University pathways

Routes to look at

Special-admission rules differ by university and change every year. Always confirm with the university's admissions guide and office.

• Needs more checkingChecked 2026-10-29

  Overseas-Korean admission (3-year route, children of workers abroad)

  For students whose parent stayed abroad for work or business for at least 3 years (1,095 days) with the spouse and student, and who completed 3+ years of middle/high school abroad including one high-school year. The student must be present for 3/4 of that period and the parents for 2/3. Seats are supernumerary, up to 2%.

  To check

  • Confirm the parent's overseas work period (3+ years in total)
  • Confirm the student's years at schools abroad (3+ secondary, incl. one high-school year)
  • Presence: student 3/4+, parents 2/3+ (counted by year)

  How your curriculum is used

  Some universities accept standardised results such as AP, IB and SAT plus language tests as certified scores (e.g. Korea University 2027; predicted scores excluded).

  Steps · Based on

  1. List parents' and student's entry/exit dates by year to check the presence ratios early.
  2. In the year before graduation, check when each target university publishes its guide; each sets its own dates.
  3. Prepare documents (school records, immigration record, employment proof); document review and interviews follow each university's guide.

  Based on

  • Korean university admission for overseas Koreans: the 3-year and 12-year routes — 교육부 재외교육기관포털 · Checked 2026-10-29
  • Korea: universities set their own dates for overseas-Korean and foreign-national admissions — 한국대학교육협의회 · Checked 2026-10-29
  • Example: Korea University's 2027 overseas-Korean and full-curriculum admissions — 고려대학교 · Checked 2026-10-29
  Ministry of Education portal: admission basicsadiga.kr (university admission guides)
• Needs more checkingChecked 2026-10-29

  Full curriculum abroad (12-year route)

  For students who completed all primary and secondary schooling (12-year benchmark) at schools abroad. Systems of 10 grades or fewer are not recognised as-is; a gap of up to one semester when moving between systems may be accepted.

  To check

  • Confirm whether all schooling from Grade 1 is abroad
  • Gaps between schools within one semester (6 months)
  Steps · Based on

  1. Collect enrolment and grade certificates from every school since Grade 1; get them whenever the child changes school.
  2. Check the school system (11/12 grades) and any gaps between schools (within 6 months).
  3. Read each target university's guide for evaluation method and dates.

  Based on

  • Korea's 12-year route: all 12 years of schooling abroad — 교육부 재외교육기관포털 · Checked 2026-10-29
  • Korea: universities set their own dates for overseas-Korean and foreign-national admissions — 한국대학교육협의회 · Checked 2026-10-29
  • Example: Korea University's 2027 overseas-Korean and full-curriculum admissions — 고려대학교 · Checked 2026-10-29
  Ministry of Education portal: admission basicsadiga.kr (university admission guides)
• Needs more checkingChecked 2026-10-29

  Foreign-national admission (parents and student all foreign)

  Applies when both parents and the student acquired foreign nationality before the student began the equivalent of Korean high school. Proof of nationality and family relation is needed; Korean-language rules and dates vary by university.

  To check

  • Confirm nationality and when it was acquired (ask the university about dual nationality)
  Steps · Based on

  1. Compare the nationality dates with the start of high school.
  2. Prepare a foreign-issued family-relation document and proof of nationality.
  3. Check each university's Korean-language rules and dates.

  Based on

  • Korea's foreign-national route: parents and student all foreign nationals — 교육부 재외교육기관포털 · Checked 2026-10-29
  • Korea: universities set their own dates for overseas-Korean and foreign-national admissions — 한국대학교육협의회 · Checked 2026-10-29
  Ministry of Education portal: admission basicsadiga.kr (university admission guides)
• Worth looking atChecked 2026-10-29

  US undergraduate application (direct)

  Applications for September entry are usually due between November and January. The school sends transcripts directly, students add recommendations and an essay, and test scores where required.

  To check

  • Documents and test policies vary by university

  How your curriculum is used

  Whatever the curriculum, the school transcript and diploma are the core documents; check how each university uses them.

