All you need to know about applying to university

The University of Amsterdam is one of Europe’s top universities

Contents

Applications and admissions Application deadlines Late entries Application processWhat you will need to submit Deciding which universityGlobal or European rankingUniversity of Luxembourg Financial support

Photo: Shutterstock

Students who plan to continue their education to degree level may be thinking about univeristy admissions, and those who finish school next year, will be thinking about applications for 2023.

Applications and admissions 

Students finishing school this academic year have plenty of time to apply to university in most European countries.

This article lists a number of universities and their current process for applications and admissions. 

Our guide takes you through some basic rules on the application process, timings for different countries, the ranking of universities in Europe, and things to consider such as fees and the cost of living. 

Application deadlines

Some EU countries expect applications well in advance of the end of the academic year, while others will consider applications submitted in the weeks before the start of the first semester. The deadlines below are based on the majority of universities but do your research and check with specific universities or individual courses to confirm exact deadlines.

Austria                                June to September

Belgium                              1 June (EU/EEA students), February-                                             March non EU/EEA students

Denmark                            mid-March

Estonia                               March to June (non-EU citizens                                                        should apply earlier)

Finland                               January (but March/April for some                                                 courses)

France                                February to April

Germany                            Mid July

Hungary                             February to May

Ireland                                1 February (online), 

                                              1 May (late paper applications)

Latvia                                   May/June

Lithuania                             June

The Netherlands                1 April or 1 May depending on the university

Norway                                1 December (non-EU citizen),

                                               1 March (EU/EEA citizen)

Poland                                  July to August

Sweden                                 mid-January

UK                                         mid-October for Oxford, Cambridge, for medicine,veterinary science or dentistry but mid-January for all other courses and universities. Clearing system operates July to September. 

You can find a longer list of countries and general application dates for university here.   

Late entries

It is possible to apply after a deadline if there are still spaces left on the course you want to attend. It is advised that you contact your preferred choice university if you miss the deadline for general application.

Application process

Each country will have its own centralised application process so it is worth checking online for this. You can find out more about the process for each country here, using the drop-down menu under the section entitled university systems by country.

You can manage your entry to multiple universities (up to 8 in total) across the EU and the UK via the EUNiCAS (European Universities Central Application Support) Service. Their website lets you browse by country or by discipline. They also provide a step-by-step guide on applying to your chosen universities including letters of motivation or entrance tests, and have an alerts system for extended deadlines and late vacancies. 

What you will need to submit 

You may be asked to submit all or some of the following documents with your application or at a later date if your application is made online.

• Cover letter
• CV
• Previous degree certificate (if applying for a Masters)
• High school diploma or equivalent plus grade transcription/predicted grades
• Language proficiency certificate (if applicable)
• Copy of your passport or national ID
• Academic letters of reference
• Additional documents for example international health insurance cover

Deciding which university

Global or European ranking

If you are not sure how a degree from a university will be viewed by a prospective employer you can consider the global ranking of the university. This link from Webometrics provides a ranking for European universities, or you can consult The Times best universities in Europe 2023. It’s a subscription only guide, but 2022 is still available for free and gives ranking by country and the world ranking of universities. 

However, don’t dismiss a university because of its ranking. It could be recognised as an authority in a specific discipline or field, or you might find it’s the only place offering a degree that combines all the elements you specifically want to study. 

Fees can vary from a few hundred to several thousand Euros per year Photo: Shutterstock

Tuition fees and the cost of living are two important things a prospective undergraduate should consider. The Nordic countries of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland do not charge high tuition fees but the cost of living is high.

Central European countries like Poland, Estonia and Hungary have low tuition fees and a low cost of living, while in western Europe costs can vary dramatically.

So, for example, you won’t pay any fees in Germany, just a contribution of €100 to €350 per semester in student service fees.

You’ll pay about €2,000 in annual fees in The Netherlands, but the UK can charge anything from €11,000 per year, to an eye-watering €50,000 per year for certain degree courses.

University of Luxembourg

If you prefer to stay local, then the University of Luxembourg has a number of degree courses (undergraduate and post-graduate) in faculties covering science, technology and communications, law, economics and finance, languages, literature, humanities, art and education.

Applications should be made online (check individual courses for exact application deadlines as some are as early as January).

You must then print out your application and attach the relevant documents requested, before submitting it to the administration offices in Belval. Applications take four to six weeks to process.

You can find out more about the higher education establishments in Luxembourg – both public and private – in this article. 

Financial support

There are scholarships and loans available to Luxembourg residents and citizens in higher education. These include:

• A student grant of €1,142 per semester (two payments per academic year) as of 31 July 2022.
• An additional grant based on income criteria of up to €2,210 for the academic year 2022-23.
• A mobility grant for those studying abroad of approximately €1,420 after 31 July 2022.

You can find out more about the financial support available from the government here, including how and when to apply, and the criteria you need to fulfil.  You can calculate your entitlement as a student using this simulator, which also provides details on how to apply for these grants and loans. 

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