UK Universities Application Deadlines 2024

UK universities have been traditionally among the top choices among Indian students as they are world-class universities, and there are common linkages in the education system of the UK and India. Every year universities in the UK receive a big pool of applications from Indian students for various courses. According to the British Council data, 4,86,000 Indian students were studying in UK universities in 2022, a 29% increase from 2021.

However, while universities in the UK are all set to welcome new students from across the globe, applying to UK universities can be complex and overwhelming since you have to keep track of numerous deadlines for applications, scholarships, entrance tests, etc. 

No need to fret anymore as we understand your concerns and would like to guide you with application deadlines for UK universities in this blog, also aiming for a comprehensive trek around the application process.

Admission intakes in UK universities

Universities in the UK have yearly seasonal intakes with opportunities for international students to enroll according to the availability of their chosen course. Three annual intakes are there in the UK, namely September or fall, January or winter, and May or spring, as you can see below:
 

1. September intake in UK universities: The September intake is the primary intake with most university participation and courses open. Applicants have more scholarships and grants open in this session compared to the other two. September intake applications are open from December to July.
 

2. January intake in UK universities: January intake is the secondary intake for admission to UK universities. Lesser number of universities participate in this intake compared to the September intake. Applications are open from September to November.
 

3. May intake in UK universities: May intake is not quite popular as not many universities participate in this session. Applications are open from October to November for the May intake.

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Do you know? Indians hold the largest share of UK study, work, and visitor visas

Application deadlines for September intake 2024

Learning UK university deadlines for September intake must be your first priority as the September intake has the most applications every year. Almost all universities in the UK accept applications in the September session. The following table gives the September intake admission deadlines of some famous UK universities for Indian students in 2024:

Application deadlines for January intake 2024

Entering the UK in the winter season is considerable if your course and university have an opening for this intake. The table below shows some popular UK universities with admission sessions in the January intake:

Application deadlines for May intake 2024

Spring admission session in the UK is known to be less popular since only a few courses are available in this intake. If your course is available for the May intake, more likely, you will get admission as the competition will be limited compared to the other two popular intakes. The following tables present some prominent UK universities participating in the May intake:

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Application timeline for UK universities

The timeline is for September 2024 intake, and students can follow it to avoid any delay or missing deadlines for admission to a university in the UK.

1. July to September: It is the time of the year when you should start shortlisting the universities where you wish to study. The above-mentioned factors will help you in choosing the right university. Select at least 6-8 universities so that you will always have a backup in case you don’t make it to your first preference.
 

2. October to December: The time to take IELTS/GRE/GMAT/TOEFL or, for that matter, any other test that the university puts forth for admission. Try to take the test as early as possible since it will give you the window to retake the test in case you don’t score enough to get a decent score. However, one should always attempt to get a decent score since these tests have high fees.
 

3. January to February: You should get the LOR from your professor or employer at the earliest. Also, start writing the SOP, and dedicate a good deal of time and effort to it since it plays a pivotal role in securing admission. Also, try to get at least two LORs. Prepare all the documents in this timeframe itself to avoid any last-minute hassle.
 

4. February to June: Fill out the application forms for all the universities that you have shortlisted. The universities have varying deadlines, so bear that in mind. Also, the courses have varying deadlines. So, one should check with the official website and on the course page for details regarding the last date for application. This is the time around which the students have to apply for the scholarships too. Check the scholarship dates before applying to a university.
 

5. April to July: Accept the admission and apply for abroad education loans. Since loan approval also takes time, apply as soon as you get the letter of acceptance. Once the loan is sanctioned, plan your travel to the UK.

To conclude, your responsibility lies in securing a UK university admission by navigating through the admission process after noting down the deadlines applicable to you, amidst the regular and irregular deadlines spanning throughout the year. A golden takeaway for you is to visit the official website of your aspiring universities for timely updations. More information and personalized guidance are on the way to you, accessible when you book a 30-minute consultation call with our expert counselor, who knows the ins and outs of UK admissions.

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