When to Apply for Study Abroad as a Potential Intake?
Studying abroad entails a great deal of planning that involves researching your preferred universities or enhancing your application and a long list of several more steps. One such essential step is to familiarise yourself with the intake programs of your chosen university in the respective country. Every year there are a large number of students applying to universities abroad so most institutions offer more than one intake every year. Another reason why universities have multiple intakes is to provide students with more flexibility in terms of deciding when they wish to take admission and begin their studies.
Study Abroad Intakes Types
Application intakes and schedules differ from school to school. However, they include the following
Fall Intake
| Factors | Fall Intake | Spring Intake |
| Universities | Almost all universities offer | There are few that do not |
| Acceptance Rate | Higher student application, lower acceptance rate | Lower student applications, higher acceptance rate |
| Scholarships | Higher chances of scholarship funding | Lower chances of scholarship funding |
| Preparation | Vast majority of foreign students graduate between May-July. Thus, less time to prepare | Offers more time to foreign students to prepare |
| Job Opportunities | More summer job and internship opportunities | Less on campus job opportunities |
The fall intake commences in late August or September and concludes around late December. Almost all universities offer fall intakes.
- It receives the highest number of applications because the academic year of many high-school or undergraduate students is completed in April, which makes the fall intake, preferred choice of many students.
- More students apply in the fall intake, thus, there is higher competition and the chances of getting in are minimal. The acceptance rate is comparatively lesser than the spring intake.
- Institutional scholarships are mostly on a first come first serve basis. More scholarship funds are available with the university for the students applying in the fall intake.
Spring Intake
The spring intake starts in January and ends by the beginning of May. There are a few universities that may not offer the Spring intake, so you might need to inquire with your preferred university.
- The competition in the spring intake is less as not many students prefer to opt for it. Less students apply in spring and therefore the acceptance rate tends to be higher than the fall intake.
- Mostly, students who go for the spring intake are the ones who have an internship or a job to pursue after their graduation and require more time to gain relevant experience and settle down nicely.
- Universities might have lesser funds available to administer scholarships in Spring. Also, as the students will be beginning with their studies in the middle of the academic year, less on-campus opportunities are available for the spring/winter students.
Summer Intake
The summer intake is a special case scenario, offered by a handful of universities to limited students for selected courses, mainly diplomas or other summer courses.
- Fewer students apply to universities offering admission during the Summer intake, which means that there are greater chances of getting an offer.
- Given the ongoing disruptions caused by COVID-19, students from across the world wishing to pursue higher education in the world have been affected and are also more likely to face even more competition in admission, which makes applying for the Summer intake 2023 considerably beneficial.
Comparison Between Intake Windows
Confused about which intake is ideal for you? The following table contains a brief comparison between the most popular intakes i.e., Fall and Spring intake:
Popular Countries and Study Abroad Intakes
- United Kingdom
The colleges and universities in the UK offer two study abroad intakes every year. The first session begins in January/ February and the second intake begins in September/ October. The major intake for the UK is the Fall intake which offers the highest degree of competition but also features a wide array of internship opportunities.
Key Dates
Autumn Intake: September to October
Spring Intake: January to February
Summer intake (June to August) (available for specific programs only.)
- 15 October 2023 – All the courses at Cambridge and Oxford and most medicine, and dentistry veterinary medicine courses at all other institutions.
- 30 June 2024 – It is for all other undergraduate courses for international students.
- Canada
Studying in Canada creates an amazing and solid foundation for you to not only gain a world-class education but will also open the doors to a plethora of job opportunities. There are certain admission intakes in Canada distributed in short periods of the academic year and open for a period anywhere between two to four months.
Key Dates
Fall intake: starts in September and it is the primary intake.
Winter Intake: starts in January and it is the Secondary Intake. Many universities offer a large number of courses in January/Winter Intake in Canada.
Summer Intake: start in May, and the courses offered there are few.