Questions about studying abroad

With your profile and your goal, not with a list of universities. We look at your academic record, your languages, your budget and your timescales, compare the education systems that suit them, and only then move on to programmes. You can come to us with nothing more than the wish to study abroad.

Applying to more than one country is possible and commonly done. Each country is a separate system of requirements, documents and deadlines, so parallel routes are planned in advance and brought into a single calendar. Support covering two countries is a separate format.

As a rule of thumb, twelve to eighteen months before the course begins. That timescale is set not by us but by external dates: the English test, the recognition of your qualifications, separate scholarship competitions and visa processing all run to their own calendars, and several of them close before the application itself.

An agency processes volume and offers ready-made packages, often working with a limited set of partner universities. A bureau takes one case and builds a strategy around it. We do not promise admission: that decision rests with the admissions committee, and no intermediary can influence it.

Yes, both are part of the support. We assess funding while the universities are still being chosen, because some competitions close before admission decisions are made. Visa support continues after enrolment, through to the visa itself.

Admissions support includes a strategy built around one student, a shortlist of up to ten programmes, preparing and strengthening the documents, up to five university applications, work on scholarships and funding, and support through to enrolment and the visa.

The One country format covers one chosen country and one education system. The Two countries format covers two countries, two admissions systems and choosing programmes in both countries under one strategy.

Yes. The agreement fixes what is included, how the work is staged, what each side undertakes and on what terms.

Where a service that has been paid for has not been provided, we refund the fee for that service on the terms set out in the signed agreement.

An agency processes volume and offers ready-made packages, often within a set of partner universities. A bureau works one case at a time: what the applicant has already done, where they are going and which routes make sense for them. That also sets the scale of the work: we take on no more than we can follow closely.

One consultant runs the whole process and remains your single point of contact, so you never have to explain your situation from scratch to someone new. Specialists join where particular expertise is needed: documents, portfolios, funding applications and the visa stage.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

Yes. A second specialist reads the key materials before they are sent: a fresh reader notices what someone close to the text no longer sees. This is how we work, not an optional extra.

With public and private institutions alike, and we are not limited to a set of partners. The shortlist follows the applicant’s profile rather than any arrangement with an institution: we take no commission for putting a particular university on a list.

It is an audio or video call. We go through your previous education, your experience and your preferences, answer your questions and set the initial search criteria, then match the profile against the requirements of universities in the country you are considering.

No. For a first conversation it is enough to say where you are starting from: the level and subject you are considering, the countries and year of entry that matter most, and what weighs heaviest — cost, funding, the programme itself or what comes after. The country and the subject can be worked out from scratch.

Our response standard is one working day. The same standard applies during the admissions work itself, when a dedicated Admissions Manager handles the applications and the correspondence with universities.

Through Telegram or WhatsApp, or by email at edmont.buro@bk.ru. Choose whichever suits you: it makes no difference to the conversation itself.

We take account of your academic profile, your education, your budget, the language of instruction, the degree programme and what you want afterwards. From there we compare systems and build a strategy.

Yes, and it is a common approach: it widens the choice and makes the strategy more robust. Each country is its own system of requirements, documents and deadlines, though, so parallel routes are planned in advance and brought into a single calendar.

No. We can start by assessing your profile and comparing several education systems.

We match your academic profile against the requirements of specific programmes. A strategy can combine more competitive options with more realistic ones.

Not necessarily IELTS. Each university decides which forms of proof of English it accepts: some take TOEFL, Duolingo or a Cambridge qualification, some set their own test, and some accept previous study in English. We check the requirements of your chosen programmes in advance and establish which certificate you need and by when.

Yes, and it is a distinct strand of the work. We assess the scholarships, grants and fee reductions open to you while the universities are still being chosen: some competitions close before the admissions round itself, so leaving funding until later is leaving it too late. What is available depends on the country, the programme and the applicant, and the decision rests with the university or the funding body.

Yes. We work on the CV, the letter of motivation, the letters of recommendation and the other materials in the application.

Yes. Once an offer of admission is in hand we support the visa stage: the procedure in the particular country, the documents required, the proof of funds and the submission deadlines. The decision rests with the consulate, so what we are responsible for is the quality of the application, not the outcome.

As a rule of thumb, twelve to eighteen months before the course starts. That timescale is set not by us but by external dates: the English test, the recognition of your qualifications, separate scholarship competitions and visa processing all run to their own calendars, and several of them close before the application itself.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

Yes. Italian universities run English-taught programmes, though the number on offer varies by degree cycle, subject and university. When we build the list we check the language of every programme.

