Global 
Study abroad, start to finish.
Everything a student needs to apply for undergraduate or master’s study at top universities in the USA, the UK and Europe, and Australia: a personal roadmap, the right tests, checklists for every stage, scholarships, visas and official links. Built for students from every country, with extra steps for students from India.
Facts checked October 2026. Rules and fees change; every section links to the official source.
Build your study-abroad roadmap
Choose your level, destination and start date. You get a month-by-month plan you can print, save as PDF or share.
Compare destinations
| Destination | How you apply | Course length | Student visa | Work after graduating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Common App or Coalition (UG); each university’s own portal (MS) | UG 4 years; MS 1–2 years | F-1 student visa (I-20 from your university, SEVIS fee, DS-160, interview) | OPT: 12 months; STEM degrees add a 24-month STEM OPT extension |
| United Kingdom | UCAS (UG, up to 5 choices); university portals (MS) | UG 3 years (4 in Scotland); MS usually 1 year | Student visa (CAS from your university; Immigration Health Surcharge) | Graduate Route: 2 years; 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027 (PhD: 3 years) |
| Germany | uni-assist or the university directly | UG 3–4 years; MS 2 years | National student visa; blocked account €11,904 per year (2026); APS certificate for Indian applicants | 18-month residence permit to look for work after graduating |
| Netherlands | Studielink plus the university | UG 3–4 years; MS 1–2 years | Residence permit arranged through your university | Orientation year (zoekjaar) for graduates |
| Switzerland | University portals (ETH Zurich, EPFL and others) | UG 3 years; MS 1.5–2 years | National D visa / residence permit | Up to 6 months to look for work after graduating |
| Australia | University portals; two main intakes (February and July) | UG 3 years; MS 1.5–2 years | Student visa subclass 500: AUD 2,500 application charge (from 1 July 2026), Genuine Student requirement, CoE, OSHC health cover | Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485); length depends on your degree |
Post-study work and visa rules as of October 2026. Check the official links before you apply.
The tests you may need
| Test | Used for | Score scale | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT | US undergraduate | 400–1600 | Required or recommended at many top US colleges (MIT, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Penn, Brown, Cornell require it). Digital, about 2 hours 14 minutes. |
| ACT | US undergraduate | 1–36 | Accepted everywhere the SAT is. English, Math, Reading; Science optional. |
| TOEFL iBT | English proficiency: USA, Europe, Australia | 0–120 | Widely accepted, especially in the USA. Top US programs often look for about 100+; check each program. |
| IELTS Academic | English proficiency: UK, Europe, Australia, USA | Band 0–9 | Most common for the UK and Australia. Many top programs ask for 7.0 overall. For a UK visa, use the test your university and the UK government accept. |
| Duolingo English Test | English proficiency: many US and some UK/EU universities | 10–160 | Online, taken at home, results in about 2 days. Not accepted everywhere: confirm with each university. |
| PTE Academic | English proficiency: Australia, UK, some USA | 10–90 | Computer-based, fast results; accepted for Australian student visas. |
| GRE General | Master’s and PhD (many fields) | 130–170 per section | Many US programs made it optional; strong scores still help for competitive engineering, science and funding. Check each program. |
| GMAT Focus Edition | Business master’s and MBA | 205–805 | For MBA, MS Finance, Business Analytics and similar. Some programs accept the GRE instead. |
| German: TestDaF / DSH / Goethe | German-taught programs | Levels | Only for programs taught in German. Many master’s programs in Germany are taught in English. |
Top universities
Ranked by the QS World University Rankings 2027, with how to apply and testing rules checked on each university’s admissions site. Click a name for its official admissions page; see World Top Schools for deadlines, specialties and parent tips.
