The January university intake in the UK is a key admission period of the academic year, even though September is the most popular. During each intake period, a new wave of undergraduates, postgraduates and foundation students will make their way to their chosen universities across the UK to start their courses.
For the 2025 January intake in the UK, application deadlines typically fall between October and December 2024.
The January intake is a great time to start your course, offering a broad range of different programmes as well as being a less competitive period, especially compared to September.
It’s always best to start your application earlier - ideally, today!
While you can sometimes secure a place when applying late or through UCAS's Clearing process, this is not guaranteed and will probably cause you a lot of stress. Plus, many scholarships and bursaries are available during the January intake, making it a great time to apply.
Don’t be tricked by the word “intake”! If you want to begin your studies in January then you’ll actually need to apply between October and December 2024.
It’s worth checking with any of the universities you’re interested in for their actual deadline dates, as this can vary more for the January intake.
Also, just because the deadline falls between October and December doesn’t mean you should start preparing your application then - ideally, you should start much earlier! This will mean much less stress in the long run and it should make the whole application process go a lot smoother.
Starting your studies in January can be a fantastic choice! Here’s why
More flexibility with course options While September is the main intake, January still offers a wide range of programs, so you won’t miss out by starting a bit later.
Smaller classes With fewer students joining in January, you’ll often get smaller class sizes, meaning more time with your tutors and easier access to university resources.
Hands-on opportunities January students often get unique internship or work placement options tailored to the mid-year start.
Better accommodation choices With fewer students arriving in January, you’ll have a better chance of landing your choice of housing for your stay.
Click here to find out more about any available scholarships and bursaries.
One of the downsides of applying for the January intake is that you’ll have fewer courses to choose from, because not all programs will offer a January start.
You’ll be joining halfway through the academic year can sometimes feel a bit odd as you will be slightly out of sync with some of the university’s events.
You might also need a bit more time to settle in, as most of the students who started in September will have made friendships earlier in the year. You’ll still have plenty of potential new friends starting with you, though!
The same as the January intake, we recommend preparing for the January intake as early as possible! Your best bet is to start at least one year in advance, but don’t panic if you have less than a year left though!
Starting early simply means you’ll have more time to research the universities and courses that you’re interested in, as well as prepare all of the documents needed. You can also use this time to research and apply for any scholarships or financial aid you’re eligible for.
You also should make sure that you’ve applied for your student visa. The visa acceptance rate has dropped recently due to people filling out applications incorrectly, which is why we recommend working with our specialists who will make sure that everything is done perfectly.
If you take anything away from reading this, it should be that you should give yourself plenty of time to prepare for your application! It’s often a lot harder than potential students expect it to be, especially when you include the time it takes to research which university you’d like to go to.
If you've missed the January intake deadline, don’t worry - there are still options to explore! For example:
Apply through Clearing: Many UK universities open spaces through the UCAS Clearing process for students who don’t yet have an offer.
Consider another intake: A number of UK universities offer courses starting in September, and some even in May. Use our course search tool to see what’s available.
Explore other universities: Some institutions may still have openings, though this option can be less predictable.
Prepare for the next intake: If none of the above options work, use the extra time to strengthen your application for the next intake.
Book a call with us and get some help: Our British Council-trained counsellors are all experts on UK universities, and can help you explore your options. Book a free call today and get ahead with AHZ!
So, if you’ve missed the deadline, don’t stress. You’re not the first, and you certainly won’t be the last! There are still plenty of options available to you.
If you’re considering applying for the January intake to study in the UK, our team of advisors will be more than happy to help you with this process, making sure that all of the documents are perfectly filled out and even helping you find accommodation during your studies.
We have a fantastic reputation and make sure to support our clients from start to finish. Our service is also completely free, so why wouldn’t you make your life a little easier?
Our services include:
Free guidance and application support: Our service is completely free, giving you access to over 130 universities and helping you throughout the entire process.
Student visa application assistance: Our experts will help you nail the visa application process so you don’t have to worry about it.
Accommodation service: If you need help finding a place to stay during your studies, our team of experts will be more than happy to help.
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