Difference Between September and January Intake in UK With Intake guide & Timelines

To be a part of the UK’s leading universities, the foremost thing an international student does is study the application process. Admissions in the UK take place through two primary intakes, namely the Winter Intake (January) and Fall Intake (September). Each intake has its own merits and demerits; the September intake is more competitive, but it also offers more comprehensive placements. While January intake is great for students who wish to study in the UK without taking a gap. In this blog, we will study the difference between September and January intake in the UK!

Intakes in UK 

UK universities in UK follow an academic calendar that commences in September and ends in July. There are two primary intakes in the UK in which students are accepted:  

• September/October (Fall Intake)
• January/February (Winter Intake)
• Some UK universities have additional intake in May for the selected courses. 

Following are the deadlines for UK Intakes: 

Intake	Deadline
January/February Intake	June and September
September Intake	February and May

Must Read: How to Pursue MRes in UK?

What is the key Difference between September and January Intake in the UK ? 

Here’s how UK universities/colleges conduct their admissions cycles throughout the year: 

Intake	Fall	Winter
Starts From	September	January
Duration	September – December/Early January	January – April
Nature	Primary Intake	Secondary Intake
Pros and Cons	This is the most popular intake for International students.  The universities of the UK offer major courses and their flagship programs in this intake.  There are also a large number of internship opportunities, a great number of applicants, and the most intense competition.	In January intake, applicants are offered a chance to apply if they have missed the primary intake.  Usually, there is a short span of time to adapt to the North European winter.  You get time to evaluate your application.  Less competitive as the number of applications is small. Students get a chance to catch up on their studies without taking a gap year.

Steps to Study in September Intake in the UK 

If you are planning to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the UK, the first step is to be aware of the course of action. Below is the application process to provide you with an insight to study in September Intake in the UK. 

Step 1: Visit University Websites: Shortlist universities that you wish to apply to by early August. Check all the application requirements, and get familiar with the bank loans and scholarships. Start downloading admission brochures from each university. Look out for different accommodation options. 

Step 2: Give Competitive Exams between January to February: Depending upon the university requirements, start preparing for the GMAT, GRE, TOEFL or IELTS. Register for the tests as soon as possible and always have a buffer time in case you retake the tests. 

Step 3: Apply between February to March: Start drafting your SOP, LOR, and essays and gather proofs of English proficiency test scores. UK September intake deadlines are around in the months of February and May. It’s recommended to apply before the due date! 

Step 4: Receive the acceptance letter between April and May: Make the decision once you receive your acceptance letter. Check the deadlines and get in touch with the universities regarding your final decision. 

Step 5: Apply for a student loan between June to July: After getting the acceptance letter, start applying for the student loan. Get ready with your paperwork and later apply for the student visa in the UK on time. Apply at the earliest possible to remember the time taken for visa processing. 

Step 6: Get your air tickets ready: Book airline tickets, and collect all the original documents with their photocopies. Keep track of the pre-departure checklist! 

Sign up for the Leverage Live and crack IELTS with the best scores! 

Timeline for September intakes in UK universities

Here is a timeline for taking admissions in September intake in the UK –

Timeline	Description	Activity
December-February	Shortlist list of Universities	Find and shortlist the top universities that meet your requirements.
March – April	Start Test Preparations	Apply, prepare and take tests like  – TOFEL, IELTS, GMAT, GRE
April- May	Application Submission	Ensure you finalize and send off your application to the UK university along with all the necessary documents.
May -June	Reply to emails	Remember to reach out and respond to the universities to continue with the admission process.
June-July	Arrange your finances	Explore the scholarship opportunities, loans, and financial aid options to help support your educational journey.
August	Ready To Go!	You must book a ticket and prepare to fly.

Must Read: How to Pursue MPhil in UK?

Steps to Study in January Intake in the UK

Below we have mentioned the step-by-step guide on the application process of UK universities. Let’s go through the steps to study in January Intake for undergraduate or postgraduate courses: 

Step 1: Research universities: Start selecting the universities in the month of May and June. Go through the tuition fees, course curriculum, work permit rules, and all the other necessary details. Look for the January intake and keep track of application deadlines. Along with this, initially research all about student accommodation.

