The UK education system is amongst the oldest in the world. Students who study in UK can get to learn at historical universities which have been set up by the royal family of Great Britain or by a Papal decree from the Catholic Church. Universities in UK comprise of a number of different faculties and colleges, each of which confer degrees in various subjects to students.
The UK seems to be meant for the international student. Each year, the number of international applications are on the rise, with UK following second in place after the USA when it comes to higher education.
It is nothing but the high level of education that UK specializes in that so many students want to study in UK. According to the QS world university ranking, the UK is also home to four of the top ten universities across the globe including global names like Cambridge, Oxford, and Imperial College London.
Also, the abundance of excellent scholarship and fellowship opportunities for students makes it another catch.
Candidates planning to study in UK need to begin researching and analyzing various universities and prospective programs well in time. They also need to understand and gain knowledge about the admission timelines of various universities, including application opening dates, the different intakes, class commencement dates, and the right time to start reasearch for prospective universities.
Here, we have put together a few of the basic dates that students need to keep in mind while doing their bit of research.
UK Admission Application start dates
For most of the undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered by the top universities in the UK, applications for admission are open in the months of September and October in the year prior to the year of course commencement. This means that students need to get down to work at least one year before their preferred intake. For certain high demand programs, this date may be earlier to accommodate more time for the admissions committee to evaluate the large number of applications received.
UK Admission Application closing dates
Depending on the college/ university and program of study, the application closing date may differ for undergraduate and postgraduate applications. While this may, generally, range from October to January, some universities may be flexible on the same. For highly competitive programs, it would be best to submit the application as early as possible; admission committees review these applications before, and so there is a better chance that you might be the lucky one.
Please stay noted that for all undergraduate programs, there is usually a single application submission date regardless of the domain of study. If the requisite number of admissions are not filled then applications sent after the deadline are also considered. So, don’t hesitate, just go ahead and fill in the application.
UK Admission Timeline for Fall intake
July – August
Candidates should research intensively for the university offering the best course for them and select 6-10 universities which they wish to apply to.
August – September
Candidates must register online and take the required standardized tests which includes both academic proficiency and English language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.
September
Candidates need to spend time working on their statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, resume and collecting other supporting documents for their college application along with the requisite standardized tests.
September – October
Most universities in the UK start their application process in the months of September and October. Candidates should begin filling up the application as soon as possible in order to ensure completion before the deadline; remember, the application process to study in the UK tends to be a long one.
October – January (following year)
The application deadline generally varies depending upon the college/ university and program of application. There are many universities in the UK which accept applications in two phases, the latter phase being in January. For more competitive programs or scholarships to study in UK, students are recommended to submit an early application.
Jan – Feb
It’s in these months that candidates generally receive admission offers from their proposed institutions. Admission decisions may sometimes be delayed to March if the number of applicants for a specific program is more.
April
By April, the candidates should confirm their admission and get themselves enrolled in the prospective university/ college.
At this time, candidates must provide proof of finances and even apply for student loan.
May – June
The visa processing time for a student visa for study in UK is not much, but it would be best for candidates to apply for a visa well before the expected departure date in order to prevent any last-minute issues.
September
Candidates needs to gear up and prepare for departure. It’s time to take off.
September – October
Most programs in the UK universities, at both, the undergraduate and postgraduate level, commence in the months of September and October.
UK Admission Cycle: Course commencement date
Like in most other countries, the academic session for most universities in the UK also starts in either September or October. Although universities in UK also offer other intakes, the Fall intake is more popular than others. At many of the top universities, it is the only intake offered.
September or the Fall intake is preferred by a most international students as it provides them enough amount of time to apply for a visa and manage funds before course commencement. Also, by this time, students in India will have got their school reports, too.
It is recommended that the admission procedure should be initiated at least a year earlier. For example, if the candidate’s session starts in September, then the candidate should begin preparing his or her application in September of the previous year. It is also advisable that students should take the standardized tests prior to this as the scores are generally valid for a duration of two to five years (depending).
UK Admission Cycle: Application deadlines for UG programs
The application deadline for various undergraduate programs at the top universities in the UK vary across institutions.
