Upcoming UK Universities Intakes 2025: September, January and May

Darshan Shah

28 Oct 2024

If you’re confused about “how many intakes in the UK for international students”, you have come to the right page. Intakes are cycles when universities in the UK accept students to study their programs. The good news about studying in the United Kingdom is that there are multiple intakes available. Based on how ready you are, when your course is taking applications, and what the deadlines are, you can apply in September, January, or May.

How many intakes are there in the UK for international students?

If you are asking how many intakes are there in the UK for international students, here’s 3 major ones:

All of these intakes have different advantages. Fall intake in September is the most popular one and with the most course availability. But that is the intake which has the most competition too. If you miss the deadlines of the Fall intake, you can have a chance of applying in the Winter intake instead of waiting for a whole year. And the Spring intake has only selected courses but also has lowest competition.

September Intake 2025 in UK

September intake in the UK is the biggest and most popular time period where most of the universities are accepting applications for a range of different programs. You can choose different programs and scholarships to apply to, and this is the best suitable for Indian students who have graduated this year.

While some high-end universities might have earlier deadlines, most accept applications up to 30th June. Some popular universities to apply to during the September intake:

1. Birmingham City University 
2. Buckinghamshire New University 
3. Coventry University 
4. Lancaster University 
5. London Metropolitan University 
6. Northumbria University 
7. Ravensbourne University London 
8. Regent's University London

Here’s a timeline you could follow if you’re planning to begin studying by September 2025:

January Intake 2025 in UK

The Jan intake in the UK, popularly known as the Winter intake is a good option for students who miss the September 2024 intake or still need time to prepare for their application. You won’t have to wait another year to apply. Compared to the September intake though, there will be slightly less amount of courses available. But this also means that the competition will be a bit lower too.

Some specialized courses are only available in the January intake. These are some of the January intake universities in the UK that have the Winter intake option available for international students:

1. Anglia Ruskin University
2. University of Bolton
3. Coventry University
4. De Montfort University
5. London Metropolitan University
6. Northumbria London
7. University of Roehampton

Additionally, here is a timeline you can follow for the January 2025 intake in the UK.

May Intake 2025 in UK

The May intake in the UK is the least commonly chosen among international students. Most choose either the Fall or Winter intake. However, some courses might only have this intake option available, and the competition is extremely less during this period too.

Here are some May intake universities in the UK:

1. Coventry University
2. Ulster University
3. Sunderland University
4. Northumbria University
5. Kingston University
6. Northampton University 
7. Richmond American University London

Here is a reference timeline for you to follow for this the May intake in the UK:

How to choose the right intake based on your needs?

Ideally, you must choose based on which intake will give you the most time to prepare without stressing out, and whether or not your program is available in that particular intake period. Take into account each and every process that will consume time such as visa process, taking standardized tests, etc.

Just understand if you’ll be able to meet the deadlines of a particular intake in UK, comfortably or not. Because it is more important that you don’t miss out on the quality of experience that you have in the journey of studying abroad, and the amount of time you take to do so doesn’t really matter.

So take it slow but steady, and our consultants too can give you accurate guidance and help fasten up the process for you without it being a hassle for you.

The process time for Jan intake in the UK has already been months into the past, and therefore it is not recommended that you go for it. Similarly, for the May intake in the UK too, you won’t be able to comfortably meet the deadlines if you are to apply all by yourself. Book a free consultation with us today if you’re aiming to apply for January intake and still want to meet all the deadlines easily. The September intake in the UK is still up for grabs and it will be the most ideal time to begin the process. Applying early can increase your chances of being accepted, so make sure to meet the deadlines.