The 2021 application season is drawing to a close. Overall, multi-country/region applications will continue to be the trend for this year's graduate admissions.
Among them, the US and the UK boast the most Top 100 universities worldwide and remain the primary choice for students and parents. In addition, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore are also highly favored, emerging as popular mainstream study destinations after the US and the UK.
However, some students say: applying to just one country/region is already overwhelming, and the required materials and timelines for mixed applications differ, so what should we do?
Don’t worry, CheersYou（清柚教育） has you covered! The most comprehensive application timeline for popular destinations—US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore—will organize every important date for you and plan your multi-country mixed application journey.
US Graduate Application Timeline
For 2022 Fall enrollment, students should ideally begin preparations before the summer of 2021, engaging in research projects or seeking high-value summer internships relevant to their intended field. Domestic students, in addition to GRE/GMAT, also need to prepare for TOEFL or other language tests.
The summer between junior and senior year is crucial. Students bear multiple tasks: achieving target standardized test scores, securing internship recommendation letters, and connecting with professors for academic recommendations. Resume and personal statements should also be started.
Application Key Points:
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Recommenders: At least two academic professors and one internship supervisor are required. It’s advisable to consciously maintain good relationships with potential recommenders in advance.
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International Credential Evaluation: Takes time; allow about a month to avoid missing application deadlines for certain programs.
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Application System Variations: Graduate schools use different application platforms. Note that the University of California system (UC) has its own unique online application system.
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Progress Tracking: It’s hard to track multiple school applications. We suggest creating a spreadsheet to compare and organize, making it clear at a glance.
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Follow-up Communication: After submission, keep in touch with schools, promptly submit any additional materials needed. Offers are not just waited for; they result from communication.
UK Graduate Application Timeline
As the dark horse of the 2021 application season, UK institutions saw a significant surge in total applicants and fierce competition. Many popular programs closed their application portals early. Applicants for 2022 intake should learn from this and prepare materials in advance.
UK master’s programs place greater emphasis on undergraduate institution background, GPA, and IELTS, among other hard scores.
Application Key Points:
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Language Scores: Ideally, an IELTS score of 6.5-7 overall, with 6-6.5 in each component when submitting the application.
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Apply Early: Offers are generally issued on a first-come, first-served basis. It is recommended to complete your personal statement in September and have other application materials ready (official transcripts, proof of enrollment and average scores for domestic undergraduates, language scores, and GRE/GMAT scores if required by some programs).
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Before Christmas: Schools typically issue offers or rejections to the first batch of applicants before Christmas.
Canadian Graduate Application Timeline
Besides the US and the UK, Canada—known for its multiculturalism, comfortable environment, and favorable immigration policies—is another favorite among study-abroad students.
When applying to Canadian graduate programs, your chosen specialty must align with your undergraduate major or you must have completed relevant prerequisite courses. Undergraduate GPA and language scores are the two most critical evaluation points.
Application Key Points:
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Application Timeline: Canadian online applications open relatively late. Mixed-application students should prioritize material preparation accordingly.
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GPA: The minimum standard is 75% on a percentage scale. Generally, bachelor’s degree holders should have an 80% average, while top universities may impose additional requirements for upper-division courses (e.g., 85% or above).
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Conditional Admission: If an applicant is overall strong but slightly deficient in language or one academic score, they may receive a “conditional offer.” After completing the university-specified preparatory courses, students can enroll and begin their graduate studies. This can be a good option for those eager to pursue a master’s in Canada.
Hong Kong Graduate Application Timeline
Hong Kong’s education largely follows the British Commonwealth system. With its proximity, short program duration, and high educational standards, it is widely favored by Mainland Chinese students. The eight major universities in Hong Kong, including HKU, CUHK, and HKUST, are highly recognized on the mainland.
Application Key Points:
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Academic Scores: Most admitted students at Hong Kong public universities have scores above 80%. The minimum threshold is typically 75-80%. Given the intense competition in 2021 Fall, applicants are advised to achieve scores above 80%.
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Application Timeline: Most Hong Kong universities, including HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU, and HKBU, have moved their online applications to September. To seize the early advantage, we recommend completing applications before National Day (October 1).
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Major Change: The switch should not be too drastic; try to stay within the same broad category and meet prerequisite requirements. Applicants are advised to put extra effort into personal statements and relevant experiences.
Singapore Graduate Application Timeline
Although Singaporean universities have not been around as long as their European and American counterparts, they recruit top global talent to strengthen their faculty, resulting in very high academic and research standards. In the 2021 QS World University Rankings, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) ranked 11th and 13th globally, surpassing Tsinghua and Peking universities.
Of course, applying to Singaporean universities has a downside: the small number of institutions means most students target NUS and NTU, leading to extremely fierce competition.
Application Key Points:
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Institution Background: Among Chinese mainland applicants, those from 985/211, “Two Finance and One Trade” universities are preferred. Due to fierce competition, a GPA above 80-85% is recommended, along with GRE/GMAT to boost competitiveness.
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Hard Scores: Looking at past admission results, 90% of admitted students had an IELTS score of 6.5-7 or above, with 33% scoring above 7.0. 62% of admitted students had a GPA above 85%, while only 3% had a GPA below 80%.
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Interview Programs: When applying to programs requiring interviews, you can first apply to a safety school to practice interviewing and gain experience before the dream-school interview.
Junior year second semester is already/soon here. For those planning to apply to multiple destinations for 2022 Fall graduate programs, how far along are you in your preparation?
Haven’t achieved your GRE/GMAT score yet? Haven’t started researching programs and schools?
Still confused about the application timeline?
Hop on the CheersYou（清柚教育） early study-abroad planning bus, map out your study-abroad plan as soon as possible, and sprint toward the 2022 application season!
Click the customer service icon at the bottom right to start a free 1-on-1 consultation now!
