Study Abroad Intakes In The UK - Why The Timing Of Your Application Matters

Studying in the UK can be one of the most rewarding experiences around, after all, it’s hard to find another study destination steeped in heritage, rich culture and world-renowned universities!

However, this means entering your dream university in the UK won’t be easy, the competition will be fierce and you’ll need to put your best foot forward!

This means, you’ll want to get your application in order and the first step is to understand which of the intake dates is the best option for you.

Intake Dates For Studying In The UK

In the United Kingdom, Universities and institutions offer three main intake dates that you should be aware of.

The September intake (Fall intake) usually starts from September to December. This is the primary or main intake to study in the UK.

The Jan intake (Winter intake) usually begins in January and lasts till April. This is the secondary intake.

The final intake is the May intake (Summer intake) which starts from May till August. This is normally the least preferred intake.

However, whether you should apply for the most popular intake in September or any others depends on your goals and unique situation. Each of these has its pros and cons, from scholarship opportunities to course options available.

Here’s what you must know about which intake might be the best for you!

Key Differences Between The Three UK Intakes You Must Know

1. September Intake (Fall)

As the Fall intake is the primary intake in the UK, you can expect to have the widest range of courses available for your selection and application! This is when universities go all out to attract the largest applicant pool from international students.

If you have a particular course that you really want to enter, this will be the intake to apply for to ensure you stand a chance at enrolling.

It is important to note that because this is the main intake, this is when the most scholarship opportunities will be available for students looking to get some funding to cover their education costs.

If you are looking to secure your internships or industrial placements, you need to know that most companies also sync their recruitment with the main September intake. So by enrolling here, you’ll be able to start your internships sooner and have a wider range of companies to choose from.

So if you aren’t afraid of competition, this will be the intake you’d want to aim for! You’ll gain access to your dream course and university, the most opportunities for internships as well as opportunities to clinch a scholarship.

2. January Intake (Winter)

If you do choose the next best intake, which is in January, you must know that there will be fewer options compared to the Fall intake.

However, not all is lost and this could be still a viable opportunity to submit your best application!

Because this isn’t the main intake, competition will be considerably less, allowing you to actually stand a better shot of getting the course that you’d like.

However, because there are fewer courses on hand, you’d need to be flexible and ideally have a range of courses you would be fine with accepting. There will be some compromises to make if you choose this intake because opportunities will be fewer.

This includes internships and potentially graduating during a period when job opportunities might be fewer, causing you to delay the start of your career by a few months.

However, there are significant upsides! You’ll be able to take the time to prepare your strongest application possible. This means scoring your best in your English IELTS test as well as writing an inspiring motivation letter to your university. If you needed extra time to consolidate your reference letters, this intake might just give you that added time necessary!

3. May Intake (Summer)

Now the May intake is the least preferred intake in the UK for quite a few reasons.

Firstly, by this time a good portion of the popular courses might already have been snapped up, leaving you with fewer choices.

Secondly, this is when spring break happens, meaning there will be fewer students on campus and you’ll experience a much slower and less vibrant student life.

However, the main advantage of this intake is that competition is much lower and you’ll be even more likely to enter the course that you apply for.

So if starting university as fast as possible is important to you, this might just be the intake for you!

Let Us Guide You Through The Intakes To Study In The UK

Ready to embark on your study abroad adventure in the UK but not sure which intake is the best for you?

Fret not, we can help! Let us assess your unique situation to understand which intake will give you the best chances to enter your dream course.

At IDP, we have a team of qualified education counsellors who can offer tailored guidance and ensure that your application process is more seamless – by assisting you every step of the way.

From course selection to accommodation preparation, we’ve got you covered.

Book your free counselling session today to get started!