UK Intakes Explained — January, May & September (Which Is Best?)

Updated January 2025 · GoWest Education

UK Intakes

Overview of UK Intakes

The UK offers three major intakes for international students. Each comes with different advantages depending on your academic timeline and goals.

  • September Intake (Fall) – Primary & biggest intake
  • January Intake (Winter) – Second biggest
  • May Intake (Spring) – Limited availability

1. September (Fall) Intake

This is the main intake with the largest number of courses and scholarships.

Advantages

  • Maximum university options
  • More scholarships
  • Best for high-demand courses (Data, Business, Engineering)
  • More time for job search after graduation

Best For:

Students aiming for competitive programs or who want the most choices.

2. January (Winter) Intake

A very good alternative for students who missed September.

Advantages

  • Less competition
  • More time to prepare documents
  • Popular for postgraduate programs

Available Courses

  • MBA
  • Computer Science
  • Data Science
  • Business Analytics

3. May (Spring) Intake

The smallest intake, but useful for quick admissions.

Good For:

  • Business & management courses
  • Students who missed both Jan & Sept

Which Intake Should You Choose?

Choose September if:

  • You want maximum options
  • You want scholarships
  • You want time for job search

Choose January if:

  • You need more preparation time
  • You want less competitive admissions

Choose May if:

  • You want quick admission
  • Your university offers a May intake

General Deadlines

  • September: Apply between October – April
  • January: Apply between May – September
  • May: Apply between October – January

Need help choosing the best UK intake?

Talk to our experts