Intakes and admission process to universities in the UK

The UK is second to the US as the favored destination for international students. It has some of the best-ranked universities in the world, some of which appear in the world university rankings. The degrees offered by the UK higher education institutes are recognized worldwide. Students from UK universities get an opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge at competent levels. The academic year in the UK is between September to July. The 2 intakes in the UK are: Intake 1: Term 1 – It commences in September/October and is the major intake Intake 2: Term 2 – It commences in January/February Here are the details of the two main September and January intakes for UK universities.

January intake

Intake in January is secondary. Not as many courses are offered in January intake as opposed to September intake, but this intake offers the students who missed admission in the main intake an opportunity to try again. It gives students more time to work on their application. The deadlines for application will fall between June and September, and will change from course to course and between universities.

September intake

The largest intake in UK is the September intake. Many Universities in the UK offer all of their courses in the September intake. The deadlines for applying for the September intake will fall between February and May of the academic year. However, it will always vary between universities or will be based on the course. Students should check the particulars from the respective university. Here is a detailed step-by-step plan to prepare for the September intake: Based on the intake you are targeting it is better to start the admission process a year before the actual intake. Step 1 –April to September – Shortlist Universities Start early, and shortlist 8-12 universities to which you can apply by August. Visit websites of universities and note application requirements, deadlines etc. Be familiar with bank loan options and scholarships to fund your studies by September. Start by downloading brochures of university admissions from the websites. Many brochures are out almost a year ahead. Do some preliminary research on accommodation options.

Step 2 – Take the qualifying exams: June to December

Prepare for standardized tests required, such as GMAT, GRE, SAT, TOEFL or IELTS – depending on the course and university. Enroll for GMAT / GRE  at least three months  before the test date. Register for the TOEFL / IELTS file no less than a month prior to the date of the exam. Take the exams you need during September and schedule your buffer period if you need to take the test again.

Step 3- Prepare your applications- August to October

Shortlist the universities and get ready to apply. Think hard about what makes you unique as a candidate, and put it in your application. Contact your professors and direct managers for the reference letters at least a month before the due date for your application. Begin drafting your essays and your SOPs. You need a month to properly structure these documents. Ensure you apply before the due date.

Step 4 - November to April

Appear for personal and video interviews. Those are scheduled  between January to March. Once you have received letters of acceptance, make a decision as soon as possible. Inform universities of your decision according to the deadline. To affirm your registration, you'll need to pay a non-refundable fee.

Step 5 - Visa and planning your finances May  to July

Look for and start applying for external scholarships (if applicable). Apply for the student loan, after receiving your letter of approval. Prepare your UK Student Visa paperwork. Apply in time for UK student visa. Bear in mind the time taken to process visas! Step 6 - Get ready to fly: July to August Book your tickets. Get an International Debit/Credit card. Get documents and their photocopies ready.