All About Upcoming Intakes in Australia

Referred to as the ‘Land Down Under’, Australia has emerged as the choicest study destination amongst international students wanting to pursue overseas education at affordable costs. But while exploring top academic programs to study in Australia, you must be familiarized with the Australian intake followed by major academic institutions in the country. The admission intake refers to the general application period for which universities accept applications from students across the globe. These intakes are often held in different time periods in an academic year and go on for a period of 2-3 months. To ensure that your application for the preferred course reaches your dream university before the deadline ends, it is important to know the major admission intakes before applying for a program. This blog brings you a detailed guide on admission intakes in Australia for prominent universities and programs.

Why study in Australia?

There are many valid reasons why international students choose Australia as a destination for their abroad education. Here are some of the popular ones.

• High-quality Education System – Australia has the highest number of international students after UK and USA. The nation’s quality education system caters to a unique curriculum of higher education that is preferred by many international students.
• Wide variety of Courses – Because of a diverse set of curriculum Australian Universities allows students to choose from a wider variety of courses in their interested fields. The integrated courses of various interrelated subjects are available in almost every top Australian University.
• Cultural Diversity – Being home to various ethnicities Australia is one of the biggest melting pot of cultures. It’s no surprise that as an international student, you will get to experience various multicultural settings while studying in Australia.
• Incredible Work Opportunities – In order to truly enjoy all that Australia has to offer you also have a wide array of opportunities that you can pursue professionally after graduation. Australia also offers a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) for those who are interested in staying back and working in Australia after their graduation.

Understanding the Admission Intakes in Australia

There are two major admission intakes in Australia, i.e. February and July Intakes,  during which international students can send their prospective applications to their chosen university. Intakes are also referred to as semesters and are open during the following months:

Intakes	Deadlines
Semester 1: (February)	October- November
Semester 2: (July)	April- May

The February intake witnesses a large number of applications and is considered as the primary admission intake in Australia. On the other hand, the July intake is open for a fewer number of courses and involves a limited number of students.

Also Read: Hotel Management Courses in Australia

Intakes in Australia & Available Courses

Predominantly, February and July intakes in Australian universities are open for full-time Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Research Oriented programs and PhDs. Further, Australian universities have formulated different admission intakes for vocational courses and these intakes open in January, May or July. Moreover, independent intakes, as well as their duration or month, entirely depends on the university and its prospective course.

How to Choose a Specific Intake?

Which intake in Australia is the best for you? How to make the correct choice? This is a common question witnessed by all the students planning to study abroad. Here are some influential factors which can help you make a better choice:

• Your academic records
• The program you wish to study
• Your proficiency test scores
• Approval of your education loan
• Acceptance rate of the university you plan to pursue

Requirements to Study in Australia

Now that you are familiar with the major intakes in Australia, let’s delve deeper into the major requirements you need to fulfil in order to pursue higher studies in Australia. The actual course requirements differ from course to course and university to university. However, there are some general requirements that are common to different courses and universities in Australia and these are:

• English Language Proficiency scores of IELTS/TOEFL/PTE
• For MBA aspirants, GMAT is an essential standardized test they need to qualify to apply for an MBA in Australia.
• GRE is also widely accepted by Australian universities for MA, MS and even MBA programs.
• Attested copies of class X and XII marksheets.
• SOP and LORs
• Resume
• Proof of Sufficient Funds

Admission Intakes of Top Universities of Australia

The top-ranked universities in Australia fall under Group Eight (Go8) which is a combination of the country’s oldest and esteemed institutions which have proven out to be par excellence in almost every domain. Let’s go through the major intakes in Australia for applying for admission to these prominent universities.

The Australian National University 

Founded in the year 1946, the Australian National University features at the 34th position amongst the top universities in the world ranked by the QS World University Rankings 2024. Here are the major application deadlines and intakes for those aiming to apply for a course at the Australian National University: 

Rounds	Applications Open
Round 1	12 September
Round 2	11 November
Round 3	15 December

Note: The availability of seats in Round 2 and 3 are subject to change. 

