When it comes to what kind of applicants are more likely to receive an offer, there's always a bit of unpredictability involved. Identical GPAs, schools, and IELTS scores don’t guarantee the same outcome for everyone. Many other factors come into play during the evaluation process. How can you significantly boost your chance to get in ?

Strong Relevance Between Undergraduate and Postgraduate Majors

If you are applying for science, engineering, or business programmes, it is important to show academic continuity between your undergraduate and intended postgraduate. Applicants with a clear academic trajectory and consistent interests is always preferred. A drastic change in direction may raise concerns about your motivation or suitability. This is not to that you cannot change your major but only do so if you have a valid reason for that change. Inlcude your reason for such change in your personal statement, along with actual proof can increase the authenticity of your story.

Sufficient Evidence of Academic Transferability

Some postgraduate programmes don’t require a closely matched undergraduate major, but that doesn’t mean everyone is equally qualified. In such cases, your academic transferability becomes key—whether the skills and knowledge from your current background can be effectively applied to the new field. For instance: do you know how to use relevant software? Have you studied any related foundational theories? Have you engaged in relevant research or academic projects? You want to make sure those are well demonstrated in your application to convince the admissions team that you can complete the course with those transferrable skills.

Apply Early

This point often goes overlooked. Many popular universities operate in multiple admissions cycles. If you apply too late—especially for competitive programmes—and your core qualifications are average, you're more likely to be rejected. It's simple logic: if earlier applicants were stronger, then the bar is already set high, and your application may not stand out. The quality of candidates in the first few rounds often determines how strict the selection becomes later on.

Clear Interest or Motivation

Admissions teams also assess whether you're genuinely interested in their programme or simply "fishing" for offers. Ideally, when an offer is extended, the school hopes the applicant will accept it. They don’t want to waste slots on candidates who are just testing the waters. If your application fails to express clear motivation or strong interest, admissions officers may doubt your intention to actually enrol, reducing your chances of success.

Ending

Lastly, it is always a good idea to do thorough research on the program you are applying for. After all, researching it shows that you are genuinely interested and likely to enroll if offered a place.