Now let us demystify the types of Canada intake for international students, the application deadlines, and the top universities that provide popular courses.
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Table of Contents
- Popular intakes in Canada
- January intake in Canada 2025
- May intake in Canada 2025
- September intake in Canada 2025 - 2026
- MBA intakes in Canada
- Pros and cons of different intakes
- FAQs
- 1. How many intakes does Canada have?
- 2. Can I apply for May 2025 intake in Canada?
- 3. What is the difference between September intake and January intake in Canada?
- 4. Are there Canada intakes for Masters?
- 5. What are the top intake colleges in Canada for international students, and what are their upcoming intake seasons?
- 6. Is there any March intake for Canada?
- 7. Is May intake closed in Canada?
- 8. What fall intake means?
- 9. Which university in Canada is open for June intake?
- 10. What are the three Canada intakes?
Popular intakes in Canada
How many intake in Canada?
In Canada, universities and colleges typically offer admissions in three intakes throughout the academic year. These intakes are:
Out of these, the fall intake is the most popular Canada intake among overseas applicants (including India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria and many other countries). These intakes are period based on seasonal grounds, and the complete process of applying to these semesters takes place within the admission deadline.
Canada intakes application deadlines
Now let us have a look at the application deadlines for each intake.
| Canada intakes | Programs | Tentative deadlines |
|---|---|---|
| September or Fall | Undergraduate and Postgraduate | December (of previous year) - March (application deadline) |
| January or Winter | Undergraduate and Postgraduate | September - November (application deadline) of previous year |
| May or Summer | Diploma | January - February (application deadline) |
January intake in Canada 2025
The January or the winter intake in Canada is the second most preferred semester for admissions in Canadian universities. Although the institutes offer fewer programs, the career opportunities, scholarships, and internship offers are more or less the same as the September intake.
Also read: Countries offering January intake
Benefits of winter intake in Canada 2025
- Class strength will be a little less, allowing you to interact with your faculty.
- Competition based on application and admission in the top universities will still be high, which drives the applicants with more energy.
Top universities that open applications for the January intake 2025
| University | Annual tuition fee |
|---|---|
| The University of Toronto | $58,160 |
| Carleton University | $42,873 |
| Queen’s University | $27,513 |
| Lambton College | $25,340 |
| McGill University | $56,544 |
| Douglas College | $18,727 |
| University of Ottawa | $26,354 |
| Mount Saint Vincent University | $40,980 |
| Centennial College | $28,742 |
Please note that average tuition fees at the universities discussed in this article range between CA$15,383 and CA$82,153.
Steps to apply for the winter intake in Canadian Universities
- Do not waste any more time! Even if you have missed the fall intake, now is the time to make up for this! Start looking for the top universities offering programs for the winter intake.
- Complete your GRE/GMAT or IELTS/TOEFL exams and keep your scorecards ready by October.
- Then apply for the visas and be ready with the mandatory documents required to apply to Canadian universities by the end of October or mid-November.
- Finally, book your tickets and plan for your accommodation beforehand.
Start your seamless journey to start your winter semester afresh!
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May intake in Canada 2025
The spring/summer intake is the final intake session of the academic year in Canadian universities. A very few universities offer this intake for fewer programs.
Mostly, diploma certifications and summer vocational programs are open for admissions during this semester.
Benefits of summer/spring intake in Canada 2025
- First and foremost is the pleasant climatic condition of this season after harsh winter weather.
- Secondly, you can do a few interesting short-term courses and use the meantime to apply to full-time classes for the upcoming intakes. This will give you another option for your next step in higher education or career path.
Top universities that open applications for the May intake in Canada 2025
| University | Annual tuition fee |
|---|---|
| University of Waterloo | $47,560 |
| Ryerson University | $38,457 |
| Northern College | $15,451 |
| Centennial College | $28,742 |
| Vancouver Community College | $19,900 |
Apply now for our upcoming intakes in Canada!
Steps to apply for summer/spring intake in the Canadian universities
- Shortlist the universities you want to apply to and ace the exams by the end of December.
- After getting your test scores, start applying to the universities you have chosen. Meanwhile, prepare your SOPs and avail your LORs by the advent of Jan.
- Once you get your admission, apply for the visa and complete the interview process by February. When everything is set, all that remains for you is to get, set and fly!
September intake in Canada 2025 - 2026
The September or fall intake is the most preferred semester in Canada. Generally, the application window opens in December and goes till March of the following year.
Most of the top universities open slots for their top and popular courses in this intake. Compared to other inputs, this September intake holds many universities that offer programs for international students.
Related intakes: Intakes in the UK | Intakes in the USA | Intakes in Ireland | Intakes in Australia
Benefits of fall intake in Canada
- Students get ample time and space to acclimatise themselves in the next six months.
- Taking up a program in this intake will keep the students 4-5 months ahead of the winter intake applicants. So the competition will be fierce.