United States
| QS 2027 | University | How to apply | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States | MIT's own online application | SAT or ACT is required; tests must be taken before November 30 for Early Action and before December 31 for Regular Action. |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford, California, United States | Common App | SAT or ACT scores are required; scores can be self-reported on the application. |
| 5 | Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States | Common App or Coalition | SAT or ACT is required; in exceptional cases where these tests are not accessible, certain other exams such as AP or IB results can meet the requirement. |
| 7 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Pasadena, California, United States | Common App or Coalition | SAT or ACT is required for fall 2027 applicants; there is no minimum score and no preference between the two tests. |
| 15 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Common App or Coalition | SAT or ACT is required; applicants facing hardship can submit a waiver instead. |
| 16 | Cornell University Ithaca, New York, United States | Common App | SAT or ACT is required for first-year applicants; scores may be self-reported. |
| 16 | Yale University New Haven, Connecticut, United States | Common App, Coalition or QuestBridge | ACT or SAT scores are required for first-year applicants; scores may be self-reported. |
| 20 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland, United States | Common App or Coalition | SAT or ACT is required for first-year applicants. |
| 20 | University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California, United States | University of California application | The University of California does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions. |
| 24 | University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois, United States | Common App or Coalition | SAT or ACT is optional under UChicago's No Harm policy; submitted scores are used only if they help the application. |
| 27 | Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey, United States | Common App or QuestBridge | Princeton is test-optional for students applying in the 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry); SAT or ACT will be required again from the 2027-28 cycle. |
| 43 | Columbia University New York City, New York, United States | Common App, Coalition on Scoir or QuestBridge | SAT or ACT is optional for fall 2027 applicants; Columbia will require SAT or ACT scores from the 2027-28 cycle onward. |
| 45 | Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois, United States | Common App or Coalition with Scoir | Northwestern is test-optional and does not require SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants. |
| 49 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Los Angeles, California, United States | University of California application | The University of California does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions. |
| 51 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States | Common App | Michigan remains test-optional for students applying for fall 2027. |
| 55 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | Common App | Policy varies by college: the School of Computer Science requires SAT or ACT, several colleges are test-flexible (some test results required), and the College o |
| 58 | New York University (NYU) New York City, New York, United States | Common App | NYU is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle; students may instead share SAT, ACT, IB, AP or other accepted exam results. |
| 66 | Brown University Providence, Rhode Island, United States | Common App | SAT or ACT scores are required for first-year applicants. |
| 70 | Duke University Durham, North Carolina, United States | Common App or Coalition | Duke is test-optional for first-year applicants in the 2026-27 admission cycle. |
| 72 | University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas, United States | ApplyTexas or Common App | At least one official SAT or ACT score (or CLT) sent from the testing agency is required. |
| 74 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois, United States | Common App | SAT or ACT is optional for all first-year applicants, including international students. |
| 81 | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) San Diego, California, United States | University of California application | The University of California does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions. |
| 92 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania, United States | Common App or MyPennState | SAT or ACT is optional for first-year applicants. |
| 92 | University of Washington Seattle, Washington, United States | Common App or Coalition | SAT or ACT is not required for most applicants; the UW is technically test-optional and reviewers do not see scores in most cases. |
| 94 | Boston University Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Common App | Boston University is test-optional for first-year applicants applying through fall 2028. |
United Kingdom and Europe
| QS 2027 | University | How to apply | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Imperial College London London, United Kingdom | UCAS | Many courses require an admissions test: ESAT for engineering and science courses, TMUA for Mathematics, and UCAT for Medicine; ESAT and TMUA have October 2026 |
| 4 | University of Oxford Oxford, United Kingdom | UCAS (choose a college or make an open application) | Many courses require an admissions test taken in October (UAT-UK tests such as TMUA or ESAT, plus LNAT for Law and UCAT for Medicine), and some courses ask for |
| 6 | University of Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom | UCAS, plus the My Cambridge Application form | Many courses require a test: ESAT (Engineering, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and others), TMUA (Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics), LNAT (Law) a |
| 8 | ETH Zurich Zurich, Switzerland | Direct online portal (ETH eApply) | Some school certificates allow direct admission; others require the ETH entrance examination (held in January), and students on that route would apply by 31 Mar |
| 8 | UCL (University College London) London, United Kingdom | UCAS | Some courses require an admissions test (for example UCAT for Medicine); check each course page. |
| 22 | EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) Lausanne, Switzerland | Direct online application (EPFL) | Holders of some foreign diplomas must pass an entrance examination; others are admitted on their diploma. |
| 25 | Technical University of Munich (TUM) Munich, Germany | Direct online portal (TUMonline); some international applicants also need a VPD from uni-assist | Many programs use an aptitude assessment or aptitude recommendation, which can include an interview; varies by program. |
