IE University Undergraduate Admissions operates on a structured rounds model, which means that the admissions process is organized around a defined sequence of application deadlines and decision communication timelines. This structure provides candidates with a clear path forward, a defined timeline, and meaningful time to plan their next steps while maintaining flexibility in how applications are evaluated.

The model includes:

• Early Round
• Round 1
• Round 2
• Round 3

Post-rounds period (for programs that still have places available)

Candidates applying more than a year in advance will be considered in the Early Round of their intake cycle (example: candidate applying for 2028-2029 in April 2027, will be considered for the Early Round set for September 2027).

The Admissions model is composed of several rounds throughout the academic year. These include the Early Round, Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3, followed by a final post-rounds period. The post-rounds period is an official part of the model and allows candidates to apply after the main rounds, provided that capacity remains available in their program of interest.

The deadlines defined for each round are global and apply to all Undergraduate Degrees in the same way.

All candidates are included in the corresponding round, depending on the date of submission of their application. Candidates cannot choose their round from the application.

The admissions process is organized into rounds, each with a clear application deadline and a decision timeline. For each round, a candidate must submit a complete application before the deadline in order to be considered in that round. Once the deadline passes, applications are evaluated and decisions are communicated before the end of that round’s timeline. A candidate may receive a decision earlier, but all decisions are guaranteed to be communicated within the timeline of the round.

If a candidate submits an application after a deadline, it will automatically be reviewed in the following round.

Applying in an earlier round means receiving a decision earlier, which provides more time to plan next steps. All rounds are valid opportunities, but availability of places may become more limited as the cycle progresses. After the main rounds, there is a post-rounds period, where applications may still be considered if places remain available, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applying in an earlier round provides several important advantages. Candidates receive their admission decision sooner, which gives them more time to plan key aspects such as visas, accommodation, and next steps. In addition, earlier rounds typically have more available capacity and may provide access to a wider range of financial aid options. It is important to note, however, that all rounds represent a genuine opportunity for admission.

Candidates who apply in later rounds will still be fully considered within the admissions process, and with the same admissions criteria. However, availability in certain programs may be more limited as the cycle progresses, as well as Financial Aid options. After the main rounds, applications may still be accepted during the post-rounds period, depending on remaining capacity.

For an application to be reviewed within a given round, all key documents must be submitted before the deadline. Key documents include academic records (such as transcripts and predicted grades). If these are missing, the application cannot be evaluated in that round and may be moved to a later round.

Some documents may be submitted later, depending on the case. These include:

• Letters of recommendation
• English proficiency certificate (if required)

However, in cases where an English certificate is required, the final admission decision will only be issued once a valid certificate is submitted, even if the application has already been reviewed.

Yes, candidates may be moved to a later round in certain cases. This can happen if key documentation is missing, if additional evaluation is required, or if further information is needed to complete the assessment of the application. This movement should be understood as part of the process and not as a rejection. In these cases, the candidate will receive a written communication about this (via email).

At the end of the evaluation process, candidates may receive several types of outcomes, including conditional admission, definitive admission, no admission, or a request for further review in a later round. In some cases, candidates may also be advised to consider a different program if their profile is not aligned with their initial choice.

A conditional admission means that the candidate has been admitted to the program, provided that they meet certain academic requirements upon their High School final grades. The rounds’ structure ensures that candidates receiving a conditional offer still benefit from clear timelines and a defined path forward.

No, candidates are required to be admitted (conditional admission or definitive admission) before applying for Financial Aid. This approach remains unchanged under the rounds model and ensures that financial aid assessments are based on confirmed admissions.

Yes, interviews are an integral part of the admissions process. Once the Admissions Committee has reviewed the candidate’s application, they may already decide on a resolution and communicate it or invite the candidate to a formal interview. This interview will be online and will usually take place within the round’s deadlines.

Most candidates are expected to complete an interview as part of their evaluation. However, in very exceptional cases, the interview requirement may be waived.

The rounds model exists to provide candidates with a clear path forward, a well-defined timeline, and sufficient time to plan important next steps. This structured approach supports both candidates and their families by bringing clarity to the admissions experience.

No, the rounds model does not change the admission criteria or make the process more difficult.

Each round is a genuine opportunity for admission, and all applications are evaluated using the same criteria. Earlier rounds simply offer more available capacity and allow candidates to receive their decision sooner and reserve their place in the program in advance.

As the admissions cycle progresses, availability becomes more limited depending on the program.

Candidates who miss all the main rounds may still have the opportunity to apply during the post-rounds period. Applications during this phase are considered on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on the availability of remaining places in their program of interest.

No, the Early Round is not binding. Candidates are free to apply, receive their admission decision, and then decide whether to enroll. The main advantage of the Early Round is receiving a decision earlier, allowing for better planning.

Not all candidates may be ready to apply in the Early Round, as they may still be completing required documentation. This does not represent a disadvantage. In these cases, Round 1 is a suitable option and provides the same opportunity for admission within the process.

Financial Aid is available throughout the entire admissions cycle. However, applying in earlier rounds may provide access to a wider range of financial aid options before resources are allocated across the cycle.

Financial Aid applications don’t have rounds and will continue to function on a rolling basis, with weekly Financial Aid Committee reviews. Since candidates must be admitted to submit a Financial Aid application, the earlier a candidate participates in an Admissions round, the earlier they can apply for Financial Aid.

Once the Financial Aid Application is completed and correctly submitted, candidates may expect to receive a final resolution in between one and two weeks.

Financial Aid funding is granted on a rolling basis. Therefore, the earlier candidates apply, the better chance they have of receiving an award or scholarship. Financial Aid allocation will be higher in earlier rounds, with proportionally higher amounts granted during the Early Round and Round 1.

Round 2 at the latest. Candidates who are interested in applying to IE Foundation Scholarships must have a completed and submitted Financial Aid Application no later than February 28th, which requires a previous Admission.

Yes, but funding at that stage will be significantly limited. The Financial Aid budget is allocated progressively throughout the rounds, so candidates admitted later in the cycle will have access to a much smaller pool of available funds.

No. Financial Aid decisions remain need/merit-based. However, applying earlier means there is more budget available, which gives the Financial Aid team greater flexibility in award decisions.

Yes. Since funding is allocated on a rolling basis, we encourage candidates to submit their Financial Aid application as soon as possible after admission.

No. A No Admission decision is final for that intake cycle. Once a candidate has been evaluated through the admissions process and receives a No Admission outcome, this reflects a comprehensive assessment by the Admissions Committee based on the candidate’s profile and the program’s requirements.

As such, the application cannot be reconsidered in a later round within the same admissions cycle.

Candidates who receive a No Admission decision and remain interested in IE University are encouraged to strengthen their academic or extracurricular profile and reapply in a future intake.

No. Not all programs will have available places in every round. Each undergraduate program has a defined capacity, and places are allocated progressively throughout the admissions cycle. As a result, some programs may reach full capacity during earlier rounds.

When a program reaches its maximum capacity, it may stop offering places and open a waiting list. Therefore, availability can vary depending on the round, and candidates applying in later rounds may find that certain programs no longer have open spots.

No. There are no fixed quotas assigned per program for each individual admissions round.

Admissions decisions are made based on the overall capacity of each program and the evaluation of candidates throughout the entire admissions cycle, rather than on pre-defined allocations per round.

Places are offered progressively as candidates are admitted, which means that availability evolves dynamically across rounds. As a result, earlier rounds typically have greater availability, while capacity may become more limited in later stages of the cycle.