Check Out: MBA in Australia for Indian Students

The University of Melbourne

Acquiring the 14th rank in QS Global Rankings 2024, the University of Melbourne was founded in the year 1853 and is considered a leading centre of research and higher education in the country. The intakes in Australia for admissions into the University of Melbourne are as follows:

Intakes	Deadlines
Intake 1	Late December
Intake 2	May

The University of Sydney (USYD)

Renowned for its Science, Technology, Business and Management courses, the University of Sydney is amongst the oldest higher education institutions in the country and has been ranked at #19 by the QS University Rankings 2024. Following intakes are followed for admissions into Usyd programmes:

Semesters	Deadlines
Semester 1	11 February
Semester 2	–

Recommended Read: Universities in Australia for PhD

The University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Established in the year 1949, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a leading academic institution in Australia and has featured at the 19th position in the QS rankings 2024. It also follows the major February intakes in Australia but the second intake is carried out in September. Take a look at the admission deadlines of UNSW elucidated in the following table:

Commencement for Intake 1	Commencement for Intake 2
11-15th February	11-13th September

The University of Queensland 

Another prominent name amongst the world-renowned Australian university, the University of Queensland is situated in Brisbane and is the founding member of the online higher education platform EdX. The admission intakes for the University of Queensland are:

Intakes	Deadlines
Intake 1	31st October
Intake 2	31st May

NOTE: The aforementioned dates and deadlines are tentative. Candidates are advised to check the official university website for the admission deadlines pertaining to their chosen course. 

Timeline to Study in Australia: February Intake 2024

To help you sort out the application schedule for February Intake in Australia in 2024, we have created a rough timeline you can check out:

April 2023 to June 2023	-Shortlist 5-8 Universities offering the course you want to study -Familiarise yourself with the eligibility requirements, scholarships available, education loans, etc. -Apply for standardised exams like GMAT, GRE, if their scores are required and language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, etc. and start preparing at least three months before the exam.
June 2023 to August 2023	-Undertake the required exam by November 2024 -Give yourself a month or two additional if you need to retake an exam.
August 2023 to October 2023	-Begin drafting an SOP and other admission essays and also ask your employer or professors for letters of recommendation. -Apply to your chosen universities within the deadline, if it’s next month, then make sure that you have all the documents ready as per the checklist provided by the university for your chosen course.
November 2023 to December 2023	-Universities generally conducted interviews during this time, so keep yourself fully prepared. -You will also get your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) by November to December and you will be asked to submit a non-refundable fee to confirm your admission
December 2023 to January 2023	-Gather the documents ready for the student visa application. -Apply for a student visa within the timeline. -Apply for the Overseas Student Health Cover. -You will get the student visa by January at most and you can then fly to Australia to sort out accommodation before the session begins in February.

Things to Keep in Mind While Applying to Intakes in Australia

To get admission into your desired intakes in Australia, you have to keep certain things in mind. Here are some of them:

1. Pre pan your application. It is always advised to start your application process at least 3-4 months prior to the deadlines.
2. Apply for education loan and VISA as soon as you get your offer letter and these processes can be time consuming.
3. Prepare well for necessary exams like IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, SAT, etc. Try to clear them in a single go.
4. Submit your application on time and prepare well for interviews.

How to Choose the Right Admission Intake?

The major intakes in Australia are held in the month of July and February but as apparent from the aforementioned admission deadlines, many universities have their own specified intakes. Choosing the right intake can play a central role in successfully getting admission into your dream university as the whole application process is largely impacted by the admission intake and deadlines.

FAQs

If you are confused about which intake to opt for applying to your chosen course and university in Australia, our Leverage Edu experts are here to lend you a helping hand. Call us at 1800 572 000 and get your golden ticket to the wildest country!