| 34 | Université PSL Paris, France | Varies: Parcoursup (for example the CPES degree), Études en France for some non-EU students, or program-specific portals | Requirements, including any tests or interviews, vary by program. |
| 35 | The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, United Kingdom | UCAS | UCAT is required for Medicine; most other degrees have no separate admissions test. |
| 37 | King's College London London, United Kingdom | UCAS | UCAT is required for Medicine and Dentistry; check each course page for any other test. |
| 40 | The University of Manchester Manchester, United Kingdom | UCAS | UCAT is required for Medicine and Dentistry; most other courses have no separate admissions test. |
| 48 | Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) Delft, Netherlands | Studielink, then the TU Delft application file (Osiris) | Numerus fixus programmes (such as Aerospace Engineering, Architecture, Computer Science and Engineering) have a selection procedure; deadlines and steps vary by |
| 61 | Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) Munich, Germany | Application to the LMU International Office (route depends on nationality and program) | Applicants whose school certificate does not give direct access may need a preparatory Studienkolleg and its assessment exam. |
| 62 | The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) London, United Kingdom | UCAS | Some programmes require an admissions test (for example LNAT for Law); check each programme page. |
Australia
| QS 2027 | University | How to apply | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) Sydney, Australia | Direct online application (UNSW Applicant Portal); UAC for Australian Year 12 and IB in Australia | No separate admissions test for most programs; Medicine has extra selection steps and is assessed outside the offer rounds. |
| 22 | The University of Melbourne Melbourne, Australia | Direct online application; VTAC for Australian Year 12 or IB in Australia/New Zealand | No separate admissions test for most programs; Fine Arts and Music need auditions or extra tasks. |
| 28 | The University of Sydney Sydney, Australia | Direct online application; UAC for Australian Year 12 or IB in Australia | No separate admissions test for most programs; some degrees have extra selection steps. |
| 29 | Australian National University (ANU) Canberra, Australia | Direct online application; UAC International for Australian Year 12, IB or NCEA Level 3 | No separate admissions test for most programs; programs with additional selection criteria may have other deadlines. |
| 31 | Monash University Melbourne, Australia | Direct online application; VTAC for Australian Year 12, IB in Australia/New Zealand, or NCEA | No separate admissions test for most courses; some courses need a folio, personal statement or interview. |
Your checklists, from planning to your first month
Tick items as you go. Your ticks are saved in this browser. Items marked India are extra steps for students from India.
1. Plan and prepare (12–24 months before)
2. Application documents
3. After you are admitted
4. Pre-departure (final 6–8 weeks)
5. First 30 days
6. Stay in status and plan your career
Scholarships and costs
Plan the full cost of the whole course: tuition, housing, food, health insurance, travel and visa fees. Use each university’s official cost-of-attendance or fees page, and its net price calculator for US undergraduate study.
Need-blind for international students, full need met (USA, undergraduate)
Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Amherst, Dartmouth, Bowdoin; Brown and Notre Dame (from the Class of 2029); Washington and Lee. Admission does not depend on your ability to pay, and the college meets your full demonstrated need.
Other US aid
Many US universities offer merit scholarships, and master’s students can apply for research or teaching assistantships that may cover tuition plus a stipend.
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships (India → USA)
Run by USIEF for Indian professionals with leadership potential in selected fields.
Chevening (UK)
UK government scholarship for a one-year master’s; applications usually open in August and close in early November, a year before the course.
Commonwealth Scholarships (UK)
Master’s and PhD scholarships for students from eligible Commonwealth countries, including India.
DAAD scholarships (Germany)
Germany’s academic exchange service lists scholarships and every program in English.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (Europe)
Fully funded master’s programs studied in two or more European countries.
India: Inlaks, J.N. Tata Endowment, K.C. Mahindra, National Overseas Scholarship
Merit and need-based support or loan scholarships for Indian students going abroad; eligibility differs for each.
Australia: university scholarships
Most Australian universities offer merit scholarships for international students; search each university’s scholarship page.
Eligibility and dates change every year; always apply through the official site linked above.
Extra steps for students from India
Free official advising
USIEF runs EducationUSA advising centers in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata, with free sessions on US study.
usief.org.inGermany: APS certificate
Indian applicants need the APS certificate from the German Embassy’s Academic Evaluation Centre before applying. It takes weeks, so apply early.
aps-india.deEducation loans
Compare public and private lenders on interest rate, collateral, margin money and repayment moratorium. Get the sanction letter before your visa interview. Interest on education loans may be tax-deductible in India: check current rules with a tax adviser.
Documents to prepare early
Passport, Grade 10 and 12 mark sheets, semester transcripts and degree certificate (MS), test scores, and bank or loan documents. Keep attested copies and scans.
Avoid scams
No one can guarantee admission or a visa. Never pay for “guaranteed” offers, fake documents or unverified housing. Use official university and government sites, and free official advising.
Money abroad
Use a forex card or international account, keep your Indian mobile number active for bank OTPs, and know your university’s fee-payment methods.
Every official source in one place
USA
Germany and Europe
Want an expert to check your plan?
Book a Roadmap Session: we review your profile, university list, tests and timeline, and give you a written plan. Study-abroad onboarding is part of our coaching plans.
Global Yuva does not guarantee admission, scholarships or visas. Students write their own essays.
Disclaimer: This information is for informational purposes only. It is not legal, immigration, financial or admissions advice. Rules, fees and deadlines change often; always confirm with the official university and government sources linked on this page before you make decisions.