April and May Intakes in the UK 2025 for Indian Students

Universities in the UK accept international students through three intake seasons, and they are Fall Intake (Sep/Oct), Winter Intake (Jan/Feb), and Summer or Spring Intake (Apr/May). In this article, we will discuss in detail about Spring Intake in UK, also sometimes referred to as the "summer intake" in the UK, the universities which admit international students in this intake season, the admission process, steps to apply, document requirements, and more.

If you wish to study in the UK, you not only need to be aware of the universities offering courses of your interest, but you should also be aware of the month and time of the year when admission takes place for overseas students.

Majorly, intakes in the UK universities usually take place twice a year, i.e., in the months of September and January. But there are a few institutions where the commencement date of the programmes is set somewhere in the months of April or May, which is separately termed as the Spring/Summer or even May intake in the UK.

Due to this reason, it is recommended that students do their homework well and reach out to the UK universities, if required, in order to ascertain the availability of their respective intakes, as the same may vary.

In this article, we will mainly talk about the spring intake in the UK for international students. We will discuss the courses available during this intake, the participating universities, the admission process, and the dos and don'ts while applying during the spring intake in the UK.

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Intakes in the UK

Before moving ahead with your decision to study abroad in the UK, you need to be aware of all the intakes that the country offers and what suits your requirements. Overall, there are three intakes in the UK, and international students can apply to any of these. The September/October intake is called the Fall intake in the UK, January/February is the Winter intake in UK and April/May is termed as the summer or spring intake in UK. September, being the main intake season, is the most popular one as most of the degree programmes commence during this time. Even most of the scholarships to study in the UK remain available during this intake.  

This is followed by the Winter intake when admission for most of the postgraduate programmes takes place. There are also a small number of institutions which may admit students in the months of July and August, but that usually happens for short-duration programmes or summer schools. The list of May intake universities in the UK does not feature top-ranked universities, but those which are named have good reputations as well.

What is the Spring Intake in the UK?

The spring intake is also called the summer or the May intake. It starts in April, May, or June and stretches till late August. The spring intake is the least popular intake in the UK among both the domestic and the international community of students. The reasons for this lower popularity are listed below.

• Very less UK universities participate in the spring intake.
• A majority of popular courses have already been taken over in the previous intakes. Hence, students who choose this intake are left with a limited number of choices, often limited to specific postgraduate programs, specialised courses, or top-up degrees.
• Fewer and fewer scholarships to study in the UK are available for this intake. 
• The period of commencement of this intake overlaps with the summer break, which results in fewer students at the college campus. This may lead you to experience a less vibrant college life in the initial period. 

However, the lesser popularity of this intake awards you with a greater possibility of getting selected by your dream university. This is the biggest advantage of choosing the spring intake - less competition, more success!

Learn more about the fall vs the spring intake. 

Spring Intake Universities in the UK

Although most of the overseas lot of students opt for the Winter or Fall intake in the UK, there are some students who apply for the April/May intake as well. Keep in mind that this intake may not be available at all institutions. It largely depends on the study course you wish to apply for and the university/college you’re targeting. If you’re wondering why you should choose the April/May intake, the answer is quite simple. As most of the students prefer the other major intakes, competition tends to be less in this one. This increases the probability of your selection. Most of the top-ranking institutes in the UK do not offer this intake, and those who do make fewer courses available for students. This is the main reason that many students do not apply during this intake session. Also, as less number of students get enrolled during this term, your chances of getting hired during placements are bright.

The table below displays the names of some of the May intake universities in the UK:

Admission Procedure for April/May Intakes in UK

Those planning to apply for the April/May intake in UK universities are advised to do so as soon as the application form for the same is released. Do not wait for the deadline to approach, as there might be students across the world waiting for this same intake and may apply earlier than you. Due to this, seats for all the top courses may get filled and you may miss out on the same. Generally, the application process for the April/May intakes takes place from October to January. So, keep visiting the official websites of the universities to keep yourself updated regarding all the latest changes.

Documents Required for Application

Ensure that all the relevant academic documents and other related forms/certificates are kept ready by you before you start filling up the admission form for any university. This will save you time and effort in the last moment. Some of the basic documents which should be kept ready before starting your admission application have been mentioned below:

• A valid passport
• Passport-sized pictures (current)
• Class 10^th and 12^th or graduation academic transcripts and certificates
• English Language Proficiency score mark sheets (IELTS/TOEFL, etc.)
• GMAT/GRE scores (if required)
• 2-3 Recommendation Letters
• A well-written Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Resume (if required)

Learn more about the documents required for admission, here: Documents required for admission in the UK

Steps to Apply for April/May 2025 Intake in the UK

There are various factors which should be considered before applying for a university abroad. Applying for higher education is not a one-day process. You need to invest time in researching the right institute and course that matches your requirements and future goals. You also need to take care of your budget and plan accordingly. Relocating to a foreign country for higher studies is a big decision and task and smart and efficient planning is what one needs to do. A hierarchy needs to be followed for the entire process and the same has been explained in detail below.

Step 1: Surf the internet and visit the websites of all the universities which you want to consider for your higher education. In case of any confusion reach out to the university authorities through e-mail IDs or contact numbers which every university provides. Also, check different ranking league tables such as QS and Times Higher Education in order to check where they stand globally. You should finalise your university list by August/September.

Step 2: By September/October, you should have appeared for any of the English language proficiency tests or standardized tests required by universities you’ve filtered.

Step 3: You should next start with the application procedure before December ends. Be very careful while filling out the online application form and make sure to read all the guidelines before doing so. Attach all the required documents and make sure they are all valid and authentic. After revising your application form submit the same and pay the fee.

Step 4: By February/March you will obtain your admission letter or offer letter if selected. Confirm your acceptance and prepare for your visa formalities.

Step 5: Once you’ve confirmed your acceptance of the offer letter, you will next have to apply for your student visa. Visit the UK government’s official website to know more about the proper procedure, requirements and timeline for the same.

Step 6: Book your flight tickets and check all the things you would need to carry to the UK before moving there for studies. You won’t be able to return back frequently to get your stuff so make a list of everything you would require to survive in a foreign land.

Still confused about whether you should study in the UK or not? Read Top 10 Reasons to Study in the UK in order to convince yourself for the same.