Upcoming Intakes in UK 2023

Intakes in UK: One of the decisions that students need to make when planning their studies abroad in countries like the UK, is deciding on which intake to pick. Each university accepts international student applications during three different intake seasons in the UK - Fall, Summer, and Winter. However, there are slight variations in each intake season and different purposes that each intake carries.

If you are planning on pursuing higher studies in the country, it is important to understand the relevance of each intake. For instance, the primary intake in UK, i.e. the intake season most prospective students apply to, is the Fall intake which usually arrives during the months of September to November. Meanwhile, even though the other intakes also enrol international students, there will be certain elements that make them stand out from each other.

In this article, we will discuss the different intakes in UK and everything you need to know about applying to higher education degrees in the country.

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What are the Admission Intakes in UK?

As stated above, there are three intakes in UK wherein international students are able to apply to the top universities in the country. Of these three, two are considered major intakes in UK, while one sees enrolment of international students to bridge courses, short-term courses or pathway programmes that usually last a few months. Here is a detailed list of what you should know about the intakes in UK.

Fall Intake in UK

The primary of all intakes in UK, the Fall intake or the September intake usually sees the largest variety of courses and universities available for admission to international students. However, being the primary intake in the country, the level of competition the students face is incredibly high, therefore, getting a spot in your dream course and university may be tougher than expected. Here’s what you can expect from the fall intakes in UK.

• Increased competition between domestic and international students, especially for the more popular courses.

• More course and university options, thus, providing a varied number of options to pursue your higher studies abroad.

• The season also provides more financial aid and scholarship options as well.

Winter Intake in UK

The secondary intake in the country, the winter intake in UK is also called the January intake. During this season, students can continue to apply to their dream course and university, if they were unable to secure a seat during the Fall season. However, the number of options available, both course-wise and university-wise will be limited. Nevertheless, being the second intake in the UK carries the benefit of reduced competition for seats among the students. Here’s what you can expect from the winter intakes in UK:

• Comparatively lower competition among students since there are fewer students who apply during this intake.

• Offers students the opportunity to not miss out on a year of education, allowing them to stay on track with their future plans.

• Fewer course and university options as not every university would continue to accept international students after the Fall season.

• The financial aid and scholarship opportunities would also be limited compared to the variety and amount seen during the fall season.

Summer Intake in UK

Summer intake or the May intake in UK is the third type of intake season commonly followed by universities and colleges in the country. However, most universities accepting international student applications during this season are often accepted for short-term/bridge or pathway programmes. Here’s what you can expect from the summer intakes in UK:

• Little to no competition in terms of student enrolment, only students who are planning to pursue only a short-term course or a bridge course enrol during the May intakes.

• The usual course duration commonly seen during the season is between 3-8 months on average. However, the duration will vary depending on the university offering the course.

• This also leads to little or no financial aid or scholarship opportunities. Students may be able to apply for scholarships specifically designed for short-term courses, however, if they are enrolling in a bridge course or a pathway programme, the scholarship opportunities may be limited.

• Variety of courses and universities open for admission would be extremely limited and unique to each institution. Therefore, your overall options will be fewer, which could make the entire process a little more challenging.

Regardless of the intake you choose to enrol in your dream course and university, it is important to understand your needs and expectations before committing to an intake season. With these parameters defined, it will be easier for you to answer the following question.

Here are the application timeline guides for the different intakes in UK that you should look into when planning and scheduling your application process this year.

Which Intake in UK to Choose For Admission?

As stated above, choosing the right intakes in UK will depend on the requirements you wish to have when pursuing your higher studies. Each intake provides unique offerings for students to enjoy such as scholarships and other financial aid, course and programme types and even the different types of universities available. Therefore, with the options available, it becomes extremely crucial to choose the right intakes in UK. Here are some questions you can ask yourself if you are facing trouble deciding between the different intakes in UK.

• What course do I wish to study?

• Which universities offer the courses?

• Which of the universities offering the course, offer it in which of the intakes in UK?

• Are there any scholarship opportunities available for the course at any one of the shortlisted universities?

• If yes and more than one, then which of the scholarship opportunities apply to you and offer better opportunities?

Therefore, when you start shortlisting universities and choosing the right intakes, it is recommended to include these questions along with the other questions that would determine your requirements. You can add more questions as per your requirements to ensure you enrol in the best possible university in the country.

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Tips to Choose the Right Admission Intake in UK

Listed below are some tips and tricks that students can apply when selecting the best intakes in the UK:

• Plan and schedule every step of the application process: One of the best ways to ensure a high probability of enrolment in the UK is to plan every step of the application process. This will ensure that you cover all bases and reduce the mistakes that could be made when applying to study in the UK. Moreover, a planned process will also reduce the stress that may or may not come with applying to universities in the UK.

• Compile all academic and professional record documents: As usual, it will be important to prove your eligibility for an academic programme or course. Some courses may also require candidates to provide work or professional experience, while others may provide additional points to candidates who offer work experience.

• Shortlist scholarship opportunities: Scholarships are some of the best ways to reduce the financial commitment students need to complete their studies abroad. Each university may offer scholarships that are unique to the course and university. However, there are several scholarships that are designed specifically for Indian students that are offered by either the Indian or UK government or by private trust funds. Mostly the Fall intake has multiple options for scholarships as compared to other intakes.

• Get expert help: Another way to improve your chances of enrollment in the top universities in either of the intakes in the UK is to consult expert counsellors. With their in-depth knowledge of the field, it will be beneficial to receive expert advice, thus, improving your chances significantly.

Overall, it is important to collect as much information as possible that can be beneficial to your study abroad application. However, not all information will be correct on the internet, which is why the last tip, as mentioned above, has been included. With expert help, you will be able to receive individual-specific advice that could improve your chances of being enrolled in your dream university and course.

Therefore, the requirement for a timeline or a schedule as mentioned above, should be important to all individuals looking to study abroad. The timeline, as outlined numerous times above, is important to improving your chances of enrolment and de-stressing the entire process. Thus, if you feel yourself in a bind, we recommend checking out the links that have been provided above to understand how to plan the timeline for different intakes in the UK.

Or, register with us and connect with our team of study abroad counsellors and get the best advice possible when applying for higher studies abroad.