Difference Between September and January Intake in UK

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!

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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

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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, 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. 

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Step 3: Apply between February to March: Start drafting your SOP, LOR, 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, collect all the original documents with their photocopies. Keep a track of the pre-departure checklist! 

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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 a 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 your 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 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. 

January Intake Universities in the UK 

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

Queen Mary University of London

Brunel University

Aston University

Coventry University

University of Liverpool

University of Exeter

University of Portsmouth

University of Greenwich

University of Sunderland

Coventry University

City University London

University of South Wales

Birmingham City University

Brunel University

De Montfort University

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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 topmost universities for 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

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Important UCAS Deadlines 

Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) is based in the UK where all the undergraduate courses are managed by them. Given below are the UCAS deadline for 2023 – 2024. To be sure, you can also contact the selected university or visit their website for confirmation regarding important deadlines. 

15th October 2023	It is intended for all courses in Cambridge and Oxford and most of the courses in medicine and veterinary medicine at all other institutions.
15th January 2023	All other undergraduate courses for European (EU) students.
30th June 2023	All other undergraduate courses for international students.

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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 point 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 

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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 Recommendations (LOR)
• Portfolio (for specific courses)
• A CV (if applicable)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)

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FAQs

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