Study abroad roadmap for your master's, PhD or postdoc
Enter your level, countries and start date for a study abroad roadmap with dates.
Free roadmap here, every step with your Twin.
Free, no account. Add your English test, nationality and subject for a closer plan.
Five stages with due dates. Share it, or save the dates to your calendar.
Sign in to build it in ApplyKite, then tick off tasks with your Twin.
What you want to study
Where you want to go
When you want to start
September 2027
Build my roadmapWhen should I start applying for a master's, PhD or postdoc abroad?
Start 12 to 18 months before your intake: for a September start, between March and September of the year before. Scholarships often close earlier than the programmes, some in October or November for the next autumn. The work runs in five stages, in this order.
- Find where to apply. Shortlist programmes, funded positions, professors and scholarships, with their deadlines.
- English test. Book it at least 12 weeks before you need the result, so there is time to retake it.
- Documents. Your CV, transcripts and two references, plus a statement of purpose, or a research proposal for many PhDs.
- Apply and interview. Send each application a week or two before its deadline, then prepare for interviews.
- Visa and moving. Apply once you hold an offer. A student visa can take a few weeks to three months.
ApplyKite's free roadmap dates all five stages for your level, countries and start date. For the first stage, ApplyKite lists 107,000+ positions and 820,000+ professors with their papers.
Free tools for these stages: Supervisor finder · Scholarship eligibility checker · SOP generator · Research proposal generator · Interview practice
Know what to do this week.
Your home page shows this week and the next task.
Up next
Write your research proposal
Due Friday · start it with your Twin
Tell your Twin, and it's done.
Mention a result in chat, or mark an application Applied, and your roadmap ticks itself.
I just took IELTS and got 7.5!
Congratulations! I've ticked English on your roadmap. Next up: your documents.
From today to your offer.
Questions
What is a study abroad roadmap?
The study abroad roadmap plans your application from your first search to your visa. Pick your level, the countries you want and when you want to start, and get, free, a timeline of every stage, with dates you can add to your calendar. Sign in and your Twin makes it your roadmap in ApplyKite.
When should I start applying to study abroad?
Start about 12 to 18 months before you want to begin. Scholarships often close earlier than the programmes themselves, some as early as October or November for a start the next autumn.
What are the stages of a study abroad application?
Finding where to apply, English tests, your documents such as your CV and statement, the applications themselves, and then the visa. The roadmap puts dates on each one for your level and countries.
Is the roadmap free?
Yes, with no sign-up. Sign in, free to start, and your Twin builds it into your roadmap, where you tick off each step and see the next one on your home page.
Does it work for master's, PhD and postdoc?
Yes. It changes with your level: a master's roadmap focuses on programmes and deadlines, a PhD one adds supervisors and a research proposal, and a postdoc one adds research groups and fellowships.
How long does a student visa take?
Usually a few weeks to three months, depending on the country and the time of year. Apply as soon as you have your offer and the documents the embassy asks for, and check its current processing times.