Which universities should you apply to? Which course should you choose? And how do you gain a place at your preferred university? These are some of the tricky questions that all Senior School students face when it comes to university applications. At KSS, we will provide clear and comprehensive guidance, support, and advice to our students during the application process. Our goal is to effectively help our students display their achievements and character so that they stand out from the crowd of applicants from all over the world. Moreover, we aim to help our students gain admission to a university where they can fully develop their strengths, interests, and abilities, and that guides them along their journey to becoming the best version of themselves. That way, they will ultimately be well-equipped to compete and function in the ever-changing worlds of higher education and the job market, and in society at large.

As a school with over a millennium of history, The King’s School Canterbury sends on average 20% of its graduates to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and to date over 130 Old King’s Scholars are recorded in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. King’s Canterbury has a large team of expert university counsellors, which contains counsellors dedicated to Oxbridge applications, and to applications for popular subjects such as medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry.

Our Chinese and British campuses share information and resources for university application guidance, providing up-to-date and accurate information to students and parents. We will also regularly host online and offline information sharing sessions and guidance sessions to help everyone better understand the latest trends in higher education, university admission requirements, and skills and strategies for successful applications, thereby supporting King's graduates to pursue further studies in top institutions in the UK and around the world.

University application sharing session for students and parents

Building on the excellent university application guidance offered by The King's School Canterbury, KSS has assembled a dedicated team to provide effective guidance to students in their university applications.

Ms. Xu, the University Applications Coordinator at KSS, holds a bachelor’s degree from Peking University’s Yuanpei College and a master's degree in Higher & Postsecondary Education from Columbia University. She is a certified university application guidance counsellor accredited by the National Association for College Admission Counseling in the USA and an accredited guidance counsellor for UK schools and educational institutions recognised by the British Council. Ms. Xu has over 6 years of experience in guiding students through the overseas university admissions process and has previously served as an alumni interviewer for Columbia University. She has a comprehensive understanding of university application processes and specific requirements in regions including the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong.

Her expertise has enabled Ms. Xu to help numerous students gain admission to world-renowned institutions, including the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California, Berkeley. Furthermore, Ms. Xu is dedicated to nurturing trust-based, strong relationships to help students achieve their highest potential in their academic development, social-emotional growth, and future career.

At KSS, we have moved away from the traditional class-based system and adopted a tutor system. Each student is assigned a dedicated tutor to ensure that they receive ample attention and support, both academically and personally. Tutors communicate frequently with students, so that they gain a clear understanding of their learning progress and future education goals.

King's has established a clear and comprehensive system for university application guidance, covering every aspect from course selection during the IGCSE stage to personal statement or application essay writing at the later stage. Tutors encourage students to explore their academic interests and discover their research potential, and assist students in preparing their application essays and supplementary materials so that they align with the requirements of the universities they wish to attend.

Schools in different countries and regions across the world have varying admission requirements, so university application guidance plays a crucial role in facilitating students' successful applications. British universities, for example, emphasise academic ability and students’ all-round development, requiring students to demonstrate a specific interest in and a deeper understanding of their chosen subject. To facilitate this, KSS offers students the possibility to do the IPQ (independent project qualification), a globally-recognised research project which is equivalent to an A-Level course. Through practical learning, students can cultivate academic skills and critical thinking, and showcase their academic achievements, which in turn strengthens their applications to prestigious institutions.

Students and parents should be aware that university applications are a globally-competitive process, in which a rich track record of activities and all-round academic and personal development are major advantages. It is for this reason that KSS organises a wide variety of events and activities for its students to take part in.

By actively taking part in these activities, King’s students can improve their abilities to lead, work in teams, and solve problems. These experiences not only serve to enrich their university application essay or personal statement, but also to demonstrate their diverse set of abilities and interests. Such a track record of comprehensive development helps students’ universities of choice understand their applicants’ qualities and potential, and envisage their future achievements, which increases the chance that their application will be successful.

University application guidance begins once students enter Senior School. King’s cares about the university aspirations of all of its students, and actively provides guidance to students in every phase of their Senior School education. We understand the various goals of our students, and provide guidance along every step of the way to achieving them.

G9 students need to start thinking about their goals for university and their careers beyond university. They need to select the right IGCSE courses to take, and work hard on their exam results (many top universities require students to provide their school reports for the whole Senior School period, including their Grade Point Average). G10 students explore university course options and university prospects. In the second half of the school year, the School’s University Applications Coordinator will provide the students with individualised advice on A-Level courses, and the students will start the process of choosing which A-Level courses best match their skills and their envisaged universities and degree courses.

During the first half of the school year of G11, students compile an initial list of universities and degree courses that they intend to apply to, and familiarise themselves with the admission requirements. They should also pay attention to degrees with special requirements, for instance, if they intend to study medicine, they need to prepare for the BMAT or UKCAT exam, if they intend to study art, they will usually need to prepare a portfolio of their artwork, and if they intend to study mathematics in the UK, they will need to show their results for additional exams like STEP or MAT. In the second half of the school year, they will make a decision on which universities and courses to apply for, begin working on their CV, discuss their letter of recommendation with the Applications Coordinator, their tutor, and their relevant teacher, and register for and attend university information sessions and open days. G12 students make a final decision on their list of universities and courses to apply to, make an account on the relevant university application platform, and write their personal statement or college application essay. They begin to systematically submit their applications, and prepare to study abroad.

* We are grateful to KSS’s University Applications Coordinator, Ms. Xu, for providing us with information for this article.