Your study‑abroad paperwork,sorted. Every document for your admission and your student visa, with a dated plan from today to your intake. Tick things off as you go. Then ask an adviser to check your list, free.
10 destinations
238 documents, from official sources
21 Sep 2026 last verified
United States 0% Tick your first document
Step 1 · About you
Where, what and when? Four quick answers. Your plan and your checklist update instantly, and they’re saved on this device.
Destination UK United KingdomCA CanadaAU AustraliaIE IrelandNZ New ZealandDE GermanyUS United StatesAE United Arab EmiratesMY MalaysiaMT Malta
Level Undergraduate Postgraduate Diploma / foundation
Intake November 2026 December 2026 January 2027 February 2027 March 2027 April 2027 May 2027 June 2027 July 2027 August 2027 September 2027 October 2027 November 2027 December 2027 January 2028 February 2028 March 2028 April 2028 May 2028 June 2028 July 2028 August 2028 September 2028 October 2028 Where are you now? Not applied yet Applied, waiting Offer received Enrolment confirmed (e.g. CAS, CoE, I-20)
My spouse or children may come with me Step 2 · Your plan
12 months to your September 2027 intake. Worked back from your intake. This is our planning guide, not an official deadline: universities and visa offices set their own dates.
Sept 2026 Shortlist courses Pick 3–5 courses and check each one’s entry and English requirements.
You are here Nov 2026 Gather documents and book your English test Transcripts, passport, references and a test date that leaves time for a retake.
Jan 2027 Submit your applications Popular courses fill early. Some routes have fixed deadlines (the UK’s UCAS, for example).
Apr 2027 Accept an offer and pay the deposit The university then issues the document your visa needs: CAS, CoE, I-20, LOA or offer letter.
May 2027 Prepare your funds evidence Some visas need money held for a set period before you apply. The UK asks for 28 days, for example. Check the official rule.
Jun 2027 Apply for your visa Biometrics, medical checks and processing all take time. Apply as early as the rules allow.
Aug 2027 Book travel and accommodation Wait for the visa decision before you pay for non-refundable flights.
Intake Arrive and enrol Carry your originals: passport, visa, offer, funds and academic documents.
Step 3 · Your documents
Tick off what you already have. United States: 12 admission documents and 14 for the F-1 student visa (USA). Your ticks stay on this device.
Admission0/12 F-1 student visa (USA)0/14
Application route Undergraduate: the Common App covers 1,000+ colleges; some states use ApplyTexas or the UC Application. Graduate and MBA: apply directly on each university’s portal. Required Application fee Usually $50–100 per university. Need-based fee waivers are available and widely granted. Required Official transcripts One official transcript per institution attended, sent sealed by the school, board or university. Required Credential evaluation Many universities want a course-by-course evaluation from WES or another NACES member (from about $186 plus delivery). If applicable SAT or ACT Optional at most universities but required again at a number of selective ones. Check each school. If applicable GRE or GMAT Still required by most PhD programmes and many engineering master’s; GMAT or GRE for an MBA. Many taught master’s have dropped it. If applicable English proficiency IELTS 6.5–7.0, depending on the university. Required Essays or statement of purpose Undergraduate: the Common App essay (650 words) plus school supplements. Graduate: 500–1,000 words on research fit and named faculty. Required References Undergraduate: a counsellor letter plus one or two teachers. Graduate: two or three recommenders, submitted online. Required CV / résumé Required for nearly all graduate, MBA and assistantship applications. If applicable Financial documents for the I-20 After an offer, submit bank statements and an affidavit of support. The school issues the I-20 only once funds are verified, and this is the usual bottleneck. Required Enrolment deposit $200–1,000, non-refundable, often a precondition for the I-20. Required Free adviser check
Send us your list. We’ll tell you what’s missing. An adviser reviews your checklist for United States and replies within one working day with:
Which “if applicable” documents apply to you A realistic, dated plan to your September 2027 intake Courses at our partner universities that fit your profile The common mistakes that delay United States applications United States September 2027 0% ready 18 required to go
Free. Your checklist summary is sent with your message, so you don’t have to type it. We give general guidance on official checklists; we do not prepare visa applications.
How we help with visas. Luminous International is an education consultancy. We are not licensed immigration consultants (RCIC) or lawyers, and we do not represent anyone to any immigration authority. We provide general guidance and document checklists. For Canadian study permits, visa guidance is free and general only. Our paid services cover admissions documents, not immigration documents. We do not offer paid visa document preparation for any destination.