Not always. Where a programme is taught entirely in English, Italian may not be an academic requirement. The conditions are set by the programme.

Not necessarily IELTS. Each university decides which forms of proof of English it accepts: some take TOEFL, Duolingo or a Cambridge qualification, some set their own test, and some accept previous study in English. We check the requirements of your chosen programmes in advance and establish which certificate you need and by when.

Yes. Italy has a well-developed public university system, and many of its institutions admit international students.

There is no single figure. Fees depend on the university, the programme and other factors. When we build the list we set out the cost of each option and the funding mechanisms that may apply.

Various forms of support exist, but eligibility, conditions and deadlines depend on the programme, the region, the university and the applicant’s circumstances. We check the options at the strategy stage.

Universitaly is the official portal of Italy’s Ministry of University and Research, and it is free to use. Applicants who need a study visa submit their pre-enrolment through it. The university application, and whether any other steps are needed, are matters for the institution you apply to.

There is no universal answer. CIMEA (the Italian centre in the ENIC-NARIC networks) and the Dichiarazione di Valore (Declaration of Value) provide information used to assess a foreign qualification, but neither counts as recognition in itself. Which is required is decided by the university and by the procedure that applies.

Yes, where the rules of the chosen programmes allow it. Several suitable options make the strategy less dependent on a single outcome.

As early as possible before the main deadlines for the intake you are aiming for. Dates differ, so we draw up the list of programmes first and then a calendar built around it.

Once you have an offer, we advise on the main stages of the student visa procedure and on the documents required.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

No. Many public universities charge no tuition fees, or comparatively low ones, but there are exceptions by federal state, by university, by nationality and by type of programme. A semester contribution is normally payable as well.

That depends on the country and on the type of certificate. In some cases direct access is possible; in others a period of previous university study or a Studienkolleg is required. We check this before drawing up any list of programmes.

It is a service through which some German universities receive and pre-check applications from international applicants. Not all universities work through uni-assist.

A VPD is preliminary review documentation issued by uni-assist. Where a university uses this procedure, the applicant obtains the VPD and submits it to the university themselves, with the application.

Yes. English-taught programmes exist, particularly at master’s level. They normally require proof of English; the certificates and scores accepted are set by the programme.

For German-taught programmes, yes. For an English-taught programme German may not be a condition of admission, but it is useful for daily life, for internships and for work afterwards.

Directly to the university, through uni-assist or through another procedure the university specifies. We check the application channel separately for each programme.

Early. Checking your entrance qualification, arranging language certificates and translations, and obtaining a VPD all take time. No single set of deadlines applies to every programme.

Most programmes are taught in German, though English-taught options exist. Language requirements are checked separately for each programme.

Directly to the university or other institution you have chosen, following its own procedure. The OeAD does not accept applications on behalf of universities.

Some fields of study and some types of institution set examinations, tests, interviews or a portfolio. The registration deadline for the selection procedure may fall before the general application period opens.

The institution decides, after assessing the document and the requirements of the programme. For a master’s degree, the subject content of the previous degree is also checked.

It depends on the language of the documents, the country that issued them and the university’s requirements. We establish in advance what form of translation, certification and, where relevant, legalisation is required.

Fees depend on the type of institution, your nationality and the programme. The current amount has to be checked on the institution’s official website for the current academic year.

Funding exists, but the conditions vary. We check the relevant university and external funding programmes for the level you are applying to and the profile you bring.

Before the main deadlines, particularly if you need a language certificate, legalisation of documents or an entrance examination. Each programme has its own timetable.

Purpose, not level. Research universities (WO) prepare students academically: a bachelor's of three years and 180 ECTS. Universities of applied sciences (HBO) prepare students for a profession: a bachelor's of four years and 240 ECTS. The prior education they ask for differs as well.

Usually through Studielink, the national portal. Not every institution admits applicants from abroad through it, however — some run a procedure of their own, and that should be established before any documents are prepared.

15 January for programmes with a limited number of places and 1 May for the rest. Universities may set an earlier date for applicants from outside the EU, so the deadline is checked against the specific programme.

A programme with a limited number of places that selects its own students. Applications close on 15 January, selection runs from 15 January to 15 April, and an applicant may apply to no more than two such programmes in an academic year. A place that is offered has to be accepted in Studielink within two weeks, or it passes to the next candidate on the list.

