Most of us have applied for something at some point, whether it's a job, a scholarship, or a place at university. But how do you talk about it in English? Let's get you up to speed on "apply to," "apply for," and "apply with."

Apply to

"Apply to" is about where your application is going. It shows where or to whom you're sending it, like a company, a university, or an organization.

She plans to apply to Oxford next year.
I'm applying to the finance department for a summer internship.
You should apply to some local charities too.
He's excited to apply to a few tech companies after graduation.

A graduate in a cap and gown dances along a path outside.

Apply for

"Apply for" is about what you want to get. It answers the question "What are you trying to get?" Use it for a job, a position, a scholarship, or any other opportunity.

A young man with glasses sits down at a keyboard and starts typing as digital code flashes across the screen.

She's applying for a grant to fund her research.
He decided to apply for the software engineer job at Google.
We've applied for a mortgage.
I'm applying for a visa to visit my family.

Apply with

"Apply with" is about what you send along with your application, like documents, forms, or samples of your work.

You can apply with a completed form and two references.
He applied with a portfolio of his best work.
Applicants must apply with a copy of their ID and proof of enrollment.
She applied with her CV and two reference letters.

A man in an office holds up a sheet of paper and speaks into a microphone.

This use of "apply with" sounds fairly formal and shows up mostly in official instructions. In everyday conversation, people tend to say "send" or "include" instead: "I sent my CV and a cover letter."

You'll also see "apply with" in job ads, especially American ones, as in "Apply with us today!" There it means the same as "apply to": you're applying to that company.

Put all three together and you get something like: I'm applying to a marketing agency for a copywriting job, and I'm applying with my CV and three writing samples.

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When to say "apply to," "apply for," and "apply with"

When to say "apply to," "apply for," and "apply with"

Apply to

Apply for

Apply with