All you need to know about UK Universities Intakes

The UK offers two major intakes: Fall and Winter. However, some of the universities also accept students in the summer intake. Find out everything you need to know about the UK universities intakes.

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Students who wish to study in the UK must know about the UK universities intakes. Each university in the UK has its own admission intake throughout the year, which varies with the courses and admission requirements. Most of the universities in the UK offer 2 major intakes: Fall and Winter. However, some universities offer spring/summer intake for certain courses.

Every year, the United Kingdom attracts over 300,000 students representing more than 150 nationalities. Renowned for its world-class teaching standards, 16 of the UK universities ranked among the top 100 according to the QS world rankings 2022. Learn about the different UK universities intakes and prepare yourself accordingly to avoid any last-minute hassles!

Intakes in the UK

The academic calendar of UK universities starts in September and ends in July/August. The table below provides information about the major UK universities intakes:

Intake	Starts from	Duration	Nature
Fall	September	September–December/early January	Primary intake
Winter	January	January–April	Secondary intake
Summer/Spring	May	May-August	Least preferred intake

Fall

In September and October, the UK receives the largest number of applications. It is also known as the fall or the autumn intake in the country. The majority of colleges in the UK begin their programs in the month of September. Application deadlines for the September intake usually fall between February and May of the particular academic year. However, the deadlines may vary according to the colleges and courses. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant institution for more information.

Given below are the September intake universities in the UK:

Timeline For September 2022 Intake In the UK

Application deadlines for different universities in the UK vary from one university to another, but the application process usually begins 8 to 16 months before the commencement of the course. Students need to have a well-defined plan in mind so that the application process can be completed smoothly. The table given below shows the step-by-step procedure that students should follow while applying for the fall intake:

Timeline	Activity
April 2021 to June 2021	Shortlist Universities
June 2021 to August 2021	Appear for the Tests
August 2021 to December 2021	Prepare your Documents
December 2021 to April 2022	Submit Application
April 2022 to July 2022	Apply for Visa
July 2022 to August 2022	Plan your Travel

Winter

As far as admission cycles in the United Kingdom are concerned, January to February is a supplementary intake. January Intake does not offer as many classes as the September admission cycle, but it provides an opportunity for candidates who have missed the entry into the main admission intake in the UK. It gives students additional time to work on their submissions. Submission deadlines for winter intake are typically between June and September. Depending on the university and course, however, the deadlines may vary.

The list of universities in UK for January intake is given below:

Queen Mary University of London
University of Liverpool
Coventry University
Birmingham City University
University of South Wales
University of Exeter
Kingston University
University of Greenwich
University of Sunderland
Oxford Brookes University
Brunel University
Aston University
Brunel University
Northumbria University
Bangor University

Timeline For January 2022 Intake In the UK

Similar to the Septemeber Intake, students are encouraged to begin preparing for the application process of the January intake a year before the deadline for application submission. The table given below shows the timeline that international applicants should follow for the January 2022 intake:

Timeline	Activity
April 2021 to June 2021	Research Universities
June 2021 to August 2021	Take Entrance Tests
August 2021 to September 2021	Begin Applying to Colleges
September 2021 to October 2021	Responding to Emails
August 2021 to November 2021	Arrange your Funds and Apply for Visa
November 2021 to December 2021	Tickets and Departure

Summer/Spring

Admissions in April/May intakes are least preferred in the UK. There are few universities that offer admission during this time period, and the course options are relatively limited too. Most of the universities do not offer this intake because the students prefer to take a spring break. In contrast to other admission cycles, this one is less competitive because the chances of getting an offer are greater. The application deadline to apply for the summer intake in UK universities is April 30th, 2022. The deadline applies to most UK universities, but applicants should check with their respective universities to avoid any confusion.

Here are the April/May intake universities in UK:

Coventry University
University of Chester
West of Scotland University
Northumbria University
Bedfordshire University
Queen Mary University of London
University of West London
Keele University
Ulster University
Sheffield Hallam University
Salford University

Timeline For May 2022 Intake In the UK

Though the number of courses offered by the UK universities in the summer intake is limited, this intake is a good opportunity for international students who could not apply for September or January intakes. Most universities in the UK that offer summer courses have a predefined process for accepting applications and completing the admission process. Let us now look at the timeline for May 2022 intake:

Timeline	Activity
August 2021 to September 2021	Explore Universities Offering Summer Courses
September 2021 to October 2021	Take Standardized Tests
October 2021 to February 2022	Apply for Admission
February 2021 to March 2022	Wait for Decision
February 2022 to April 2022	Apply for Visa
March 2022 to April 2022	Plan your Travel

MBA Intakes in the UK

Students who intend to pursue MBA in the UK need to apply during April/May. MBA admissions typically start in April and May until around September. Listed below are the top business schools offering admissions during April/May in the UK:

Imperial Business School
London Business School
Warwick Business School
Alliance Manchester
Cambridge Judge Business School
Cass Business School

Important UCAS Deadlines

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service) is a UK-based organization that manages all undergraduate admissions. We've provided UCAS deadlines for 2021-2022 below. For confirmation regarding important deadlines, you can also contact the respective university or visit their website.

Deadline	Event
15th October 2021	Students can apply for courses in Cambridge and Oxford and for a majority of medicine and veterinary medicine courses at other universities by this date.
15th January 2022	All UG Programs for European (EU) students.
30th June 2022	All UG Programs for international students

Which Intake should be Opted by International Students?

Choosing the right admission intake can be a bit confusing. Admissions to the January intake are open to students who are unable to attend the September admissions. According to some, September intakes are superior and more preferable in terms of course volume than January intakes. Although it is the most desired intake in the UK, there are some universities that also provide excellent courses for the January intakes. Students who don't have their scores ready should avoid the rush and apply for the next intake. The following criteria can be used to decide which intake would be the best fit:

Availability of the program of your choice
Preparation time required for your documents
Your academic records
Scores of your entrance tests
Acceptance rates of universities
Job Opportunities
According to your convenience

Admission Requirements to Study in the UK

As you are now aware about the UK universities intakes, you must also familiarize yourself with the basic admission requirements of the UK. To study in the UK, international students need to demonstrate that they are proficient in the English language. This can be done by providing exam scores like IELTS or TOEFL. Check out the eligibility criteria and documents required to apply to top universities in the UK.

Eligibility Crtieria

A student needs to meet the following criteria to be eligible to study in the UK:

To apply for an undergraduate program, students must have completed class 12th with at least 50% marks.
To apply to PG programs, students must hold a degree that is equivalent to a British bachelor's degree. The minimum requirement is a second division bachelor's degree.
International students need to prove their proficiency in English by taking the IELTS/TOEFL/PTE tests.

Below are the average score score requirements for English language proficiency tests: