Application Sprint
from $1,500
- 6–8 weeks to the deadline
- University shortlist, personal statement or essays, CV
- Interview preparation and application submission
Admission to leading universities – guided by those who studied there
Our expertise is building and strengthening applicant profiles for the world's leading universities: strategy and activities, essays and personal statements, CVs, interviews and the application – and on to the first internship.
A 20-minute online call to understand your situation and agree on next steps.
A team from UCL, Imperial and King's
We studied abroad and went through UCAS and the Common App ourselves, so we know the process first-hand.
Our students study at Oxford, LSE, UCL and NYU
We have guided them through undergraduate and master's applications, personal statements, CVs and internship applications.
Only what shapes the offer
We are not a full-service agency: we do not handle visas, housing or relocation. All our work goes into the applicant's profile and how it comes across in the application.
Where our students get in
Offers our students have received for undergraduate and master's programmes – just some of them. Names and personal details are hidden out of respect for our students.
What students and parents say
Personal statement for a UK university
On foundation I didn't know how to write an essay that would get me where I wanted. We spent a long time working out what really led me to my subject, and for the first time my personal statement sounded like me, not like a template. I'm very grateful to the team for their help in every round of edits.
Admission to UCL
For a long time we didn't know where to start or which universities were truly strong for our child's subject. The Tier 1 team helped us build the list, guided us through the essays and prepared the whole application. What I valued most was constant contact: I always knew which stage we were at, and got an answer to any question the same day.
Profile Assessment and personal brand
I thought a personal brand was about LinkedIn. In the diagnostic we went through my profile in detail and made a plan: what to strengthen and what experience to add. It turned out the key is for everything I do to add up to one story an employer understands at first glance. The Tier 1 team helped me build my profile, prepare clear answers for interviewers and land a summer internship.
Who handles your application
Your application is handled not by managers but by graduates of Imperial College London (#2 worldwide, QS), UCL (#8) and King's College London (#37) who know what admissions committees look for.
Every family works with a consultant experienced in their specific field – from foundation and first-year entry to master's programmes and graduate careers. The founder of Tier 1 is personally involved in the strategy and stays in touch at every stage.
We studied abroad ourselves, applied through UCAS and the Common App, and secured internships and offers from Deloitte, L'Oréal and other leading firms – so we know the process first-hand, not from other people's guides.
15+
offers received by our students from leading universities
10
offers from top-50 universities received by our team
1
dedicated consultant from strategy to offer
Oxford · LSE · Imperial · UCL · King's · Bocconi · NYU · Boston University · Northeastern · Toronto
Our mission
More students from Central Asia and Eastern Europe at the world's leading companies.
We help with the first step: admission to an outstanding university and a career built on it.
– The Tier 1 team
What we don’t do
Visas, housing and flights. Our work is what the admissions committee reads.
Our services
From Year 10 to master's admissions and a first graduate role. Application preparation is included in the Sprint and Master's programmes.
Full support
Admissions Strategy
$750
- In-depth 60–90-minute consultation with the student and parents
- 8–12 universities matched to the requirements for your school certificate
- A profile-building plan: activities, projects and a testing calendar for every term
- Two follow-up calls and one month of messenger support
The fee is credited towards a full support programme
Career Programme
from $500
- Choice of modules and student societies
- Spring weeks (short employer programmes) and internships
- Support through to the first job offer
Master's Admissions
from $1,500
- Programme and university selection aligned with the job market
- Essays, CV and GMAT or GRE preparation
- Application submission
Individual services
For families who already have a plan and need support with a specific step.
- Initial consultationfreeAn introductory call to understand your situation and identify where to start.
- Profile Assessment$200A 45-minute online session and a concise written assessment: your chances at target universities, a shortlist of 5–6 universities and the three priority steps for the coming months. If you then choose a full 1–2-year plan, the fee is credited towards the Admissions Strategy within 30 days.
- UK personal statement (UCAS)$500Detailed review and two rounds of edits.
- US application essays (Common App)$500Main essay and university supplements. Detailed review and two rounds of edits.
- Application CV$250Review and a final version in UK or US format.
- IELTS preparation$35 / hourOne-to-one lessons with a member of our team, including the specific IELTS format required for foundation programmes. The first lesson includes a level assessment and a tailored programme.
- Mock interview$250A 45-minute interview in the format of your target university, with written feedback.