Research universities ask for preparation at VWO level and universities of applied sciences at HAVO level. Nuffic publishes comparisons for each country, but the decision on a particular certificate rests with the university.

Not for an English-taught programme. The language of instruction and the certificate required are set by the programme itself; for daily life in the larger cities English is generally sufficient.

Applicants from outside the EU and EEA pay the institutional fee, which each university sets for itself and which is appreciably higher than the statutory fee. The exact figure is checked on the official page for that programme and academic year.

The university submits the application to the immigration service, provided it is listed as a recognised sponsor. The entry visa and the residence permit are requested in a single procedure, and the applicant supplies proof of sufficient funds.

In countries covered by Études en France, the application goes through the state platform with Campus France alongside. The national portals Parcoursup and Mon Master are not used in that case. Applicants should check which procedure applies in their country of residence.

A preliminary admission request for the first year of a bachelor's degree (licence 1) at a public university. The campaign opens on 1 October, dossiers are accepted until 15 December, and up to three programmes may be listed.

Yes — above all at master's level and in the grandes écoles; English-taught bachelor's programmes exist too, though the choice is narrower. The language of instruction and the certificate required are set by the programme itself.

For a French-taught programme, yes — as a rule level B2: the TCF in its DAP version, or a DELF B2 or DALF diploma, which exempts the holder from the test. An English-taught programme does not require French, though it helps in daily life.

At public universities applicants from outside the EU pay the differentiated rate: for 2026/27, €2,902 a year for a licence and €3,950 for a master's, plus the CVEC contribution. The grandes écoles set their own fees. Exemptions from the differentiated rate are capped from 2026, so a waiver is checked against the specific university.

Yes. France Excellence Eiffel for master's study is awarded on the institution's nomination, French embassies in a number of countries award master's scholarships of their own, and universities run their own programmes. Scholarship deadlines often fall earlier than the academic ones.

Yes: applications to licence 1 are made with the applicant's national school-leaving certificate through the DAP — no separate recognition is required in advance, and the university itself judges whether it is sufficient. For a master's, the content of the previous degree is what matters.

The student visa is requested once the Études en France procedure is complete and is tied to its dossier. A financial guarantee is required — €877.50 a month from August 2026 — and the long-stay VLS-TS visa is validated online within three months of arrival.

We compare your academic profile with the entry requirements of specific courses and build a set of choices at different levels of selectivity. We read rankings alongside course content and how well the course fits your profile.

Most undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Postgraduate applications usually go directly to the university on its own terms, so requirements, documents and deadlines are checked separately for every programme.

Under the UCAS rules for 2027 entry an undergraduate application may carry up to five choices. Each choice should do a clear job in the overall strategy.

Yes. For 2026 entry UCAS replaced the single continuous essay with three structured questions. Admissions staff still read the answers as a whole, so avoid repetition and show motivation and preparation consistently across all three.

Not always. It depends on your previous education, the university and the entry requirements of the particular course. We establish whether a foundation year is needed once we have assessed the academic profile.

Not necessarily IELTS. Each university decides which forms of proof of English it accepts: some take TOEFL, Duolingo or a Cambridge qualification, some set their own test, and some accept previous study in English. We check the requirements of your chosen programmes in advance and establish which certificate you need and by when.

Entry requirements vary. We assess the whole profile and identify courses that match your academic record. Where a stated requirement is not met, we do not promise an offer.

On some courses, yes. Where an interview is part of selection, EDMONT works through the likely questions and helps you present your experience, your motivation and your goals clearly.

It is an offer that becomes final once the stated conditions are met. What those conditions are depends on the applicant and the course.

Yes, and it is a distinct strand of the work. We assess the scholarships, grants and fee reductions open to you while the universities are still being chosen: some competitions close before the admissions round itself, so leaving funding until later is leaving it too late. What is available depends on the country, the programme and the applicant, and the decision rests with the university or the funding body.

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic record with a unique number, issued by a licensed student sponsor once your place is confirmed. A CAS is not the offer itself; it is what you need in order to apply for the Student visa.

Yes. Once an offer of admission is in hand we support the visa stage: the procedure in the particular country, the documents required, the proof of funds and the submission deadlines. The decision rests with the consulate, so what we are responsible for is the quality of the application, not the outcome.

