Our University Admissions service offers holistic, independent guidance throughout the entire application journey. We receive no commission from universities and are not aligned to any institution. Our advice is shaped solely by what is right for the individual student.
Bonas MacFarlane works with families across the world applying to universities in the UK, the US, Canada and Europe, often coordinating multiple international applications simultaneously. Whether a student is exploring options or preparing for highly competitive entry, our role is to provide clarity, direction and rigorous preparation at every stage.
As a boutique consultancy, we work with a limited number of families each year. We know our students personally. We care deeply about where they will thrive, academically, intellectually and personally, not simply where they might secure the most recognisable name.
For nearly 30 years, we have supported students into Oxford and Cambridge. Many of our consultants have first-hand experience of the Oxbridge system, including supervising undergraduates themselves.
We specialise in US applications from an international perspective. Each student receives a bespoke strategy integrating academic planning, extracurricular development and expert college consulting. We manage every element from SAT/ACT preparation to essays and alumni interviews.
We bring deep knowledge of the UK university landscape and its highly specialised degree structure.
Working with subject specialists, we help students choose the right course, develop meaningful supercurricular engagement and craft Personal Statements that demonstrate genuine academic commitment and intellectual maturity.
We guide students applying to English-speaking courses across Europe, where there is no centralised system and entry requirements vary significantly.
We provide targeted preparation for all major university entrance examinations, including the SAT and ACT, UCAT, LNAT, ESAT, TMUA and TARA, alongside GMAT, GRE and GAMSAT for graduate programmes. Our preparation develops both technical proficiency and exam composure under timed conditions.
We provide standalone interviews preparation for Oxbridge and Medicine courses in the UK, European universities such as Bocconi and for alumni interview for US College applications amongst others.
Our support follows a three-step process of Discovery, Preparation and Application, ensuring that every student makes informed choices, builds a distinctive profile and submits targeted, compelling applications in an increasingly competitive landscape.
We are non-selective, working with students of all academic backgrounds and abilities. Our focus is always quality over quantity: thoughtful guidance, tailored preparation and outcomes that reflect each student’s genuine strengths and ambitions.
Based in the UK but working globally, we regularly coordinate complex international applications across multiple systems.
Above all, our measure of success is not simply admission to prestigious institutions but ensuring that each student embarks upon a university journey that is intellectually stimulating, personally fulfilling and aligned with their long-term ambitions.
We develop a detailed understanding of each student: their academic profile, interests, motivations and long-term aspirations. Students are introduced to the breadth of pathways available to them, often beyond what they initially considered.
The strongest applications are built on informed, confident decisions.
Good grades are the baseline. Distinction lies in depth of engagement.
We help students build meaningful supercurricular portfolios that demonstrate intellectual curiosity and subject commitment. Alongside this, we prepare thoroughly for entrance tests and interviews, ensuring readiness well in advance of deadlines.
The strongest candidates show sustained, authentic engagement with their chosen field.
From Personal Statements and US college essays to entrance tests, interviews and timeline management, we ensure that every element of the application aligns.
The most compelling applications tell a consistent, thoughtful story; one that reflects the student’s genuine academic direction and meets the specific criteria of each institution.
Families come to us for reassurance and guidance as much as expertise. By building long-term relationships based on trust, discretion, and thoughtful support, we support parents and children through some of the most important early decisions they will make.
From pioneering residential tutoring in the 1990s to building the UK’s leading education advisory firm, Bonas MacFarlane has redefined how families approach education. By combining British academic expertise with American-style strategic guidance, we deliver a fully integrated approach - from early schooling through to university success.
Bonas MacFarlane has become one of the most influential advisory firms in the UK’s independent school sector.
Bonas MacFarlane was the first company in London to combine American college counsellors with British tutors, mentors and specialist assessors.
Insights into the issues families regularly encounter when planning ahead. Should you require further clarity or personalised support, our team are always happy to advise.
Contact us to discover how our programs and dedicated team can make a difference.
