Your Child Abroad: The Boarding School and University Timeline

Few decisions weigh more on a father than sending a child to study abroad. The academic case can be strong, but the logistics are unforgiving: the most sought-after schools fill places years ahead, and university deadlines arrive earlier than most families expect. Start with the child, not the brochure. Then work the calendar backwards. Above all, ask whether your child actually wants to go: motivation matters more than any ranking.

UK boarding schools: the entry points

• 11+ (Year 7): register around Year 5, roughly two years before entry; assessment usually combines the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an interview and school reports.
• 13+ (Year 9): the classic boarding entry. Register in Year 6 or 7, two to three years ahead; conditional offers usually come in Year 6 or 7 and are confirmed after the Common Entrance exam in Year 8.
• 16+ (sixth form): apply in Year 10 or 11; schools look at GCSE results or predictions, subject tests and an interview.
• Some schools ask for registration three or more years ahead, and not every school offers every entry point, so read each admissions page.
• Many boarding schools ask international families to appoint a guardian in the country who can step in for weekends, school breaks and emergencies; settle this before you accept a place.

Choose the school for the child you have, not the one in the brochure.

US boarding schools and universities

American boarding schools run a single annual cycle. At Phillips Exeter, for example, the admission and financial aid deadline is 15 January, decisions arrive on 10 March, and ninth-grade applicants submit the SSAT or ISEE. Exeter's admissions are need-blind and it offers no merit scholarships. For university, the British system moves first: for 2027 entry, applications to Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine courses had to reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time on 15 October 2026. Many US universities set early deadlines in November, so the final school year is mostly about execution.

A family timeline

• Ages 8–10: talk about the idea at home, visit schools during holidays and start serious English if needed.
• Ages 10–12: register for UK 11+ or 13+ entry and prepare for the pre-test.
• Ages 13–14: for US boarding, prepare the SSAT or ISEE and apply in the autumn for entry the following September.
• Ages 15–16: choose subjects with university courses in mind, and plan campus visits.
• Age 17: write the personal statement over the summer; UCAS opens in September and Oxbridge closes in mid-October.
• Throughout: agree how often you will visit, who the local guardian is and how your child can reach you at any time.