That depends on the immigration rules in force and on the graduate’s own circumstances. The terms of the Graduate route change, so we do not present it as a promise: the position has to be checked on GOV.UK immediately before you apply.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

No. Only one of the two can be chosen in an admissions cycle, and at Oxford only one course. The choice is made by subject: the same field is taught differently at the two universities, with different tests and requirements, and that is what decides where an application is stronger.

Often not, and this has to be established before anything else. National certificates are assessed against each university’s country-by-country listings: where a qualification is not listed or is marked as not accepted on its own, an accepted qualification has to be added — A-levels or the IB, for example. Check the published country lists for Cambridge and Oxford before planning the application.

Only where they bear on the subject. Oxford states that extracurricular activities are not assessed unless they demonstrate the selection criteria for the course, and suggests giving about 80% of the personal statement to academic interest. This is the main difference from US admissions, where the whole profile is read.

Not at the point of application. Oxford does not require a certificate in the UCAS application: an offer holder proves their level by 31 July of the year of the offer, and scores from different sittings are not combined. For admission Cambridge normally expects IELTS 7.5 with 7.0 in each element, and recommends at least IELTS 6.5 already at application for the interview.

For that cycle, that the application was unsuccessful. Oxford says so directly: offers go only to shortlisted candidates. Cambridge interviews many applicants, but everyone who receives an offer has been interviewed. What decides the shortlist is therefore what is ready by October: predicted grades, the test, written work and the statement.

No, and no consultant does. Cambridge states plainly that paid consultants have no access to information not already available to schools and applicants, and that it does not endorse them. Our work is not privileged knowledge of admissions committees but an analysis of a particular applicant against the published requirements: which course and which university suit the qualification, where the profile is competitive, how to prepare for the test, the written work and the interview, and which deadlines come first.

No. A UCAS application carries five choices, and Oxford or Cambridge takes one of them. The other four do a different job in the strategy, and there is one personal statement for all five, so it has to work for them too. Choosing the other four is part of an Oxbridge application, not a separate task.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

There is no single system of assessment across US institutions. Depending on the university, admission may take account of academic results, the rigour of the curriculum, essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, test scores and other parts of the profile.

No. How you apply and what else is required are checked separately for each university.

That depends on the university and on the admissions cycle. Testing policy can change, so the requirements are checked for every option on the list.

Their weight depends on the university and on the applicant’s profile. What counts is not the number of activities but their substance and the applicant’s real role in them.

Yes. We help choose the direction, build the structure, and edit and strengthen the text, while keeping the applicant’s real experience and their own voice.

Not necessarily IELTS. Each university decides which forms of proof of English it accepts: some take TOEFL, Duolingo or a Cambridge qualification, some set their own test, and some accept previous study in English. We check the requirements of your chosen programmes in advance and establish which certificate you need and by when.

Some universities offer merit-based aid, need-based aid, or both, to international students. Terms and availability vary widely, so funding has to be assessed separately for each university.

The CSS Profile is a College Board online application that some universities and scholarship programmes use to award institutional financial aid. It is not needed everywhere: the requirement is checked against the College Board list and on the university’s own financial aid pages.

They are different application plans, and each university sets its own conditions. When we build the strategy, we check the deadlines and restrictions of every institution separately.

There is no universally correct number. The list depends on the applicant’s profile, their goals, the budget, selectivity and the amount of work each application takes.

The Form I-20 is a document issued by a school certified by SEVP. It confirms that the student has been accepted to study there and is required for the visa process that follows. The Form I-20 is not a visa.

Yes. Once an offer of admission is in hand we support the visa stage: the procedure in the particular country, the documents required, the proof of funds and the submission deadlines. The decision rests with the consulate, so what we are responsible for is the quality of the application, not the outcome.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

Eight: Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Brown University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College and the University of Pennsylvania. The Ivy League is an athletic conference of historical origin, not a ranking or a list of the best universities in the United States. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University are not members, although they are comparable in selectivity.

The formal requirements are generally the same. Harvard states plainly that there are no quotas or limits by citizenship and that applications are read in one pool; Yale and Princeton say the same. What differs is context: the qualification is read on its own national scale, documents not in English require a certified translation, and proof of English is added. Princeton states explicitly that no preference is given to any particular national system.

