There is no single European admissions calendar. Each country, and often each school, sets its own deadlines. What can be said with confidence is that the most sought-after schools plan far ahead of the year of entry, and that families who start late have fewer choices.
This guide describes the common patterns, explains the entry points that matter most, and offers a working timetable. Treat every date here as a prompt to ask the school, not as a deadline in itself.
The basic rule: start earlier than you think
For a school you particularly want, aim to register a year or more before your child would start. Our advice, drawn from how admissions typically work rather than from any official rule, is:
- Highly selective or oversubscribed schools: register 12 to 24 months ahead, and sooner for boarding schools with international demand.
- Most other private and international schools: 6 to 12 months ahead is usually comfortable.
- Mid-year arrivals: contact schools as soon as you know your dates. Places exist, but they are fewer.
Registration is often a light step with a small fee. It secures a place in the queue, not a place in the class. The actual offer follows an assessment, interview or report review.
Natural entry points
Most schools admit the majority of pupils at a handful of points, and have very few spaces in between.
| Entry point | Typical age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery or pre-school | 2 to 4 | Often the widest door; many schools admit by registration order |
| Start of primary | 5 to 7 | Age cut-offs differ by country |
| Transfer to secondary | 11 to 12 | Common point for new places, selective testing in some systems |
| Start of senior years | 13 to 14 | Another natural entry, especially for boarding |
| Sixth form or upper secondary | 16 | Often competitive; schools may add places for IB or A-level |
If your child is already in the system, the later entry points are often the hardest, because the school has fewer vacancies and pupils rarely leave.
British-style schools: what the calendar looks like
UK independent schools follow a particular rhythm, and many British international schools in continental Europe borrow it.
The Common Entrance Examination is the traditional route into senior schools at 13+. According to published descriptions, it is usually taken at 13, with papers sat in January, June or November, and a small number of schools also select at 11+. In recent years, many of the most competitive senior schools have moved their selection earlier, using pre-tests taken around age 11. A successful pre-test is generally treated as a conditional offer, subject to satisfactory performance later.
The practical consequence is that families aiming for a competitive UK senior school may need to register some years before the child's entry, and prepare for assessment at 11 rather than 13. Check each school's own policy, because it changes from year to year.
Schools using the IB
IB schools generally admit at the start of an IB programme, which corresponds to ages 3 to 12 for the Primary Years, 12 to 16 for the Middle Years, and 16 to 19 for the Diploma and Career-related Programmes. The most difficult entry for newcomers is the final two years, because the Diploma is a two-year course and a late arrival from another system may have gaps. Many schools ask for evidence of prior study in the subjects chosen, and some will recommend entering a year earlier.
European Schools and accredited schools
Admission to the European Schools is governed by rules set at system level, which give priority to certain categories of pupil. Accredited European Schools, which are national schools that offer the European curriculum and Baccalaureate, set their own admissions procedures. If you are interested in either, check the official site of the Secretary-General's office and the individual school for current rules and dates before anything else. Do not assume that the process resembles that of a private school.
Boarding schools
Boarding schools often receive enquiries from many countries, and the best-known ones keep waiting lists. Registration can be required several years ahead of entry, particularly for the main entry points at 11, 13 and 16. At the same time, many boarding schools will accept pupils at other points when a place becomes free, so it is worth asking even if you are late.
A working timetable
For a September start:
| Months before entry | Action |
|---|---|
| 24 to 18 | Define priorities, shortlist schools, register with the most oversubscribed |
| 18 to 12 | Visit, ask about deadlines and tests, take up preparation if required |
| 12 to 9 | Submit applications; book assessments and interviews |
| 9 to 6 | Sit assessments; receive offers; accept and pay deposits |
| 6 to 3 | Provide school reports and documents; plan induction and language support |
| 3 to 0 | Arrange uniform, transport and housing; hold a pre-start meeting |
Where a mid-year entry is needed, compress this: contact schools at once, supply documents in the first week, and ask about trial days.
What admissions offices look at
Different schools weigh different things, but the pattern is consistent:
- recent school reports and, where relevant, standardised test results
- an interview or short assessment, usually in English, maths and sometimes a second language
- a reference from the current school
- evidence of motivation, which at senior level may include a personal statement
- for boarding schools, a conversation about the child's readiness to live away from home
Preparing a child for assessment need not be intensive. A calm conversation with the child about what to expect, and a good night's sleep before the day, usually matter more than extra tuition.
Handling offers and waiting lists
You may receive several offers, or none at first. If you are placed on a waiting list, ask how many places are expected to open, and how past years have gone. Keep the school informed of your continued interest, and accept a firm offer elsewhere rather than depending on a waiting list, unless your preference is overwhelming.
When you accept, check the terms of the deposit and the notice period carefully. Many schools require a term's notice to withdraw without paying fees in lieu. Read the contract before signing, especially if your move depends on visas or employment.
The one date to confirm
Rather than trying to remember a calendar, ask each school the same short list of questions:
- What are the entry points and ages for my child?
- What is the registration deadline and fee?
- Is there an assessment, and when does it take place?
- When are offers made, and by when must I accept?
- How long is the waiting list, and how often does it move?
Put the answers in one spreadsheet. The families who manage admissions best are not the ones who know the most about schools; they are the ones who know their own deadlines.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Common Entrance Examination (sitting months, 11+ and 13+, pre-testing): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Entrance_Examination
- Wikipedia, International Baccalaureate (programmes and age ranges): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Baccalaureate
- Wikipedia, European School system (enrolment priority and accredited schools): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_School_system
- Office of the Secretary-General of the European Schools: https://www.eursc.eu/en