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 of the world’s university rankings. The universities in UK have their own 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 UK, when to apply for top UK universities and colleges and more!
Here’s our exclusive guide to Study in UK!
Table of contents
Intakes in UK
Two types of intakes are commonly followed by UK Universities:
- Intake in January to February
- Intake in 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 is higher than January in terms of the total quantity of programs available. However, there really isn’t much comparison between the two as the start of January is equal to the number of successful courses that provides an opportunity for students to choose from. There is also another intake called the May Intakes in 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 is any.
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How Many Intakes are there in UK?
There are two major intakes in 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 UK
The intake in January to February is a supplementary one in terms of admission intakes in 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 the entry in the main intakes in the UK. It allows students with extra time to focus on their submission. The deadline for submissions will be between June and September and will vary from course to course and from institution to institution.
Here are the January/February Intake Universities in UK 2021:
- 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
To know more, check out January Intake Universities in UK!
UK September Intake
The largest Intakes in the UK is in September and October. It is sometimes considered the Fall intake of fall 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 on the basis of courses and shifts from institution to institution with regard to admissions in the UK. Students should review the specifics of the respective institution.
Here are the top universities for UK September Intake:
- 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 UK
April/May intakes in UK is the least preferred admission session. It is offered by 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.
Here are April/May Intake Universities in UK 2021:
- 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 UK!
MBA Intakes in UK
If you are applying for MBA in 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 UK are also open till June as well as for January and September intakes in the UK.
PhD Intakes in UK
When it comes to PhD in the UK, there are no such fixed intakes as all universities have rolling admissions and stay open for applications from PhD scholars throughout the year. So, you can apply for PhD throughout any of the three intakes or as per the specific admission dates for your chosen university.
Intakes for Masters in UK
Out of the three major intakes in the UK, the January and September intakes in UK are mainly for Masters while there are a few May intakes universities in the UK that also take masters 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 UK is best for international students?
Your choice should be based on your chosen institution and desired course, on your previous academic results, on your exam score, on the entrance rate of your chosen institution, on the beginning of the application, on the start of the semester and on your eligibility for the assignment regarding the Intakes in 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, there are certain universities that 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 with 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.
Here are the IELTS and GMAT Scores to Study in UK!
This was all about the Intakes in the UK. Wondering which intake to apply for? If you are still not sure about intakes in the UK, contact our Leverage Edu experts who will equip you with the best guidance to successfully land at your dream university! Sign up for a free session with us now!