This is decided university by university and within a specific cycle. For autumn 2027 entry the SAT or ACT is required by Harvard, Yale, Brown, Cornell and Penn; Princeton and Columbia remain test-optional and restore the requirement from the 2027-28 cycle. Dartmouth requires testing but lets students at schools outside the US meet it with three AP exams, the IB, A Levels or a final national exam. Harvard accepts alternatives only in exceptional cases; Yale does not. The policy has to be checked for every university on the list and for the applicant’s own year of entry.

The Ivy League has two kinds of early programme, both closing on 1 November. Harvard, Yale and Princeton run non-binding restrictive programmes: an admitted applicant need not confirm before 1 May, but may not apply early to other private US universities in parallel. Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth and Penn run Early Decision: an admitted applicant must enrol and withdraw every other application. For an international family that needs aid, a binding round means giving up the chance to compare offers. Harvard and Yale both state that applying early carries no advantage. An early round makes sense when the profile is already settled; where the final year can still strengthen it, the main round is the more honest choice.

Yes, at all eight, but on different terms. Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Dartmouth read international applicants need-blind: asking for aid does not affect the decision. Brown states that all first-year applicants are read need-blind. Columbia, Penn and Cornell are need-aware for international applicants: need is taken into account in admission. All eight meet demonstrated need in full for those admitted, though Cornell’s aid may include loans. These universities award no academic merit scholarships.

There is no correct number, and applying to all eight is not a strategy. Each university sets its own supplementary questions, and the quality of the answers falls faster than the number of applications rises. A sensible list is built from the profile: several highly selective options, several where the requirements align closely with the profile, and several that make the outcome less dependent on the most competitive decisions.

The question is framed around quantity, while universities read substance. Harvard lists among the factors it weighs contributions to the community, special talents, perspectives formed by life experience, and the willingness to engage respectfully with differing views. That description does not call for a record of competition wins; it calls for real work behind whatever the applicant does, work that others can attest to. A long list of shallow involvements is weaker than two or three commitments with a clear role.

No, and no consultancy can. The decision rests with the university’s admissions committee and depends on the applicant, on the shape of the pool in a given year, and on the university’s own priorities. Our responsibility is different: verifying requirements against primary sources, assessing the profile honestly, the quality of the application itself, and making sure no deadline is missed.

Yes. Chinese universities admit international school-leavers to undergraduate programmes, but each university sets its own requirements for the qualification, the academic results, the subjects studied and the language of the programme. We check the conditions of specific programmes before the list is built.

Yes. A number of universities offer English-taught programmes at different levels of study. What is available, and on what terms, depends on the individual university and the field, so the search begins with the current list of programmes.

Not for English-taught programmes: there, the language requirement is whatever proof of English the programme asks for. For Chinese-taught programmes a university may require proof of proficiency, such as HSK, and the level needed depends on the programme. Some Chinese helps in daily life in any case.

The typical categories are academic records, the school-leaving certificate or degree, proof of language, the passport, and — where the programme asks for them — a CV, a personal statement and recommendations. The exact set is defined by the individual university and programme.

From the applicant’s profile, not from a list of familiar names. We check which programmes are formally open, weigh academic fit, language, selectivity, cost and the funding available, and arrange the options by level of selectivity into one strategy.

Funding opportunities exist: the government scholarship programme, university scholarships and other schemes. Each has its own criteria, its own procedure and its own deadlines, and the decision rests with the awarding body. We assess the options while the universities are being chosen, and we do not promise an outcome.

Yes, and it is the usual strategy. Universities run their own portals, requirements and deadlines, so parallel applications are planned in advance and brought into a single calendar.

As a rule of thumb, about a year before the course begins — and earlier where language preparation or a scholarship application is involved, since some funding competitions run to their own, earlier deadlines.

Yes. We assemble the set of documents to each programme’s requirements, strengthen the supporting materials, coordinate the recommendations, and manage submission and correspondence through the universities’ applicant portals.

Yes. Once an offer of admission is in hand we support the visa stage: the procedure in the particular country, the documents required, the proof of funds and the submission deadlines. The decision rests with the consulate, so what we are responsible for is the quality of the application, not the outcome.

Yes. China can be one of two education systems in a single strategy: the routes are planned in parallel and the requirements and deadlines are brought into one calendar. Our two-country support format exists for exactly this scenario.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

It varies by country and by university. Admission criteria for an international secondary qualification are set individually: the university states which documents it needs from which education system, what the subject prerequisites are, what marks it expects, and what language evidence is required. Check the country-specific requirements published by the university before applying.

