For decades, choosing a university meant sifting through prospectuses, rankings tables, and well-meaning but often generic advice. That process is changing faster than most institutions realize.

AI is no longer a back-office tool for grading or plagiarism checks, it is now sitting at the front door of admissions, helping students understand not just where they might get in, but where they might actually thrive.

This shift raises real questions alongside its promise. Who audits these systems for bias? Does personalization risk narrowing a student's sense of possibility rather than expanding it? And how do institutions balance efficiency with the human judgment that has always defined good counselling?

In this issue, ‘AI-Powered Admissions & Career Guidance Institutions in Asia – 2026”, Asia Education Review does not claim to have every answer. Instead, we profile the institutions experimenting seriously with these tools, and ask what a genuinely student-centered, AI-assisted admissions process should look like, for Asia, and for the students it is built to serve. Read on to explore more, and share your thoughts below!