Study abroad in 2027: a step-by-step guide for parents

Every year more school leavers from Azerbaijan go on to universities in Europe, Turkey, Georgia and Asia. Parents, though, usually start looking into it late, in the spring of grade 11, when many deadlines have already passed. This guide brings together what you need to know in advance. All figures come from our database, which we check against the official websites of universities and government agencies.

1. When to start: ideally in grade 10

Getting into a university abroad takes about a year. In that time you need to:

• choose a field of study and a country;
• take a language exam (IELTS, TOEFL or the university's own test);
• collect the documents and have them translated;
• apply: in many countries admission closes in the winter or spring of grade 11;
• get a visa or residence permit.

If you start in grade 9 or 10, there is enough time to improve the language and choose a university calmly. You can still make it in grade 11, but the choice will be narrower.

2. Is the Azerbaijani school certificate accepted

This is the key question, and the answer depends on the country. School in Azerbaijan lasts 11 years, while in many countries it lasts 12.

The 11-year certificate is usually accepted directly in: Poland, Czechia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, South Korea and Russia. In our assessment Georgia accepts it too, but this is not stated officially anywhere, so check with the university.

An extra step is usually needed (a foundation year, a year at a university at home, A-levels or the IB) in: Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the UAE and Malaysia.

Almost everywhere the certificate has to be recognised or verified. In Poland the NAWA agency does this free of charge and online, and in Georgia the NCEQE centre does it for 40 lari. Spain requires "homologation", which is worth starting early.

3. What a year of study costs

Prices vary a lot, even within one country. Annual tuition for English-taught bachelor's programmes at the universities in our database:

• Lithuania: 3,400–4,400 EUR
• Estonia: 4,200–8,100 EUR
• Hungary: 5,800–7,000 EUR
• Georgia: 4,200–5,500 USD, medicine 5,900–8,000 USD
• Netherlands: from 10,500 EUR
• UK: 14,000–38,900 GBP

On top of that come living costs. For example, 6,000–9,600 EUR a year in Lithuania and 5,800–8,600 EUR in Estonia.

Many countries require proof of funds in a bank account for the visa:

• Lithuania: 8,071 EUR
• Germany: 11,904 EUR in a blocked account
• Netherlands: 13,680 EUR
• UK: 13,761 GBP

Our free university match shows the exact figures for your child, with the price of the chosen university and living costs.

4. What level of English is needed

English-taught programmes most often ask for:

• IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 78–90: at most European universities;
• B1–B2 and an interview: at some universities in Georgia and Turkey, and some run their own test.

IELTS and TOEFL certificates are valid for two years. It is best to take the exam in grade 10 or early in grade 11, so there is time for a retake.

If the programme is taught in the country's language (German, Czech, Turkish, Russian), you need an exam in that language. Students often do a preparatory language year first.

5. Deadlines: what to do from September to August

Each university has its own dates, but the general picture looks like this:

• September–December of grade 11: choosing universities, the language exam, translating documents;
• October–January: applying to universities with early deadlines (for example, the UK);
• January–June: the main application period in Europe. For example, Howest in Belgium closes admission for non-EEA citizens on 1 June;
• June–August: visa and residence permit. Some universities in Georgia accept documents as late as 20 August.

For every university in the match we show its own deadlines and warn you if applications have already closed.

6. Where to start right now

1. Take the free university match on Yolutap. It takes about 20 minutes. You answer questions about grades, language, budget and countries, and the report shows which universities fit, what stands in the way of admission and what to do in each half-year.
2. If your child has not yet chosen a career, start with the career test. It shows their strengths and suitable fields, and the university match becomes more accurate.
3. Put the language exam date in your calendar.

Studying abroad is a big project, but it can be broken into clear steps. The main thing is to start on time.

The figures in this article come from the Yolutap database and were checked against official websites in October 2026. Always compare them with the chosen university's website before applying.