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As a British international school, one of the most common questions we are asked is:
“Can our curriculum pathway really lead to top universities in the United States?”
At BIS HCMC, the answer is a clear and consistent yes. And for our graduating class of 2026, our biggest ever cohort of 130 students, the USA is proving to be as successful and popular as ever.
Our unique curriculum—combining the English National Curriculum with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13, or Grades 11 and 12 in the US system)—equips students with the academic depth, independence, and global mindset that leading US universities actively seek. Alongside this, our extensive co-curricularprogramme and the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component of the IB ensure students build well-rounded profiles, demonstrating leadership, commitment, and impact—key factors in successful US university applications.
Each year, around a quarter of BIS graduates progress to universities in the United States—last year, this was 28% of our Class of 2025.An impressive 31 students from this graduating cohort. In fact, more than half of our graduates consistently choose either the UK or the US, highlighting the strength of our dual pathway. Each year, we look forward to seeing whether the UK or the US emerges as the most popular destination.
Our current 2026 success sits within a much wider global picture, with over 450 university offers already received by our Class of 2026. So far, 54 students have secured at least one offer from a QS Top 50 university, including an outstanding 16 students with offers from QS Top 10 institutions.
This year, we are proud to celebrate four Ivy League offer holders, a reflection of both academic excellence and sustained ambition.
Caitlin – University of Pennsylvania, also offers from UCLA and Georgetown - joined BIS in Foundation Stage 1 at age 2
Gia Phu – Dartmouth College, also offers from Northwestern University and University of Michigan – joined BIS in Year 7 at age 11
Henry – Columbia University (Early Decision) - joined BIS in Year 7at age 11
Manav – University of Pennsylvania (Early Decision) – joined BIS in Year 7at age 12
Henry and Manav secured their places as early as December through Early Decision, removing months of uncertainty and reflecting the strength of their applications.
As shared by Henry "BIS has been instrumental in shaping my analytical approach to the world and fostering an international mindedness that I know will thrive in Columbia University's vibrant community. As I prepare to study political science and economics, I am most excited to transition from BIS to the global stage of New York City, ready to critically explore the ideas that shape our future."
Caitlin’s journey is particularly significant. Having joined BIS in Early Years, she has completed her entire education at BIS HCMC and progressed all the way to an Ivy League offer—demonstrating the long-term impact of a BIS education.
Caitlin shared:
"I am thrilled to begin studying International Relations and Global Health at university. Since joining BIS in F1, at just age 2, my teachers have sparked a passion for learning and provided me with the foundation to pursue what genuinely excites me."
Gia Phu’s journey also highlights the resilience required in the US admissions process. After a nervous wait, she was rewarded with an Ivy League offer from Dartmouth College, alongside offers from Northwestern University and the University of Michigan.
While Ivy League universities are globally recognised, many US institutions ranked in the QS World Top 50 are equally—if not more—competitive, with international acceptance rates as low as 2%.
We are delighted to highlight:
An – UCLA and University of Michigan – joined BIS in Foundation Stage 3 at age 4
Faraz – UC Berkeley – joined BIS in Year 7 at age 11
For some students, Liberal Arts Colleges (LACs) offer a more personalised and academically rich experience. Though not always featured in global rankings, the top LACs are among the most selective institutions in the United States, with admissions as competitive as Ivy League universities.
We are proud to celebrate:
Alvin – Carleton College and other leading institutions – joined BIS in Foundation Stage 1 at age 2
Kha – multiple offers including Carleton, Grinnell, and Hamilton – joined BIS in Year 1 at age 5
Tue Anh – Barnard College (Early Decision) – joined BIS in Foundation Stage 2at age 3
We spoke with Tue Anh and she shared: “As I step into college, I’m excited to grow into new perspectives and possibilities and to see how my viewpoint evolves as everything familiar around me changes. The breadth of opportunities at Barnard, combined with the chance to learn in a globally connected, dynamic New York City environment, is what drew me to this school. Most of all, I’m grateful to my teachers who pushed me to explore and grow, and especially to Mr. Rispin for always believing in me”
These achievements highlight the breadth of pathways available to BIS students, ensuring the right fit for each individual.
