apply for/to university

[Maybo]

Some people use "apply to university", while some use "apply for university".
Are they both acceptable?
UAC

UCAS

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes.

 

[jutfrank]

Different prepositions have different meanings. Here's the basic rule with apply:

• apply for + something you want

• apply to + place/institution that can give you what you want

Following this rule, the phrase apply for university can be understood as something like a shorthand for 'apply for a place at university'.

 

[Yankee]

AmE.:
Apply to a/the university for......
Apply to the University of (Name)

 

[canadalynx]

AmE.:
Apply to the University of (Name)

I am not a teacher.

Why "the" before "University of (Name)"?

 

[Rover_KE]

We say 'The University of Oxford' or 'Oxford University'.

 

[canadalynx]

We say 'The University of Oxford' or 'Oxford University'.

Where is "The"?
Is it a mistake?

 

[Rover_KE]

No. They've just chosen to leave it out.

I should have said 'We usually say "The University of Oxford".'

It's not a rule set in stone.

 

[jutfrank]

View attachment 4051

Where is "The"?
Is it a mistake?

That's written, not spoken. Rover_KE mentioned what we'd normally say in speech.

The names of many universities begin with University of ______ , without including the article the, even though in speech we do put the at the beginning.