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Study Intakes in UK - Universities, Courses & Benefits

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  • read time3 min Read
  • By:CANAM Group
  • Updated On:Sep 26,2024 05:10 PM IST

  • There are three study intakes in the UK: fall, winter, and spring.
  • September Intake/Fall Intake is the most popular intake in the UK as all universities accept international students during this time.
  • Choosing the right study intake in the UK is essential which aligns with your study goals.

Study intakes in UK.webp


The UK is one of many top study destinations worldwide. Every year, thousands of students aspire to study in Great Britain. One of the queries they often have is about the study intakes in the UK. Not knowing about intakes in the UK creates confusion among students. So, let’s clear this up once and for all.

Generally, there are three study intakes in the UK

Fall, Winter, and Spring. Every intake has a different duration, advantages, and disadvantages. By having an in-depth knowledge about each intake you can choose the best one for yourself. Stay with us to learn about different UK study intakes.

Study Intakes in UK

There are a total of 3 study intakes in the UK which are as follows:

Primary Intake NameSecondary Intake Name
Fall IntakeSeptember Intake
Winter IntakeJanuary Intake
Spring IntakeMay Intake

Let’s know about them in detail:

Fall (September) Intake in UK

The most popular intake to study in the UK is September Intake or Fall Intake. It lasts from September to December and applications remain open from December-July. Most of the universities in the UK accept applications for this intake. Students at this time get a wide range of programs to choose from along with the best scholarships and accommodations.

Benefits of Fall Intake

Here are some of the benefits of September Intake in UK:

  • One of the biggest advantages of this intake is that you will find your desired program at your dream university. At this time almost all the universities are open for admissions.
  • You will also get the chance to avail best scholarships, accommodations, and many other facilities.
  • Moreover, you will get more time to get adjusted to the new academic and cultural environment.

Fall Intake Universities in UK

Following are some of the best universities in UK which are open for Fall Intake :

Courses Available for Fall Intake in UK 

The Fall Intake 2024 offers the most programs than any other study intake in the UK. Following are some of the best programs available for September Intake in UK and their tuition fees:

Name of the ProgramTuition Fees (GBP)
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in ActingGBP 15900
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Advertising and Digital MarketingGBP 16800
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Health and Social CareGBP 18300
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Global Business (Top-up)GBP 16800
Master of Science in International MarketingGBP 17700
Master of Business Administration in Health and Social CareGBP 19200

January (Winter) Intake in UK

The second best UK study intake after Fall Intake is Winter Intake. It starts in January and ends in April and the application period is September-November. This is the next best option for students who have missed the fall intake in UK. It offers comparatively fewer programs than the Fall Intake.

Benefits of January Intake in UK

The winter (January) intake in UK is the next best opportunity for students who have missed the Fall Intake. Here are the benefits of winter study intake in the UK:

  • You will find less competition for programs, accommodations, and scholarships as most of the students would have been enrolled till now. 
  • As there will be less competition there are higher chances of you getting accepted at your dream university.
  • You can catch the classes without taking a gap year. 

January Intake Universities in UK 2025

Here are some of the best universities where you can get admission for Winter Intake 2025:

Courses for January Intake in UK 2025

Even though the winter intake offers fewer programs than the Fall Intake still there are many programs you can pursue. Following are various UG and PG programs along with their tuition fees: 

Name of the ProgramTuition Fees (GBP)
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Accounting and FinanceGBP 14000
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English LanguageGBP 18250
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in ActingGBP 18115
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in ArchitectureGBP 13980
Master of Science in International ManagementGBP 16000
Master of Science in Adult NursingGBP 18250

Spring (May) Intake in UK

The Spring Intake in UK is the last UK study intake. It’s the least popular intake in the UK as most students prefer spring break. Its duration is between May and August and applications remain open from October-November. This intake offers the least programs, accommodations, and scholarships.

Benefits of May Intake in UK 2025

Even though it’s the least famous intake in the UK, May Intake still has many advantages for you. Here are the benefits of enrolling in UK Spring Intake :

  • The Spring Intake has the least competition which will ultimately increase your chances of getting accepted at your dream university.
  • You’ll find a smaller class size which will allow better interaction with the faculty. 

May Intake Universities in UK 

Although it’s the least popular intake, Spring Intake 2025 still has some good universities to consider. Following are some decent universities where you can take admission for Spring Intake in the UK:

Available Courses for Spring Intake 2025

It’s quite difficult to find your desired program during Spring Intake 2025. However, there are the following programs that you can pursue during Spring Intake 2025:

Name of the programTuition Fees (GBP)
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Strength and ConditioningGBP 15500
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Criminology and SociologyGBP 15500
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Media, Marketing and Public RelationsGBP 15500
Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics (TESOL)GBP 15600
Master of Arts in EducationGBP 15600

Which Intake Should You Choose?

Now you know about all the UK study intakes. But it’s quite difficult to select the best intake as every intake has its pros and cons. To help you out there are various factors you can consider to choose the best UK study intake:

Course Availability

One of the factors to choose the best UK study intake is course availability. Some courses are available only during fall intake while others are available only in spring and winter intake. Popular programs like business, engineering, and medicine are available during fall intake while Spring and Winter Intake offers fewer courses.

Financial Aid Options

The Fall Intake is the intake most international students compete for and as a result, it offers the most scholarships and accommodations. So if you want to get financial support to pursue studies you must target the Fall Intake. Otherwise, you can enroll for Spring and Winter Intake.

Personal Readiness

The best intake will also depend on your personal choices. The universities in the UK have English language requirements and you might just need more time to prepare for IELTS or TOEFL. So a good option will be to wait for Spring or Winter Intake in UK. In contrast, if you are ready to enroll as soon as possible you can join September Intake.

Job Opportunities & Internships

The students who take September Intake are more likely to get internships and job offers from renowned companies. On the other hand, Spring and Winter Intake attracts fewer employers. In Spring and Winter Intake you can still get a job but your options will be limited.

Conclusion


Understanding the UK study intakes is essential before studying there. This will allow you to choose the right intake for yourself. There are three intakes in the UK: September, January and May. So you have three choices to choose from. Every intake has its own advantages and disadvantages. To choose the best intake you can use the above-mentioned factors. But still, if it’s difficult you can always go to an expert study abroad consultants. They will help you to select the best intake that aligns with your long-term goals and kick-start your academic journey in UK.

FAQ

There are a total of three study intakes in the UK: Fall, Winter, and Spring. 
Fall intake is the most popular and primary intake in the UK. It offers the most programs, scholarships, and accommodations to students than any other intake. 
To take admission into September 2024 intake in the UK you must apply between December and July. 
2 years is accepted for undergraduate programs, while a gap of 5 years is acceptable for postgraduate programs.
September intake is the best among all as almost all universities give admission in this intake which allows you to select from a wide range of courses. However, if you weren’t able to take admission in this intake January intake is the second best option for you. 
Yes, many universities in the UK accept direct applications from students however it’s always a good step to consult an expert study abroad consultant. 
Students can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week during their semester term time and full-time during scheduled breaks. 

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