadlines in October–December. Europe varies: Germany (July/Jan), Netherlands (Jan–May), and France (March/April via Parcoursup). Asia has diverse systems—Japan (Sept–Dec), Korea (Nov/May), China (fall deadlines). The key advice for families: create a deadline spreadsheet, start early, and plan documents, tests, and essays well ahead.