No. There is no national application system in Canada. In Ontario the application goes through the central Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), but the requirements, supplementary forms and deadlines within it are set by each university separately. In the other provinces you apply directly to the university through its own portal. A list of universities is therefore also a list of different procedures, and it has to be brought into a single calendar by hand.

There is no national requirement, and there could not be: the threshold is set by the university, and sometimes by an individual programme within it. The University of British Columbia publishes a standard of IELTS Academic 6.5 with no part below 6.0, and states separately that IELTS General, IELTS Indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted. Another university, and another programme, will set a different bar. We check the requirement for every programme on the list before an application is made, not after.

In most cases yes, but not for everyone. IRCC states that a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) is required when applying for a study permit, and that obtaining one normally means accepting your offer and paying tuition in whole or in part. For degree-granting master’s and doctoral programmes at public institutions, however, no PAL or TAL is required where the application is made after 1 January 2026. Quebec operates its own certificate, the CAQ, in place of a PAL.

Tuition is set by the university, and the spread between provinces is several-fold. Statistics Canada puts average international undergraduate tuition for 2026/2027 at CAD 42,062 a year: CAD 50,088 in Ontario and CAD 18,911 in Newfoundland and Labrador. That figure is tuition, not the cost of a year: IRCC separately requires proof of living funds, which for applications made on or after 1 September 2026 outside Quebec is CAD 23,448 for a single applicant, excluding tuition and travel. The two figures are added together, not substituted for one another.

It is not a difference in quality but in purpose, and in consequence. Universities award academic degrees; colleges and polytechnics award applied diplomas and certificates through shorter, more practical programmes. The choice also shapes what a graduate may do next: under IRCC rules, holders of a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree face no field-of-study requirement when applying for a post-graduation work permit, whereas graduates of colleges and of non-degree university programmes do, where the study permit application was made on or after 1 November 2024. The language threshold differs as well. This is why the decision belongs before the application, not after it.

There is no single date, even within one university. At the University of Toronto for 2027 entry most programmes close on 15 January, documents are due on 1 February, and the supplementary form for particular programmes falls on 15 January or 1 February depending on the subject. At the University of British Columbia the general application closes on 15 January 2027. The University of Waterloo runs two lines of deadlines: engineering programmes other than Architecture close on 15 January with documents due 1 February 2027; all other programmes close on 1 February with documents due 15 February. International applicants work to the same dates as Canadian ones. Scholarship deadlines run separately, and often earlier.

No, and it is the most expensive mistake in the Canadian cycle. The major competitions close before ordinary admission does. The Lester B. Pearson scholarship at the University of Toronto requires the school to nominate a candidate by 9 October 2026, the admission application to be submitted through OUAC by 16 October, and the scholarship application to be completed by 6 November — while the ordinary application deadline is 15 January. At the University of British Columbia an international applicant seeking the International Scholars award submits both the admission application and the award application by 15 November 2026, against a general deadline of 15 January 2027. UBC’s 1 December date belongs to other awards and applies to Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. An applicant who decides to be admitted first and look for funding afterwards is already out of the competition by then.

From the applicant’s profile, not from a ranking. We begin by establishing which programmes are formally open: how the individual university reads the qualification in hand, whether the subject prerequisites are there, which forms of language proof are accepted, and whether a supplementary form or an interview is required. We then weigh how competitive the profile is, the budget against the full cost of a year, the funding routes available and their deadlines. The list of universities appears at the end of that analysis, not at its start.

The possibility exists, but it is not automatic and depends on what you studied and where. A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) requires a programme of at least eight months at an institution whose programmes qualify for it, full-time status in every semester, and an application within 180 days of confirmation that the programme is complete. The language threshold varies by level of study, and non-degree programmes carry an additional field-of-study requirement. We take these conditions into account when programmes are chosen, but we do not treat admission as an immigration scheme and we do not promise an outcome: the decision rests with IRCC.

Yes. Once an offer of admission is in hand we support the visa stage: the procedure in the particular country, the documents required, the proof of funds and the submission deadlines. The decision rests with the consulate, so what we are responsible for is the quality of the application, not the outcome.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

Sometimes. It depends on your previous degree, the prerequisites and the terms of the particular programme. We assess which moves are open to you case by case.

There is no universal rule. Some programmes are built for recent graduates; others may expect professional experience. We check the requirements of each programme separately.

Yes, many programmes allow it. The exact requirements depend on the field and the university.

