As overseas universities announce their 2026 offers of admissions, the YCYW Education Network has once again delivered impressive results. To date, the Class of 2026 has received over 900 offers from leading universities worldwide, including Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, Tsinghua University, Peking University, The University of Hong Kong, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Parsons School of Design, and other top institutions.

Mr John Liu, Director of Careers and University Guidance and Student Development, stated that, as in previous years, the university acceptances this year reflect the characteristics of YCYW’s holistic education, the overall teaching strength of the network’s schools, and the impact of long-term commitment to academic excellence.

YCYW Through-Train Education, Builds a Solid Foundation

Dr Esther Chan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (K–12 Education) of YCYW Education Network, promptly shared the news with all the YCYW students and faculty and expressed her congratulations and encouragement.

“These results are a powerful validation of the YCYW through-train education,” Dr Chan wrote. “Many of the students who received these top-tier offers have been with us since their earliest years in Early Childhood Education (ECE), and their success is a direct reflection of the rigorous, nurturing, and consistent educational philosophy that defines our schools from ECE through to Primary and Secondary.”

Mr Liu noted that YCYW’s through-train education model plays a powerful role in the students’ long-term success because it is built not only on academic excellence, but also on character development. From the early years, students grow up in a nurturing environment where they are support, challenged, and encouraged to become the very best version of themselves.

Mr Liu has personally witnessed the excellence of this educational model through his two daughters, who studied at YCYW schools from their early years. The most impressive aspect was the care and the encouragement that his daughters received from teachers, as well as the kindness and the support shown by their classmates.

During his eldest daughter’s lower secondary years, both daughters transferred to a top-ranked international school in Singapore, but they deeply missed the culture of YCYW, the caring teachers who knew them well, but even more than that, they missed the student community. And now, they have returned once again to their beloved campus of YCYW.

This experience made Mr Liu clearly realise that YCYW students grow within a highly coherent academic and value system. Their teachers truly know the students, and their peers offer consistent support, creating a sense of security that empowers the students to explore boldly and accept failure as part of the learning process. This foundation prepares the students exceptionally well for university and beyond.

CUGO：Best Fit for Each Student

In the face of the increasingly complex global admissions landscape, the YCYW Careers and University Guidance Office (CUGO) has become a vital bridge helping students reach their dream universities.

CUGO now has 32 university counsellors across the network. With a counsellor-to-student ratio of 1:12, CUGO is able to offer highly personalised and targeted guidance, ensuring that all students receive advice tailored to their strengths, aspirations, and individual pathways.

“What we consistently emphasise is not merely rankings, but the best fit for each student,” Mr Liu explained.

This support begins early in lower secondary. As the students progress academically, they are supported in developing career awareness, exploring their interests, and accessing meaningful opportunities, such as internships and job-shadowing experiences. This is followed by comprehensive university guidance, helping both students and their families navigate the application process and make informed choices that are the right fit for each student’s ambitions and potential.

In addition, CUGO also has a dedicated Elite Applications Team, consisting of highly experienced counsellors who have supported students in applying successfully to the US Ivy League and other top US universities, and the UK G5 universities. This team provides additional support, helping students to strengthen their personal statements, prepare thoroughly for interviews, and plan strategically from as early as Year 10 (YCIS)/Grade 9 (YWIES) in order to maximise their chances of success. CUGO also includes UK‑based counsellors who maintain close relationships with local higher education institutions, keeping students abreast of the latest admissions developments and insights.

For those students applying to more complex international systems, such as in the Republic of Korea, counsellors with expert knowledge of local procedures provide guidance. For example, Mr Daniel Kang, CUGO regional specialist for applications to Korean universities, maintains close collaboration with Korea’s leading universities. This year, he successfully supported students in gaining admission to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea's leading public research university.

Angelique, a student from YCIS Shanghai Pudong, has received offers from seven universities across four countries, including University College London (UCL). When reflecting on her studies and university application journey, Angelique highlighted that she had established close communication early on with CUGO counsellors. They worked with her to develop a plan tailored to her strengths and personal profile, and she was greatly benefited from this collaboration. In her view, “It is not just choosing the major you want to study with, or the job you want to do, but also like speaking about financial planning, choosing a university and country accordingly. Start as early as you can.”

Students who are aspiring artists can receive portfolio support from a counsellor with experience as a former admissions officer at a leading art university. During the past year, CUGO has also built strategic partnerships with leading institutions such as Arts University Bournemouth, School of Visual Arts, and Istituto Marangoni. This combination of early guidance, specialist support, and university collaboration with the art institutions has helped ensure that students are exceptionally well prepared for the demands of these competitive applications.

For example, students of YWIES Shanghai Gubei (YWAD) have already received offers this year from numerous leading art institutions, including the University of the Arts London; Parsons School of Design, The New School; Pratt Institute and California Institute of the Arts, as well as scholarships totalling USD 350,000.

Claire, a student at YWAD, has received offers from ten prestigious universities across the United States and the United Kingdom, including the University of Southern California and California College of the Arts. She expressed deep gratitude to all her teachers at the school.

“I am deeply grateful to my CUGO Counsellor, whose guidance helped me find the words for experiences I had long carried in silence, and to my subject teachers, who challenged me to think more carefully, create more boldly, and believe that my perspective was worth sharing. You saw potential in me even when I was still learning to see it in myself.”

From the Infant and Toddler Learning Programme through to Year 13 graduation, Amos powerfully demonstrates the impact of a continuous and consistent educational pathway in YCIS. Amos describes it as "Holistic, Collaborative, and Growth-oriented." He credits his participation in school programmes for teaching him to find his voice and embrace servant leadership, skills that now define his path toward a future in sustainable engineering.

Helena from YCIS Beijing, has gained admission to Yonsei University, which has a top medical school in the Republic of Korea, by participating in the medical immersion programme and leveraging this in her university applications.

Recently, out of 60 teams, the YCYW team got the overall third place in HackMIT China 2026 and qualified for the MIT Global Finals in the United States.

“We don’t believe our young people should be merely future-ready, they should be future-drivers, actively creating and innovating together for a better tomorrow,” Dr Hurley concluded.

Please stay tuned for more student success stories...