- These students of the fall intake have significant exposure to internships and off-campus career opportunities.
Get ahead of the competition and apply for the 2025 intake in Canada!
Top universities that open applications for the September 2025-2026
Here are the top universities in Canada that offer programs for the fall intake.
| University | Annual tuition fee |
|---|---|
| The University of Toronto | $58,160 |
| University of British Columbia | $55,541 |
| McGill University | $56,544 |
| University of Calgary | $40,103 |
| Niagara College | $17,215 |
| University of Alberta | $30,090 |
| University of Waterloo | $47,560 |
| University of Ottawa | $26,354 |
| Ryerson University | $38,457 |
Don't miss out on your chance to study in Canada - Apply for 2024 intake today!
Steps to apply for fall intake in Canadian Universities
- Shortlist the universities you want to apply to by December.
- Crack the exams: Give your best in the GRE/GMAT and IELTS/TOEFL tests and prepare your scores. Prepare and schedule the exams by January.
- Now collect all the required documents along with your SOPs and portfolios. Start applying to the universities by March.
- Then complete the interview processes (if the university you have applied to conducts one) and present your accomplishments perfectly.
- Once everything is set, apply for your visas by June or July. Complete the visa interview.
- Finally, arrange and organise your immigration documents within July or August. Then get ready to fly to start the first semester at your dream university this fall intake!
Related article: What are all the benefits of studying in Canada?
Related articles
MBA intakes in Canada
The MBA program is one of Canada's most popular and most preferred programs to study. Thousands of applicants around the globe apply to pursue business administration and its diverse specialisations in the top business schools of the country.
Given its demand, most universities offer September or January intake for pursuing an MBA major. Now let us look at which top universities offer business programs during these intakes.
| University | Annual tuition fee |
|---|---|
| Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto | $58,160 |
| McGill University | $56,544 |
| Smith School of Business, Queen’s University | $27,513 |
| Ivey Business School, Western University | $24,851 |
Explore more about MBA in Canada for Indian students
Documents required to apply for Canadian Universities
- Your completed application form
- Application fee
- 2-3 SOPs
- At Least 3 LORs
- Standardised test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS)
- CV/resume
- High school or degree certificates
Pack these during your departure
- Immigration documents
- Visa
- Passport
- National identity proof
Also read: Best part-time jobs in Canada
Pros and cons of different intakes
| Intakes | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| September/Fall | Great weather conditions; A headspace to settle and start your semester; Abundant internship and scholarship opportunities. | Intense competition and highly-demanded programs will be open for admissions. Application crowd will be high. |
| January/Winter | Gives you a perfect chance to study and prepare for the visa, study permit and eligibility tests. | Harsh weather. Programs offered will be very few. |
| May/Spring (Summer) | Least intense competition. Very high chances of getting admission. | Short-term and least preferred programs offered by the least number of universities. |
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FAQs
1. How many intakes does Canada have?
Canadian universities generally offer three intakes: September/Fall intake, January/Winter intake, and May/Summer intake.
2. Can I apply for May 2025 intake in Canada?
Generally, the application process ends by February 2025. But you can start your preparations to land your dream university via the most popular intake- the fall intake of Canadian Universities.
3. What is the difference between September intake and January intake in Canada?
The September intake is the most popular in Canada in the fall season. The January intake is the winter intake in Canada and the second most preferred intake session.
4. Are there Canada intakes for Masters?
All major study programs in Canada intakes are usually open through the Fall intake. Admission for courses such as MBA, MS, and MA is conducted mainly in this cycle. The winter intake provides an additional window for universities to either fill up the remaining seats or to carry out admission for specialised courses.
5. What are the top intake colleges in Canada for international students, and what are their upcoming intake seasons?
Colleges in Canada offer three primary intakes,
- Fall intake: The major intake, with application deadlines usually in September or October of the preceding year.
- Winter intake: Usually in January.
- Summer intake: Usually in May.
University of Toronto, McGill University, University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Waterloo, Western University, McMaster University, University of Montreal, Queen's University at Kingston, Humber College.
6. Is there any March intake for Canada?
Canada typically offers three major intakes for international students: Fall intake (September), Winter intake (January/February), and Summer intake (May/June). However, the availability of intakes may vary depending on the institution and the specific program of study.
7. Is May intake closed in Canada?
The last date for May intake in Canada is scheduled at the end of February or the beginning of March.
8. What fall intake means?
Fall intake is the academic semester that begins in September and ends in December. It is the primary intake for most universities in Canada, United Kingdom and United States.
9. Which university in Canada is open for June intake?
Some May intake universities in Canada are Centennial College, Vancouver Community College, Ryerson University and Northern College.
10. What are the three Canada intakes?
September/Fall, January/Winter, and May/Spring are the three intakes in Canada.
So are you ready to set your foot on Canadian soil? Then why wait? Connect with Edvoy today and get in touch with our experienced counsellors to know in detail about the universities in Canada and the programs offered!
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