Virtual University Tours

With many countries in lock down, international flights grounded and borders closed university open days are all on hold. However there are many excellent virtual tours available online to watch. 

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for UK universities see: www.ucas.com

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The ISU Higher Education Virtual Fair has been widely circulated to schools around the world. click here to request a copy if the document which lists QR codes for over 80 international universities.

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Some universities are creating online open days with options to register for live presentations through platforms such as zoom. For example see www.the-klu.org

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Australia & New Zealand

Since these countries do not start their academic years until February there is very little on their websites regarding the coronavirus disruption. In a way they have longer to make a decisions on how to handle the cancelling of A levels and IBDP exams and the emerging systems of how grades will be awarded in July 2020. Applications to the Australian National University are already open for February 2021 and university of Sydney open as normal on 1 April 2020, so check each university for their application dates.

 

Canada

Like other universities around the world Canadian universities are aware of the disruption to education and exams this academic year. Universities are presently planning for the new academic year to begin in September 2020. Applications will be assessed in the light of these changing conditions, so whilst grade requirements may remain unchanged it is worth remembering that Canadian universities use the full student profile and not just final year grades in their offers. They are well aware that alternative methods will be used internationally to generate student grades in 2020. All universities state they will be flexible this year when it comes to admissions 2020.

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for Examples see: University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, Ryerson University

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Netherlands

individual universities are beginning to post their responses to the cancelling of exams in many countries. The main theme seems to be that they will accept grades awarded by exam boards.

for example see: University College Roosevelt, VU Amsterdam, 

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Some universities are delaying university application deadlines for particular students or programmes so it is important to check individual universities.

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For example both Utrecht University and Leiden University are delaying their general undergraduate application date for EU/EEA students from 1 May to 1 June but not for non EU/EEA students or for selective courses. See Utrecht University, Maastricht University

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USA 

2020 entry - With universities closed to spring visits due to coronavirus many have decided to change the deadline for deposits. They are moving the deadline back from 1st May to 1st June or later. It is therefore important to check each university.

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Example universities: Augustana College, Concordia University, Perdue, and Suffolk

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2021 entry - With the cancelling of SAT & ACT exams universities are reviewing their entry requirements for 2021 start. Many universities but certainly not all of them are moving to a test optional position where SAT or ACT exams are no longer required for admissions. It is therefore important to check the admissions requirements for each university.

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Example universities: Boston University, Chapman, Tufts

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English Language Exams -  

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IELTS - In locations where it is permitted and safe to do so, IELTS testing is going ahead, with additional precautions in place to help protect the health of test takers and staff.

In some locations, we have had to suspend IELTS testing in line with official requirements of healthcare authorities. In these locations, we are putting detailed plans in place to ensure that test takers are able to take their tests as soon as possible once the official restrictions are removed. For the full statement see www.ielts.org

 

Cambridge Assessment English - Our absolute priority is to help to protect the health and safety of our candidates, their families and the staff in our exam centres and prep centres. We are closely following the advice of national and regional governments and healthcare providers, and taking additional measures. Unfortunately, this means that many exams and tests will not take place on the scheduled dates. We are putting in place detailed plans to allow candidates to take their exams as soon as possible once restrictions are lifted and it is safe to do so. For the full statement see www.cambridgeenglish.org

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Pearson Test for English - "The status of our global test delivery is changing rapidly due to the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions about test center operations in accordance with government and local authorities."Testing is currently suspended in most countries. For the full statement see www.pearsonview.com

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TOEFL - "Due to the health and safety concerns for both our test takers and test center staff stemming from the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak... testing has been affected in many countries.See their website for details on each country, www.ets.org

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TOEFL (ETS) is temporarily offering the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test in selected areas. The test is identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the TOEFL iBT test taken at a test center. As of March 23, 2020, the test is available in the United States, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong (China) and Macau (China). CHECK UNIVERSITIES / VISA REQUIREMENTS ARE MET BY THIS. For further information on the exam see www.ets.org

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I will try and keep this information as up to date as possible. If you have any questions then please email me: richard@judduniversityguidance.com.

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