  Steps · Based on

  1. By Grade 11, read each university's international admissions page for requirements.
  2. Book the SAT/ACT only if your universities need it.
  3. Finish recommendations and essays in Grade 12 autumn for November-January deadlines.

  Based on

  • US undergraduate applications: the basic parts — EducationUSA (U.S. Department of State) · Checked 2026-10-29
  • AP exams: scored 1-5, credit policy set by each college — College Board · Checked 2026-10-29
  • SAT: 400-1600, a digital adaptive test — College Board · Checked 2026-10-29
  • ACT: English, math and reading; science and writing optional — ACT · Checked 2026-10-29
  EducationUSA: undergraduate applicationCollege Board: AP scores
• Worth looking atChecked 2026-10-29

  UK universities (UCAS)

  Apply to up to five courses through UCAS. For 2027 entry, Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine close on 15 October 2026; most other courses consider applications by 13 January 2027 equally. Offers can be conditional on results; students choose a firm and an insurance offer.

  To check

  • Each course states requirements its own way (A Level, IB or Tariff)

  How your curriculum is used

  The IB Diploma (max 45, min 24 to pass) appears as a points requirement.

  Steps · Based on

  1. In Grade 11 (Year 12), read course entry requirements (A Level grades, IB total or Tariff).
  2. Start the application in May of the year before entry; submit from September.
  3. Final results must meet any conditional offer.

  Based on

  • UK university applications through UCAS: 2027 entry dates — UCAS · Checked 2026-10-29
  • UCAS Tariff points: a number for grades, used by some universities only — UCAS · Checked 2026-10-29
  • Cambridge AS & A Level: ages 16-19, graded A*-E — Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Checked 2026-10-29
  • IB Diploma scores and pass rules: 45 maximum, 24 minimum — International Baccalaureate Organization · Checked 2026-10-29
  UCAS: key datesUCAS: Tariff points

Ask Sam about thisFind IB (MYP/DP) schools

Timeline by grade

Key moments for your target countries from the chosen grade. Dates are examples for 2027 entry and change every year.

1. Before Grade 10 (Year 11)

   Now

   • For the 3-year route, this is when 3 secondary years abroad (incl. one high-school year) and presence ratios (3/4 student, 2/3 parents) build up. Keep entry/exit dates.

     교육부 재외교육기관포털 · Checked 2026-10-29

   • The 12-year route needs records from every school since Grade 1; collect them at each move.

     교육부 재외교육기관포털 · Checked 2026-10-29

   • Check which senior programme the school offers (IB DP, A Level, AP); A Level takes two years.

     Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Checked 2026-10-29

2. Grade 10 (Year 11)

   • For the IB DP, choose subjects from six groups with 3-4 at HL; match them to course requirements.

     International Baccalaureate Organization · Checked 2026-10-29

3. Grade 11 (Year 12)

   • AP exams are scored 1-5; credit policies vary by college.

     College Board · Checked 2026-10-29

   • SAT (400-1600) or ACT only where required; check each university first.

     College Board · Checked 2026-10-29

   • UCAS applications open in May of the year before entry (2027 entry: 12 May 2026).

     UCAS · Checked 2026-10-29

   • The IB Diploma needs 24+ points and subject conditions (no 1s, no E in TOK/EE).

     International Baccalaureate Organization · Checked 2026-10-29

4. Grade 12 (Year 13) autumn

   • UCAS: 15 October for Oxbridge and most medicine; 13 January for most courses (2027 entry).

     UCAS · Checked 2026-10-29

   • US undergraduate deadlines usually fall between November and January.

     EducationUSA (U.S. Department of State) · Checked 2026-10-29

5. Grade 12 (Year 13) spring-summer

   • Final results confirm conditional offers (firm and insurance).

     UCAS · Checked 2026-10-29

6. Around graduation (Korean special admissions)

   • Each university sets its own dates for overseas-Korean and foreign-national admissions; watch when guides are published.

     한국대학교육협의회 · Checked 2026-10-29

   • Example: Korea University's 2027 applications ran on 6-8 July 2026.

     고려대학교 · Checked 2026-10-29

University admissions links

Official admissions pages only. Read each page's latest admissions guide for requirements and dates.

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