The UK is home to various universities and colleges that have a historical reputation in the courses they provide and the accreditation they own. Unlike in the US, where there are three significant intakes, the UK universities offer only two major intakes per year.
So if you are looking to apply to universities in the UK, don’t worry because we are here to guide you!
Now let us look at the intakes in the UK in detail!
In this article
- Popular intakes in the UK
- September/October intake in the UK
- January/February intake in the UK
- May intake in the UK
- MBA intakes in the UK
- Documents required for applying to universities in the UK
- FAQs
Popular intakes in the UK
The universities and the UCAS in the UK focus primarily on two popular intake sessions;
- The September/October intake (Fall intake)
- The January/February intake (Winter intake)
Sometimes, the universities also offer a May intake on a selective number of courses as the other two intakes in the UK grab the attention of a significant student population who are planning to study abroad!
UK intakes and admission deadlines
| Intake | Tentative admission deadlines |
|---|---|
| September/October- Fall | February to May |
| January/February- Winter | June to September |
| May | January or February |
September/October intake in the UK
The September or October intake is generally called the fall intake in the UK. This is the largest drive conducted by the universities to take in a major number of applications from international students.
Scholars overseas too prefer this intake to pursue a course in the university of their dreams since there will be more options available to choose from. The application timeline for this intake generally opens by February and goes on until May.
Benefits of the fall intake in the UK
- It is the primary and the most popular intake in the UK.
- Most universities open applications for a significant number of courses in this intake.
- The intake window is perfect in such a way that after you complete the course, you will be exposed to a large number of internship and career opportunities and can contend in an intensely competitive environment.
September/October intake universities in the UK with Initial tuition fee deposit
| Name of the University | Initial tuition fee deposit |
|---|---|
| University of Bradford | £1,000 |
| Swansea University | £2,000 |
| University of Surrey | £2,000 |
| University of Derby | £2,809 |
| University of Westminster | £4,000 |
| University of Wolverhampton | £3,000 |
| Keele University | £2,000 |
| University of Leeds | £1,500 |
| Kingston University | £2,000- £3,000 |
| London Metropolitan University | £3,000 |
How to apply for September/October intakes in the UK?
- Start early: If you plan to pursue the September intake for 2022 in the UK, start exploring and researching various universities by August of the previous year. Use this time to learn more about each university and its eligibility requirements. Draft your plans accordingly and start with the application process.
- Ace your exams: Start your preparations to crack English assessment tests like TOEFL/IELTS and take them by January or February. You will get the results within a week, which will pave the way for you to apply without any pressure.
- Start shortlisting your applications to the universities where you are planning to study. Contact the professors who’ve taught before and get your letter of recommendation. Finally, start drafting 2-3 SOPs that have strong content. You can complete these steps between Feb and May, during which the application window for the fall intake opens and ends.
- The final steps: Do not leave out the emails and messages that you may get from the universities you applied to. Sit for personal interviews if they conduct one. Moving forward, notify your decision to the universities that are ready to take you on board!
- Get set to fly! Finally, prepare your paperwork and visa to fly to the UK. Before departing to the university, organise your international credit/debit cards, gather all the documents and depart relaxingly!
Related Intakes: Intakes in USA 2023 | Intakes in Canada 2023
January/ February intake in the UK 2023
The January intake is the winter intake. It is the second type of intake in the UK. Universities open applications for a brief number of courses. Although the options may not be much compared to the September intake, some students and applicants prefer this session.
The application for this intake generally opens by June of the previous year and mostly ends by September. Now let us look at the universities that will open applications for the winter intake of this academic year in the UK.
Benefits of the winter intake in the UK
- This intake offers another chance for students who missed the application deadline in the primary fall intake.
- Less competitive. This makes it convenient for the students to plan well and apply.
- Students have the space to catch up with the lessons without taking a gap year.