Step 2: Crack the exams: Entrance exams are the deciding factor whether you will be able to get admission to the chosen university. As per the university requirements, appear for the exams like GMAT, GRE, IELTS, or TOEFL. 

Step 3: Prepare all the paperwork: Collect all the documents apart from language requirements and those are SOP, LOR, essays, and official academic transcripts. The deadline for the January intake is out in the months of June to September. 

Step 4: Wait for the offer letter: As soon as you receive the confirmation letter from the university, let the university know if you are attending the course or not. Give your response via email. You might be asked for non-refundable confirmation fees. 

Step 5: Apply for a student visa: Start applying for the student loan and the UK student visa. These usually take a few months to process, so apply much before the January intake starts. 

Step 6: Book airline tickets: Now, you are just one step away from being a part of a UK university. Book your flight tickets, prepare the pre-departure checklist and have all the documents required. 

Must Read: How to Defer Admission in UK?

Timeline for January intakes in UK universities

Here is a timeline for taking admissions in January intake in the UK –

Timeline	Description	Activity
April- June	Shortlist list of Universities	Find and shortlist the top universities that meet your requirements.
June- September	Start Test Preparations	Apply, prepare and take tests like  – TOFEL, IELTS, GMAT, GRE
September-November	Application Submission	Ensure you finalize and send off your application to the UK university along with all the necessary documents.
October- December	Reply to emails	Remember to reach out and respond to the universities to continue with the admission process.
December- January	Arrange your finances	Explore the scholarship opportunities, loans, and financial aid options to help support your educational journey.
January	Ready To Go!	You must book a ticket and prepare to fly.

January Intake Universities in the UK 

Now that you have learned the difference between September and January Intake in the UK, let’s take a look at the leading universities of the UK that provide admission in January Intake: 

Queen Mary University of London

Aston University

Coventry University

University of Liverpool

University of Exeter

University of Portsmouth

University of Greenwich

University of Sunderland

City University London

University of South Wales

Birmingham City University

Brunel University

De Montfort University

Must Read: Is It Possible to Study MBA Below 20000 GBP?

September Intake Universities in the UK

Apart from knowing the application process to study in September Intake in the UK, here’s a list of the topmost universities for the UK September intake: 

University of East Anglia

Oxford University

Cambridge University

Kings College London

Queen Mary University of London

University of Exeter

University of Liverpool

Coventry University

Brunel University

Aston University

University of Portsmouth

Birmingham City University

University of Surrey

University of Leeds

University of Bradford

Kingston University

University of Hertfordshire

University of Reading

Also Read: Study in UK’s Beach Towns and Breezy Cities!

Important UCAS Deadlines 

Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) is based in the UK where it manages all the undergraduate courses. Given below are the UCAS deadline for 2024 – 2025. To be sure, you can also contact the selected university or visit their website for confirmation regarding important deadlines. 

16th October 2024	It is intended for all courses in Cambridge and Oxford and most of the courses in medicine and veterinary medicine at all other institutions.
31st January 2025	All other undergraduate courses for European (EU) students.
30th June 2025	All other undergraduate courses for international students.

Must Read: Top Universities in Manchester

Which Intake to Choose?

Most international students prefer to study in September. However, January and May’s admissions are also good for some courses. If you don’t have scorecards ready, it’s best to take your time and apply in the next intake. To choose the UK study intakes consider the following points to remember: 

• Availability of your chosen program;
• Your academic records;
• Your entrance test scores;
• University’s acceptance rate; 
• Employment opportunities;
• Your willingness to go to university 

Must Read: Affordable Universities 1.5 Hours Away from London

Must Read: What are the Requirements to Study in UK?

Requirements to Study in the UK 

Here are the major requirements to study in the UK which you need to ensure while applying to a UK university: 

• Completion of undergraduate or postgraduate studies with a minimum of 65% – 70% aggregate marks. 
• Copy of a valid passport
• Scorecard of English proficiency tests like TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced. (Some universities exempt students from this if they meet the set criteria)
• GMAT/GRE for Masters programs
• Academic Transcripts
• Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
• Portfolio (for specific courses)
• A CV (if applicable)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)

FAQs

Planning to study in the UK? Hurry up and book a free profile evaluation with our Leverage Edu experts and shortlist your dream universities in under 30 minutes!