University Destinations - Harrow School

Nearly all Harrovians move on to university on completion of their A-levels. Many boys progress directly to university, while others choose to have a gap year first.

The range of Harrovians' university destinations is becoming broader, both in terms of UK institutions and courses, and overseas applications arising from their increasingly global perspective. American universities, in particular, continue to feature prominently, with many boys attracted by the Liberal Arts model and the high quality and range of campus facilities on offer. An increasing number of boys is applying to European and Asian universities alongside UK and US institutions. No matter the country or the institution, what is certainly true is that Harrovians routinely progress into higher education that ranks among the best the world has to offer.

2026 PROVISIONAL Highlights

Nine boys took up places at the universities of Oxford or Cambridge. Three further boys received Oxbridge offers but opted instead for their places at Harvard (2) and Princeton (1)
A record 49 boys are attending US universities, including 14 at Ivy League schools
A record 127 boys are attending universities ranked in the QS global top 100
42 boys are attending institutions ranked within the QS global top 10, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Harvard and Stanford
115 boys are attending Russell Group universities

2025 Highlights

10 boys took up places at the universities of Oxford or Cambridge. Two further boys received Oxbridge offers but opted instead for their places at Princeton and Yale
32 boys are attending US universities, including 16 across seven of the eight Ivy League schools
A record 124 boys are attending universities ranked in the QS global top 100.
37 boys are attending institutions ranked within the QS global top 10, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Harvard and Stanford
129 boys are attending Russell Group universities

The image displays a world map with information about the university destinations of students from the Harrow School, including the number of students going to various universities in the United States, Europe, and other regions.

The image presents two pie charts displaying the destinations of students attending Harrow School University in the United Kingdom and the distribution of students across different regions of the world.

UNIVERSITIES TEAM

The Academic and Universities Director oversees university preparation, from initial ideas about course choice through to application submission. A dedicated Oxbridge Coordinator oversees boys applying to Oxbridge.

The Master-in-Charge of UK Universities oversees all UCAS applications and arranges a programme of visiting speakers from a wide range of UK universities. Working with the Universities Team, Heads of Subject also offer specialist subject support, seminars, tutorials, personal statement advice and mock interviews.

Similarly, the Director of US and Canadian University Admissions oversees all those applying to North American institutions applications, guiding them through this particularly complex process, including the ACT and SAT tests, and arranging visits from US Admissions Tutors. Applicants to US universities are also supported by a dedicated full-time Guidance Counsellor. The School's Head of Careers and Employability works closely with those mentioned here to ensure that boys' university choices dovetail with their careers planning and guides any boys wishing to apply for a Degree Apprenticeship.

UNIVERSITIES PROGRAMME

Wherever a Harrovian decides to apply, detailed and bespoke advice and resources are available to ensure that he makes the right decisions and maximises his chances of taking up the place of his choice.

Boys are encouraged to begin thinking about university in the Fifth Form, when the Sixth Form subject information evening and Careers Fair both offer a wealth of information about appropriate subject choices and combinations for a wide range of possible courses and careers.

Preparation and research begins in earnest in the Autumn term of the Lower Sixth, with an introduction to the Universities section of the Vaughan Library, setting up of accounts with Unifrog (application management software that also recommends suitable courses, using existing attainment, predicted grades, interests and admissions data) and a 1:1 interview with a member of the Universities Team. This interview seeks to establish initial ideas about the right course and institution, for later discussion with Tutors. Boys put together a long-list of university choices and begin to outline their personal statement over the Christmas holiday of the Lower Sixth.

In the Spring term, research continues with guidance from Tutors, House Masters and the Universities Team. There is also a series of universities talks and lectures, as well as an information session for parents and visits from admissions tutors at a range of institutions, both in the UK and abroad.

During the Summer term, the university focus centres around the Lower Sixth University Preparation Course which runs over two half days towards the end of the Summer term, offering practical information and expert advice, as well as a Higher Education Fair, giving boys direct access to admissions tutors and academic staff from a diverse range of institutions. By the end of the course, all boys have set up their UCAS accounts, made an initial selection of five universities and have completed a draft of their personal statement.

OTHER RESOURCES

The School's Universities Handbook provides step-by-step guidance to the application process, from initial research through to completing a personal statement.
Unifrog is an online platform through which boys can research international universities, record their super-curricular engagement and produce CVs.
The Vaughan Library's dedicated Universities and Careers section gives access to extensive printed and digital resources, including the UCAS Search Tool.