UK universities January/February intake 2023 with Initial tuition fee deposit
| Name of the University | Initial tuition fee deposit |
|---|---|
| University of Brighton | £3,000 |
| University of Lincoln | £3,000 |
| University of South Wales | 50% of first year's fees |
| Oxford Brookes University | £3,000 to £8,000 |
| Keele University | £4,000 |
| Birmingham City University | £4,000 |
| City University of London | £2,000 |
| University of Greenwich | £3,000 |
| University of the Sunderland | £3,500 |
| Birkbeck University of London | £2000 |
How to apply for January/February intakes in the UK?
- Let us be an early bird: If you plan to pursue the January intake 2023 in the UK, start your exploration and research on various universities by August of the previous year. Use this time to learn more about each university and its eligibility requirements. Draft your plans accordingly and start with the application process.
- Take the exams: Start your preparations to crack English assessment tests like IELTS/TOEFL and take them by April or May. You will get the results within a week, which will pave the way for you to apply without any pressure.
- Start shortlisting your applications to the universities you plan to apply to. Contact your professors and get your letter of recommendation. Finally, start drafting 2-3 SOPs that have strong content. You can do these between June to September, during which the application window for the winter intake opens and ends.
- The final steps: Do not leave out the emails and messages that you may get from the universities you applied to. Sit for personal interviews if they conduct one. Finally, notify your decision to the universities that are ready to take you on board!
- Get set to fly! Prepare your paperwork and visa to pass to the UK. Before departing to the university, organise your international credit/debit cards, gather all the documents and depart relaxingly!
May intake in the UK
The April/May intake is the least preferred session offered by the UK universities. This is because students generally take their spring break at this time. So, this leads to a significantly less competitive environment to study in the UK. So, if you are starting your higher education in the May intake, then apply to the universities by January or February.
Universities with initial tuition fee deposit may intake 2023 in the UK
| Name of the University | Initial tuition fee deposit |
|---|---|
| University of Bedfordshire | £9,250 |
| Coventry University | 33% of total fees |
| Northumbria University | £5,500 |
| Salford University | £5,500 |
| Ulster University | £3,000 |
MBA intakes in the UK
The MBA intakes in the UK usually happen around April or May month of each year. Some universities welcome applications during the fall or September intake of the UK universities, and the intake process takes up to 4 or 5 rounds. On the whole, these rounds take place for 6 to 7 months (April or May).
UK Universities that have opened applications for MBA intake this 2023-2024
| Name of the University | Initial tuition fee deposit |
|---|---|
| London Business School | £5,000 |
| Imperial College Business School | £2,285 |
| Judge Business School, University of Cambridge | £7,950 |
| Warwick Business School | £1,500 |
| University of Edinburgh Business School | £1,500 |
| Lancaster University Management School | £1,000 |
| Cardiff Business School | £1,000 |
| Leeds Business School | £1,500 |
Keep these documents ready for applying!
- 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
Important UCAS Admissions dates
| Dates | Streams |
|---|---|
| 15 October 2023 | Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary and UCAS |
| 15 January 2023 | Undergraduate courses for EU students |
| 30 June 2023 | Undergraduate courses for International Students |
FAQs
1. How many intakes are there in the UK for international students?
There are two significant intakes- The September/October intake (fall) and the January/February intake (winter). Apart from these two, some universities offer the May intake with openings for very few courses.
2. When can I apply for fall 2023 in the UK?
The applications for the fall intake in 2022 open in the September or October of this year. The application window generally opens by February or May 2022.
3. Is IELTS required for the UK?
Most colleges and universities have IELTS scores as eligibility criteria to apply. Yet, there are certain universities where you can apply without these scores. Some of the universities are Swansea University, the University of Bristol, and the University of Birmingham.
4. Why is September intake better than other intakes?
The fall intake or the September intake is the primary one in the UK. So, many universities open a vast number of applications for various courses. Moreover, there will be intense competition with increased internship and job offers when you complete your course.
