Centralised application portals are the way to go for students looking to apply to institutions outside India. These portals enable students to submit essays, academic transcripts, test scores and other necessary documents to multiple institutions. Each platform is tailored to their country’s education systems and admission criteria. Here’s a list to help you in your search.
Common App
It is the most widely used platform in the US, allowing students to apply to over 1,100 colleges and universities. It requires a 650-word essay chosen from seven prompts. The Common App essay asks students to reflect on key moments, such as personal challenges, growth or any other experiences that have shaped their identities. Students can apply to up to 20 colleges using this platform. Although Common App is free to use, most colleges charge an application fee ranging from $50 to $100, with fee waivers available for eligible students.
Coalition App
This one is used by around 170 US colleges and focuses on institutions that emphasise affordability and diversity in higher education. The platform partners with schools that offer generous financial aid or low-cost tuition. It was released in the 2016-17 cycle and is used by many selective and top-ranking universities.
Like the Common App, the Coalition App requires students to submit a personal essay. You have to select one topic from a list of six prompts. Early decision and early action deadlines fall in October or November, and regular decision deadlines are in January for the Common App and Coalition App colleges.
University of California Admission Portal
This is used to apply to the 10 campuses of the UC system (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA and so on). Instead of a personal essay, students must answer four Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) selected from eight prompts, with responses limited to 350 words each.
Another unique feature of the UC application portal is that students must declare their intended major, especially in competitive fields such as engineering, computer science and business. The UC system has adopted a test-optional policy for the SAT and ACT and generally does not require letters of recommendation. The application fee for international students is $80 per campus, and applications can be submitted between October 1 and November 30.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
It is the centralised platform for applying to UK universities. Students can apply to a maximum of five programmes.
The UCAS Personal Statement is an important component wherein applicants explain their academic interests and qualifications. Students also need to provide one academic reference. The application fee is £28.50, and students do not have to pay separately for each institution they apply to. Deadlines for Oxford, Cambridge and medical programmes are in mid-October, with most other undergraduate programme deadlines at the end of January.
EducationPlannerBC
It is the portal for universities in British Columbia, Canada, and covers universities like the University of British Columbia (UBC), Simon Fraser University (SFU), University of Victoria (UVic), Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and Vancouver Island University (VIU). The unique feature of this portal is its career exploration tool, which allows students to compare programmes based on their interests and skills. The portal does not charge a fee, but individual institutions charge application fees ranging from CAD 50 to 100.
Ontario Universities Application Centre
It serves universities in Ontario in Canada, including the University of Toronto, McMaster University, University of Waterloo, Western University, York University and Queen’s University. Though both EducationPlannerBC and OUAC do not require essays for general programmes, professional programmes such as medicine or law may have additional requirements, including essays and supplementary forms.
OUAC charges a base fee of CAD 150, covering up to three programmes, with additional fees for each extra programme. Applications for Canadian universities generally open in October, with most deadlines around January 15. Some programmes, however, may have later deadlines in February or March.