One of the most powerful aspects of this year’s university success is the journey behind it.
Of the 32 students highlighted across Ivy League, Top 50 US News, and leading Liberal Arts College offers, over one third, that’s 11 students,began their education at BIS in Early Years Foundation Stages joining us between the ages of 2 and 5. These year groups areoften called nursery or kindergarten in other settings.
From their very first days in the classroom, these students have developed not only strong academic foundations, but also the confidence, curiosity, and independence that leading US universities value so highly.
Importantly, BIS supports students at every stage of their journey—from as young as age 2 in Foundation Stage through to Sixth Form—whether they join in Early Years, Primary or Secondary, ensuring every student benefits from a consistent and high-quality pathway to university success.
As stated by our Principal, Mr Simon Higham; “This success reflects the strength of a BIS education over time—supporting students from 2 to 18 years of age. Simply put,the longer students' study at BIS, the more they develop into great learners and even more amazing young adults, well equipped to excel at some of the most selective universities in the world. Whether you meet and talk with our youngest BIS learnersor withour extensive BIS HCMC alumni community, you know exactly where they have come from and why they are achieving what they do – it's in our DNA!”
In addition, BIS students have received offers from a wide range of Top 50 universities and prestigious specialist schools according to the U.S. News Education Rankings, reflecting the diversity of their talents and ambitions. These universities offer exceptional opportunities across a wide range of disciplines, from undergraduate study through to postgraduate and doctoral programmes.
University | Student | Age Joined BIS |
Carnegie Mellon University | An | 4 |
University of California, San Diego | An | 4 |
Alexander | 9 | |
Kha | 5 | |
Subin | 3 | |
Georgia Institute of Technology | Subin | 3 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Browny | 2 |
University of California, Davis | Faraz | 11 |
Ken | 2 | |
Kha | 5 | |
University of California, Irvine | An | 4 |
Faraz | 11 | |
Purdue University | Jasper | 14 |
Kha | 5 | |
Sarah | 14 | |
University of Rochester | Alexander | 9 |
University of Wisconsin, Madison | Zhen Yang | 3 |
Alexander | 9 | |
Kha | 5 | |
Jasper | 14 | |
Sarah | 14 | |
University of Washington | Sarah | 14 |
University | Student | Age Joined BIS |
University of Southern California | Ball | 9 |
Emory University | NamAnh | 10 |
Annie | 14 | |
University of Virginia | An | 4 |
Annie | 14 | |
Gia Phu | 11 | |
Nam Anh | 10 | |
Tom | 9 | |
University of Notre Dame | Browny | 2 |
Boston College | Brian | 8 |
Northeastern University | NamAnh | 10 |
Alvin | 2 | |
An | 4 | |
Kha | 5 | |
Zhen Yang | 3 | |
Sarah | 14 | |
Anh Tuan | 2 | |
Thuy Huong | 8 | |
David | 2 | |
Taegyu | 14 | |
Terra | 6 | |
Lulu | 11 | |
The Ohio State University | Alex | 9 |
Anh Tuan | 2 | |
Johnny | 9 |
University | Student | Age Joined BIS |
New York University | Aiden | 16 |
Boston University | An | 4 |
Alvin | 2 | |
Thuy Huong | 12 | |
Thy | 2 |
A defining strength of BIS students is their academic breadth and subject depth through the IB Diploma Programme.
Our Ivy League and US News Top 50 offer holders pursued a wide range of IB subject combinations, including:
Humanities pathways (English, History, Economics)
STEM-focused routes (Mathematics, Physics, Biology)
Creative and interdisciplinary pathways (Visual Arts, Music, Business)
This flexibility allows students to develop both specialisation and versatility—a combination highly valued by US universities.
While the US remains a leading destination, BIS students go on to top institutions across the world.
With strong representation in the UK, alongside destinations such as Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia, BIS graduates benefit from a truly global set of opportunities.
With an average of 4–5 offers per student across the cohort, BIS students are not only achieving excellent results, but also securing a wide range of choices to find their best-fit university.
BIS is not a pathway to one country—it is a pathway to the world.
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