The UK is home to the biggest population, spectacular scenery, and a variety of best universities. The UK appeals to the maximum amount of overseas students across the country. Academic institutions in the UK have regularly held the highest positions in the world’s university rankings. The universities in the UK have their admission intakes throughout the year varying as per the courses and admission requirements. If you are planning to study in the UK and are looking for the right admission intakes, we are here to help you. Scroll this blog to know all about intakes in the UK, when to apply for top UK universities and colleges, and more!
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Intakes in the UK
Two types of intakes are commonly followed by UK Universities:
Intake from January to February
Intake from September to October
Additional Intake in May for select courses
Students who skip the September intakes can qualify for the January Intakes in the UK. Some might say that perhaps the September Intakes in the UK are higher than January in terms of the total quantity of programs available. However, there isn’t much comparison between the two as the start of January is equal to the number of successful courses that provide an opportunity for students to choose from. There is also another intake called the May Intakes in the UK which you can take upon.
If you skipped the September intake, you can look forward to another January intake as the January Intakes in the UK requirements grant you more time to focus on your applications so that you can fill in the gaps, if there are any.
How Many Intakes are there in the UK?
There are two major intakes in the UK, i.e. January/February and September. Here are the admission months for January and September Intakes:
Intake in UK Admissions
January/February Intake June and September
September Intake February and May
January/February Intake in the UK
The intake from January to February is a supplementary one in terms of admission intakes in the UK. Not as many classes are offered at the beginning of January relative to the September intake, but this intake provides an incentive for candidates who have skipped entry in the main intakes in the UK. It allows students extra time to focus on their submissions. The deadline for submissions will be between June and September and will vary from course to course and from institution to institution.
Bangor University
Birmingham City University
Brunel University
Edge Hill University
Kingston University
Northumbria University
University of Chester
University of Greenwich
University of Sunderland
Anglia Ruskin University
Birkbeck University of London
City University of London
Coventry University
De Montfort University
Keele University
Oxford Brookes University
University of Brighton
University of Lincoln
University of South Wales
UK September Intake
The largest Intakes in the UK are in September and October. It is sometimes considered the Fall intake of falls in the United Kingdom. Many colleges in the UK offer all classes at the beginning of September. The deadline for applications to be submitted in September would be between February and May of the academic year. However, this will always vary based on courses and shifts from institution to institution concerning admissions in the UK. Students should review the specifics of the respective institution.
Birmingham City University
Bucks New University
University of Central Lancashire
University of Reading
University of Hertfordshire
University of Surrey
University of Derby
University of Westminster
University of Wolverhampton
Keele University
University of Leeds
Kingston University
London Metropolitan University
University of Bradford
Swansea University
May Intake Universities in the UK
April/May intakes in the UK are the least preferred admission session. It is offered by a few universities/colleges with the least options of courses. The students prefer to take a spring break, so a lot of universities do not offer this intake. The pool of applicants is very small during the May Intake which is also called the Spring Intake. But the competition for this intake is the least intense as there is an enhanced chance of getting an offer.
Northumbria University
Queen Mary University of London
Keele University
Ulster University
University of Chester
Sheffield Hallam University
West of Scotland University
Salford University
Explore 100 Interesting Facts about the UK!
MBA Intakes in the UK
If you are applying for MBA in the UK, then you need to apply during the April/May intake in the UK. The MBA intakes are open from April and May to around September. Here are the top business schools for MBA or top MBA colleges in UK intakes in the UK in April/May:
London Business School
Said Business School
Warwick Business School
Imperial Business School
Cambridge Judge Business School
Alliance Manchester
Cass Business School
Apart from April and May, these business schools for MBA in the UK are also open till June as well as for January and September intakes in the UK.
Ph.D. Intakes in the UK
When it comes to Ph.D. in the UK, there are no such fixed intakes as all universities have rolling admissions and stay open for applications from Ph.D. scholars throughout the year. So, you can apply for Ph.D. throughout any of the three intakes or as per the specific admission dates for your chosen university.
Intakes for Masters in the UK
Out of the three major intakes in the UK, the January and September intakes in the UK are mainly for Masters while there are a few May intakes universities in the UK that also take master’s applications. The best intake in the UK for masters is in either January or September since most of the popular universities are open for admissions and you can apply to more than 5 universities, thus keeping your options open.
Which Intake in the UK is best for international students?
Your choice should be based on your chosen institution and desired course, your previous academic results, your exam score, the entrance rate of your chosen institution, at the beginning of the application, at the start of the semester, and your eligibility for the assignment regarding the Intakes in the UK.
How To Decide Which Intake To Go For?
Students who are unable to attend the September intake may apply for the January intake. Some may claim that the September intake is superior and more preferable than the January intake in terms of course volume. Of course, it is most desired among all the intakes in the UK, however, certain universities offer excellent courses for the January intake as well. You can choose which intake to take based on the following criteria:
-Your desired course’s availability
-The amount of time required to prepare your documents
-As per your convenience
If you missed the September intake in the UK, you can look forward to the January intake because the January intake applications provide you more time to work on your essays and fill in any gaps, if any exist.
Eligibility
The specific academic standards expected from the majority of students are at least 65% [indicative] in higher secondary education in the UK to be involved in humanities or sciences, and at least 70% [indicative] is needed to be enrolled in science subjects. Apart from educational ratings, candidates must conform to the criteria of the English language for which IELTS/TOEFL/PTE must be admitted. Some colleges can also question students for specific standardized test scores (GRE or GMAT) scores.
