Studying abroad: a timeline from the 1st year of upper secondary school
In short
- 1st year of Lykeio: exploration and profile building.
- 2nd year: English certificate, shortlist, first drafts.
- Final year: applications based on each country’s deadlines.
The most common mistake in studying abroad isn’t the “wrong” country or the “wrong” university. It is that preparation starts far too late. The earlier planning begins, the more options a pupil can have. Here is an indicative timeline.
1st year of Lykeio: exploration
- Identifying interests and fields of study; see career guidance.
- A first look at countries and education systems.
- Starting profile building: activities with depth.
- Steady, good grades, which count from early on.
2nd year of Lykeio: organisation
- Choosing countries and creating a first shortlist.
- An English certificate (e.g. IELTS or TOEFL) and, where needed, tests such as the SAT.
- Checking entry requirements for each programme.
- Summer: first drafts of the personal statement and essays.
Final year of Lykeio: applications
- Autumn: final texts and references. Early deadlines: UCAS for Oxford, Cambridge and medicine in October; Early Decision/Action in the US in November.
- Winter: regular deadlines. UCAS and US Regular Decision usually in January; some European programmes with limited places also from January.
- Spring: responses, interviews, applications to programmes with later deadlines and choosing a final offer.
- Summer: final results, housing and, where needed, a visa.
Dates are indicative; every year and every university sets its own. We always check them at the official sources.
Guides by country
How we help
We design a timeline for each candidate so they know what to do and when. See studying abroad.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start preparing to study abroad?
The earlier the better, ideally from the 1st year of Lykeio, especially for competitive universities or when a specific academic and extracurricular profile is required.
When should I take IELTS or TOEFL?
Usually in the 2nd year of Lykeio or early in the final year, so the certificate is ready before application deadlines.
When do I apply?
In the final year of Lykeio. The first deadlines are in October and November, and most regular ones from January, depending on the country.
