Fall Intake in UK 2024

September Admission Deadlines for UK

Universities
Overseas students wishing to apply for higher education in the UK should note that there are
generally three available intakes - Fall or September intake, Winter or January intake, and
Summer or May intake. The article explains the step-by-step procedure that prospective
applicants should follow before applying for a university/college in the UK.

UK September Intake Step-by-Step Application Timeline

2024
The majority of foreign nationals like to get themselves enrolled for the September intake
as during that time almost all the institutions in the country are open for admission and offer a
wide variety of academic programmes which one can choose from.

Check: Study in UK: What next after applying to UK universities

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Steps to Follow When Applying for UK Universities for the September Intake

Find the hierarchical guidelines to prepare yourself for this intake below.

• Prepare for required standardized tests like GMAT, GRE, UKCAT, TOEFL or IELTS -
depending on the course and university.
o Three months before the test date, register for the GMAT exam/ register for the
GRE exam.
o Register for TOEFL/ IELTS at least a month before the test date.
o Take the required tests around April or May for the September intake.
Plan for buffer time in case you need to retake the test. Check test-taking and re-
exam processes and guidelines.
o While you are preparing for tests, make sure that you start your preliminary work
on your resume, SOP, letters of recommendation, etc.
o If you happen to miss the September intake, you might as well keep a backup plan
of the January intake universities in the UK.
• Start early and by August, shortlist 8-12 universities that you will apply to. Visit
university websites and note application requirements, deadlines etc. You should also be
prepared with complete information on your finances/ scholarships/ loans.

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 • Start working on the UCAS admission form (for UG courses) and individual college
applications (for PG courses).
• Do some initial research on various accommodation options.
• Shortlist the colleges and prepare for your application. Think hard about what makes you
unique as an applicant and sketch out your strengths and self-assessment.
• Contact your professors and direct managers for the required 2-3 reference letters. At least
a month before your application deadline. Check the deadline timetable!
• Begin drafting your SOP and essays. Give a month’s time to structure these documents
properly.
• Apply before the deadline!
• Do not delay replying to college e-mails.
• Appear for personal/video interviews. These are scheduled for around January to March
2024.
• Once you get acceptance letters, make your decision as soon as possible.
• Depending on the deadline, notify the universities of your decision.
• You would need to pay a non-refundable deposit to confirm your admission.
• Search for and begin applying for external scholarships (if applicable).
• Apply for a student loan, after you get your acceptance letter.
• Gather paperwork for your student visa.
• Apply for your student visa in time. Keep in mind the time taken for visa processing!
• Book airline tickets.
• Arrange for an International Debit/Credit card.
• Collect all the documents and their photocopies, to take along.
• Check out the UK Student Visa checklist.

Check: PhD Scholarships in the UK

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 UK September
Intake 2024
Timeline

The table given below will provide you with a brief overview of the UK September intake 2023.
Students must note that these dates provide you with a broad picture. For exact dates, you must
check university websites.

Month/ Year Process

January – February 2024 Deadline for application and document
uploading closes
January/ February – March 2024 Admission process and shortlisting
March – July 2024 Publication of results
July – August 2024 Deadline for accepting the offer
August – September 2024 Orientation week and beginning of classes

Students, who wish to pursue undergraduate courses from the UK, need to apply through UCAS.
The UCAS deadlines for the September 2024 intake vary with each university and course of
selection.

For admission-related queries, sign up for free counselling at Shiksha Abroad Counselling and
request a call back from our team of expert counsellors.

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UK September Intake Timeline FAQs
Q. When should I start my preparations for the UK September intake?

A. The earlier you start, the better it is. Make sure that your test scores, documents, finances, and
other related requirements are ready well before the admission applications commence. You
must start at least 15 months before the desired intake. You should also be prepared with
complete information on your finances/ scholarships/ loans.

Q. What if I face rejection in the university of my choice?

A. Always have a backup plan. Before you begin your application to your desired university, you
must have a backup of a few more universities. Applying to multiple universities provides you
with a cushion. Due to increased competition and high application rates, obtaining admission
into your targetted institution might not always be possible. Keeping a second or a third option is
always recommended as it will save your time as well as effort in case your application gets
rejected at the first university you're aiming for.

Q. What are the application deadlines for a Bachelor's and a Master's course in the UK?

A. For Bachelor's courses, the first deadline is January 15th with the last date of the application
being June 30th usually. The deadline for medicine and dentistry courses is October 15th. For the
postgraduate or master's courses, different deadlines may exist. Applicants are therefore advised
to reach out to consultants in the UK to inquire about the last date of application for their
preferred course.

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Q. What are the important points that I need to take care of before applying to the UK
universities?

A. Before you apply to the UK universities make sure that your test scores are ready, your
documents are arranged and filed, and your finances are ready. You should also do some
research on accommodation. If your university has an option for accommodation, you must
contact their office at the earliest. Think hard about what makes you unique as an applicant and
sketch out your strengths and self-assessment.

Q. What if I miss the UK September intake 2024 deadline?

A. If you miss out on the UK September intake 2024 deadline, then you must look for those
universities that have their admission process going on. Otherwise, you should start preparing for
the next intake, i.e. 2025 as soon as possible. You may also look at other countries such as
Canada, Finland, etc.

Q. How much will I have to spend on tuition fees in the UK?

A. How much fee an international student will have to pay depends upon his course level and
course type. It may also depend upon the city where you have taken admission. So a programme
centred around the social science and humanities stream will be less costly than the science
background courses. Overseas students may have to pay anything between £11,400 - £38,000.
Annually, the average expense will come to around £22,200. Similarly, for the postgraduate
courses, one may have to shell out anything between £9,000 - £30,000. Here, the average annual
expense will come to around £17,109.

Q. What is an A-level qualification? Can international students opt for it?

A. An A-Level or Advanced-level qualification is offered by UK higher educational institutes

and the duration of the same is two years. Through this, a student's eligibility for a UG
programme in the UK is evaluated. These are subject-based qualifications and a student can
choose 3 or more of the same. There is no cap on the number of attempts available for the same.
Eligibility criteria for this course include - 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4/A* to C at least and grade
six at least in the particular subject/subjects one intends to opt for in their A-Levels.

Q. Do UK universities offer distance education for international students?

A. Yes, a large number of institutions in the United Kingdom offer distance education for
international students who cannot visit the university for the same. One can attend virtual classes
from their home. This will save their time and effort to apply for a visa and relocate to another
country. Students will be able to obtain all the study material online which the university will
provide. Many institutions also offer postal services for the same.

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Q. Can I opt for a part-time job along with my studies in the UK
A. Yes, overseas students studying in the United Kingdom are permitted to opt for part-time
employment, internship or work placement. For the majority of the courses, students can work
for a maximum of 20 hours every week during the term period. They can work on as well as off-
campus.

Q. What kind of jobs are available for overseas students who wish to work along with
studying in the UK?

A. Students can work both on-campus and off-campus. Some of the on-campus jobs include
library assistant, bookshop assistant, university health centre trainer, tutor, etc. Some of the off-
campus jobs include data entry, delivery services, reception jobs, etc. Many universities and
colleges recommend international students work for a maximum of 15 hours per week so that
they don't get tired or overworked.

Q. When should I register for the GRE, GMAT, IELTS and TOEFL exams for studying
abroad?

A. You should choose the standardised exam as per your chosen university or college. It is
recommended that you register for aptitude tests like the GMAT and GRE three months before
your test date and for English tests like the IELTS, TOEFL and PTE exams – a month ago. This
is to ensure that you do not miss out on a test slot for the time when you wish to take the exam.