It depends on the programme. Some weigh the academic profile more heavily; others may take relevant professional experience into account. We therefore assess the profile as a whole.

It depends on the country, the university, the level of the degree and how far its content meets the requirements of the programme. We check academic compatibility for the options you choose.

Not necessarily IELTS. Each university decides which forms of proof of English it accepts: some take TOEFL, Duolingo or a Cambridge qualification, some set their own test, and some accept previous study in English. We check the requirements of your chosen programmes in advance and establish which certificate you need and by when.

Yes. We structure and strengthen the CV around the requirements of the chosen programmes and the wider application strategy.

Yes. We work on the logic and the structure, and on making the document persuasive, while keeping the applicant’s real story and goals intact.

It depends on the programme. Where references are required, we clarify what is asked for and plan how to obtain them.

Yes, and it is a common approach: it widens the choice and makes the strategy more robust. Each country is its own system of requirements, documents and deadlines, though, so parallel routes are planned in advance and brought into a single calendar.

Yes, where the selection process includes one. We go through the likely questions and prepare the applicant to talk about their experience and motivation confidently.

Funding depends on the country, the university and the programme. Where suitable options exist, we build them into the strategy and support you through each stage.

As a rule of thumb, twelve to eighteen months before the course starts. That timescale is set not by us but by external dates: the English test, the recognition of your qualifications, separate scholarship competitions and visa processing all run to their own calendars, and several of them close before the application itself.

Once an offer has been made, we advise on the main stages of the student visa process.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

No. There are at least three models: an application to a programme selected by committee, finding a supervisor before applying, and answering an advertised salaried position. The model is set by the individual programme rather than by the country, and it is stated on its admissions page.

In continental Europe and the United Kingdom, generally yes. In the United States admission straight from a bachelor’s is common, with the master’s earned during the doctoral programme. The requirement is checked programme by programme.

It depends on the programme. Some research degrees require you to identify a supervisor in advance; for others one is appointed after an offer and cannot be chosen; in an advertised project the supervisor comes with the position. The course page states which, and checking takes minutes.

Different things. It can be an employment contract with a salary and pension contributions, a studentship covering fee and stipend, a foundation scholarship without employment rights, or an assistantship. The figures are comparable; the rights are not. So the model is established before the numbers are compared.

No. It is required where you propose your own subject. Where a position is advertised with its project, the project is already described and what is wanted is evidence that you can carry out that particular work.

No. Most candidates have none at the point of application. What counts is demonstrable research experience: a thesis, a part in a project, command of the methods the group uses.

Earlier than expected: some funding competitions close many months before admissions deadlines, and correspondence with supervisors and recognition of documents run to their own pace. The calendar is built from the earliest date, not from the application deadline.

There is no universal number, and it depends on the admissions model. Where an application needs its own proposal and correspondence with a supervisor, each one is a separate piece of work and the list stays short. Where candidates answer advertised vacancies, there can be more. The better measure is not the count but how many applications you can justify on the substance.

Chiefly in who decides. In the United States a programme or departmental committee more often selects, and funding runs through the programme, an assistantship or an institutional package. In the United Kingdom fit with a particular supervisor and project can play a more direct role, a research proposal may be required, and funding can carry separate deadlines. It is a difference of model, not of standards.

Sometimes. What decides is not the title of the degree but whether you have the preparation the particular project requires: methods, data, subject knowledge. Moves between adjacent fields are common; the greater the distance, the more evidence is needed that you can carry out that specific work. Requirements are checked programme by programme.

Yes, as research and assessment: who works in the area, whether they are currently taking students, whether a genuine overlap with your subject exists, and on what grounds an approach makes sense. The email itself remains yours, and no one can guarantee a reply — that is the academic’s own decision.

We work through which funding model applies to each position, what deadlines it carries of its own and what it actually covers, and we support the preparation of the relevant applications. The decision to award rests with the university, the funding body or the employer, and we cannot promise it.

Yes. A second cycle begins with reading the first: whether the weak point was formal eligibility, the research overlap with the group, funding deadlines, or how the profile was presented. Rejections are rarely explained in detail, so part of the diagnosis has to be reconstructed from the application itself.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

In some countries, at some universities and in some situations, tuition fees can be substantially reduced or covered by funding. It depends on the particular programme and on the applicant’s profile.

No. The decision rests with the university, the foundation or whichever body provides the funding. We work on the quality of the application: strategy, document preparation and managing the process. That makes a successful outcome more likely.