How we work
- 1
Free consultation
We learn about your situation and agree together on where to start.
- 2
Strategy
Profile assessment, a university shortlist, the right route – direct entry, a foundation year or a first year at a university at home – and a deadline calendar.
- 3
Through to the offer
Regular sessions, written applications, interview preparation and submission.
Contract
Fixed price and clear terms
What is included, the timeline and the cost are set out in the contract before we start. We name the price upfront and do not change it along the way.
Process guarantee
We only promise what we control
No one can honestly guarantee admission. We guarantee the process: an agreed schedule, a set number of editing rounds and same-day answers to your questions.
Founder in touch
A personal contact, not a manager
The founder of Tier 1 is personally involved in your child's strategy. You always know who you are talking to and which stage we are at.
Application Sprint 2027
We select universities, shape the applicant's story, help define the theme and structure of the personal statement or essays with feedback on every draft, and prepare the CV and interviews.
- Step 1. Strategy: university shortlist, route and the applicant's story.
- Step 2. Writing: the UK personal statement or US essays (the Common App main essay and university supplements), and the CV.
- Step 3. Interview preparation, final review and submission.
Time remaining
Updated daily.
Dates verified in early October 2026. We confirm every deadline with the university before each application.
UK
Via a foundation year
Leading UK universities expect 13 years of schooling. After Year 11, the main route is a university's own foundation programme – UCL, King's, Warwick, Edinburgh, Bristol and St Andrews. Some universities admit NIS graduates holding the Grade 12 Certificate directly to the first year.
US
Direct entry after Year 11
US universities accept the school certificate directly. Applications go through the Common App: a main essay, university supplements, recommendations and test scores.
Applying this cycle?The Sprint takes 6–8 weeks. In the consultation we will confirm which deadlines are still realistic.
Frequently asked questions
Can students apply to US universities straight after Year 11?
Yes. US universities accept the school certificate directly. Applicants need a transcript, essays, recommendations, SAT or ACT scores at many universities, and an English test – TOEFL, IELTS or the Duolingo English Test. Leading universities generally accept any of these.
Why is a foundation year needed for the UK?
Leading UK universities expect 13 years of schooling. After Year 11, the most reliable route is the university's own foundation programme – UCL, King's, Warwick, Edinburgh, Bristol or St Andrews – which leads to an offer from the same university once its conditions are met. The exception is the NIS Grade 12 Certificate, which some UK universities accept for direct entry. We check each university's requirements for your shortlist.
What about Europe – Bocconi, TUM, St. Gallen?
Most universities in continental Europe require 12 years of schooling. The simplest bridge is a completed first year at a university at home. For Germany, that first year determines the subject you can study, so we build the choice of home university into the strategy early.
When should students take IELTS?
Students can apply for a foundation programme without a certificate and receive a conditional offer. It is best to take the test early – usually in spring or early summer before the course starts. Foundation programmes usually require a specific IELTS format, and the standard IELTS Academic may not be accepted. We will tell you which one at the consultation.
What happens in the free consultation?
It is a 20-minute online call. We learn about your situation and agree on the next steps: which programme or service suits you and where to begin.
Do you work online?
Yes. All meetings take place online, so we work with families in Kazakhstan, across Europe and beyond.
Do you help with visas and relocation?
No. We are not a full-service agency and do not handle visas, housing or relocation. Our work covers strategy, university choice, essays and personal statements, CVs, interview preparation and completing the application (UCAS, Common App and university portals). If you already work with an agency, we can join them and take on the writing and interviews.
Do you work with agencies and schools?
Yes. Agencies, test-prep centres and schools bring us in to strengthen their students’ applications: essays, CVs and interviews. The student remains their client. See our page for partners.
Why do you not guarantee admission?
“100% guaranteed admission” – only a university can guarantee a place. We are accountable for the strategy, the applications and the preparation, to the standard required by leading universities.
Admissions and careers guides
Guides by the Tier 1 team: from foundation programmes and university choice to essays, CVs and master's admissions.
How to choose a university in the UK
Course, league tables, location, costs and entry routes for applicants with a national school certificate.
What US universities look for
Grades, tests, activities, recommendations and finances, with applicants from Central Asia and Eastern Europe in mind.
The new UCAS personal statement, question by question
What to include in each answer, with examples of strong and weak responses.