BEYOND ESM

At the English School of Mongolia, university guidance is an integral part of the Sixth Form experience and closely connected to the values of the International Baccalaureate. As University Guidance Counsellor, I work with every student to help them understand their strengths, refine their interests, and make informed choices that reflect the intellectual curiosity, academic discipline, and global mindset developed through the IB Diploma Programme.

The transition from school to university represents an important milestone in each student’s journey. Throughout the IB Diploma years, learners engage with rigorous academic standards, independent research through the Extended Essay, critical thinking in Theory of Knowledge, and a wide range of experiences through Creativity, Activity, Service. These components provide an ideal foundation for competitive university applications, and our guidance programme builds directly upon the skills and habits that students develop in the Diploma.

My role is to support students and families at every stage of this process, offering personalised counselling, structured planning, and clear guidance that reflects international best practice. Whether students are applying to universities in North America, the United Kingdom, Asia, Europe, Australia, or Mongolia, our aim is to ensure that each young person leaves ESM with clarity of purpose and the confidence to pursue ambitious pathways in higher education.

It is a privilege to accompany our learners as they take this significant step forward and begin the next chapter of their academic and personal growth.

Erdene Tulga
University Guidance Counsellor
Head of Sixth Form
IB Diploma Programme Coordinator

The university guidance programme at ESM is a comprehensive, structured system designed to prepare students for admission to competitive universities around the world. Our support begins early in Grade 11 and continues throughout Grade 12 until all applications are submitted and confirmed.

Individual University Counselling

• One-to-one advising sessions throughout the application cycle
• Guidance on identifying strengths, choosing courses, and building balanced university lists
• Support for applications to North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Mongolia

Application Planning and Documentation

• Full management of UCAS, Common App, and other regional platforms
• Support with personal statements, supplementary essays, portfolios, and activity records
• Coordination of teacher references and the official counsellor report
• Structured Predicted Grade system (PG1, PG2, PG3) aligned with IB standards

Academic and Pastoral Collaboration

• Close coordination with Form Tutors, IB subject teachers, EE/TOK/CAS coordinators, and pastoral teams
• Monitoring of academic progress, deadlines, and diploma requirements
• Advice on selecting the most suitable IB subject combinations for intended university pathways

Information for Students and Families

• University fairs, virtual visits, and workshops hosted at Lawson Hill
• Parent briefings on application processes, financial planning, scholarships, and country-specific requirements
• Guidance on external examinations such as IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, and ACT

Scholarship and Opportunity Guidance

• Support for merit-based and need-based scholarships
• Advice on competitive programmes and leadership opportunities that strengthen applications

Through this comprehensive system, students receive consistent, expert, and personalised guidance from the beginning of the Sixth Form to the moment they secure their university placements.

ESM students matriculate to a wide range of respected institutions across the world. Our graduates pursue diverse fields such as engineering, business, economics, global studies, hospitality, fine arts, social sciences, and computer science.

Recent Confirmed Matriculations (Class of 2025)

• Australia: University of Western Australia, QUT, Griffith University, University of Sydney
• Canada: University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, Toronto Metropolitan University
• China: Shanghai Business School, Duke Kunshan University, Shanghai University of Engineering Science
• United States: Georgetown University, American University, Drexel University, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, University of Pittsburgh, Stony Brook University, Missouri State University, Loyola University Chicago, Brandeis University, Pace University, Fordham University
• United Kingdom: Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
• Asia: SUNY (Korea), Asia Pacific University (Japan), Yuan Ze University (Taiwan)
• Europe: LUT University (Finland)
• Mongolia: Mongolian International University, University of Finance and Economics

Representative Destinations from Recent Years

• Australia: University of Sydney, Monash University, Australian National University, Macquarie University
• China: Duke Kunshan University, NYU Shanghai, Shenzhen University
• Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Korea: SUNY Korea, Underwood International College – Yonsei University
• United Kingdom: University of Manchester, University of Birmingham, University of Warwick
• Europe: Maastricht University, University of Twente, University of Pécs, Polimoda
• United States: Arizona State University, University of Delaware, Cal Poly, SUNY Buffalo, Hollins University

These pathways demonstrate the global mobility and academic ambition of ESM’s Sixth Form graduates. Our aim is to ensure that every student finds the university environment where they can flourish, contribute, and continue to grow as independent, knowledgeable, and compassionate young adults.