It depends on the country, the university, the programme, your academic profile, your financial circumstances and other criteria. We check the available options for each applicant separately.

Not always. In some systems the funding application is tied to the application for admission; in others there is a separate procedure or a separate deadline. We check this in advance for every option.

In some merit-based funding programmes academic results can count for a great deal. The criteria differ from programme to programme, so there is no universal requirement for a grade average.

Sometimes, where a particular opportunity takes other criteria into account. It depends on the programme. We assess the profile as a whole.

It depends on the scholarship. Where a written statement is required, we help structure it and present the applicant’s case accurately.

For some kinds of need-based funding, yes. Other programmes may not ask for them. We check the exact list of documents in advance.

Sometimes, but whether different sources of funding can be combined has to be checked separately. We take that into account when we build the strategy.

At the same time as you draw up your university list. Funding can then be taken into account while you are still choosing programmes, so that separate deadlines are not missed.

Yes. As part of admissions support, we help prepare and submit funding applications, where the chosen programme and service include it.

Some funding programmes may include support beyond tuition fees; others cover only part of the cost. The terms have to be checked separately.

Fully funded places exist in some systems and some programmes, but they are often highly competitive. We do not promise full funding, and we assess each opportunity on its own terms.

It depends on the time involved, on how well you meet the conditions and on the wider strategy. We help decide which applications genuinely earn their place on the list.

Usually 8 to 12 programmes. More than that dilutes the focus and the quality of each application; fewer raises the risk of ending the year with nothing. The exact number depends on the country, the level of study and your goals.

No, and nor can anyone else: admission is decided by the university’s admissions committee and the visa is issued by the consulate. EDMONT is responsible for what lies within our control: the strategy, the choice of programmes, the quality of the application and meeting the requirements and deadlines. Promises of “guaranteed admission” do not appear in our materials.

Yes. We check them by the same method: if a programme fits the requirements and the budget, it takes its place on the shortlist. The final word is always yours.

We show the gap plainly and set out a route: a foundation year, a language test, a portfolio, or comparable programmes where your profile is already competitive.

Yes. The budget is one of the first constraints we record. Programmes whose total cost does not fit it never reach the shortlist, and that total includes living costs and fees.

Most programmes are designed for students roughly between 15 and 18, but every institution sets its own age limits. We check eligibility individually.

No. Marangoni is one of the institutions we may consider. The shortlist depends on the student’s subject, age, goals and future university plans.

We assess the accommodation options associated with the programme and help coordinate the appropriate route. For minors, we pay particular attention to university or supervised residential arrangements.

We coordinate the visa preparation relevant to the programme and destination. Visa decisions are made by the relevant authorities.

Not automatically. A short programme can strengthen academic understanding, portfolio work or the quality of later decisions, but attendance itself does not guarantee admission.

Yes. Where the next step is a Bachelor’s or Master’s application, we can build a separate full admissions strategy around the student’s updated profile.

Most run for one to six weeks. Shorter intensives and longer formats also exist: the length depends on the programme and on what the student needs from it.

Each programme sets its own requirement: some ask for formal proof of English, others assess the application as a whole. We check the language requirements of every programme and match them against the student’s actual level.

Every programme organises arrival, meeting points and supervision differently. For younger students we check the arrival arrangements, transfers and parent communication in advance and build them into the plan.

It depends on your current level and your target band score. Moving to the next CEFR level – from A2 to B2, for example – usually takes several months of regular work. The tutor states a precise timeframe after the level assessment.

Requirements are set by the university and vary even within the same institution. Many undergraduate programmes work to a range of about 6.0–6.5, and master’s programmes often ask for a higher band score. We check the requirements of the specific programmes on your list.

To apply to a university you take IELTS Academic: its texts and tasks are close to those of an academic environment. General Training is intended for migration and work purposes.

A result is normally accepted for two years from the test date. When you plan the date you sit the test, make sure the result is still accepted when you submit your application and when you enrol.

Yes. If no certificate is required, or if your application is still a long way off, the lessons are built around academic English and confident speaking rather than around the format of the test.

In most cases you will not need it: IELTS Academic is accepted by universities in the United Kingdom and across Europe, and by almost every university in the United States, so one exam is usually enough for an entire list of programmes. Where a chosen programme accepts only TOEFL, we verify that requirement on its official page and build the preparation around that exam — the underlying academic skills are the same; what differs is the format of the tasks.