January Intake in UK 2026: Universities, Deadlines, Application

January Intake Universities in UK- January intake in UK is the secondary intake or an extension of the September intake. In this article, we will cover all the aspects of the Jan intake universities in UK 2026, deadlines, the application process, and much more.

Missed the September intake? January Intake in UK 2026 is your second chance to study at top UK universities. With over 140,000 Indian students granted UK student visas in 2023 - UK remains a popular destination for quality education and global exposure. This intake offers flexible options across diverse fields like business, engineering, healthcare and arts. Get the list of top universities, application deadlines and everything you need to kickstart your international education journey in this article below.

The January intake in UK is suitable for students who have missed out on the September intake. This intake is also known as the “winter intake” and lists very less courses in comparison to the Sep intake in UK. This intake gives more time to students to prepare the application documents and is also less competitive than the Sep intake. However, students can find smaller class sizes during this intake and even less students on campus during the start of January intake in UK.

What is January Intake in UK?

January intake in UK is the secondary intake in UK after the September intake - which is the primary intake in UK. This intake has lesser courses and colleges/universities available compared to the September intake. January intake in UK gives a second chance to students who have missed the September intake or needed some extra time to complete their applications during the time of September intake.

Here are some important features of UK's January intake-

1. It is the secondary intake or also called an extension of the September intake in UK
2. January intake in UK stretches from January to April
3. Availability of courses and scholarships is less during January intake in UK.
4. The acceptance rate of UK universities during Jan intake is generally higher than the Sep intake due to lesser number of applicants.

January Intake Universities in UK 2026

Table below shows the universities in the UK that have the January intake along with their fees and QS rankings. For detailed information on fees, students are advised to visit the official websites.

UK January Intake 2026 Deadline

UK January intake deadline usually falls in the months of August to September of the previous year. The points given below will help you understand the timeline for the January intake universities in UK. Based on the deadline of your course, you start your preparation. It is advised that students start preparing at least 10-12 months before the commencement of their course. For this section, let us consider January 2026 as the commencement month for the course.

1) March 2025 – April 2025

• Research the universities and courses offering January intake UK 2026. Go through course curriculum, placements, fees, rankings, cost of living in the UK, etc.

• Note the financial requirements and start searching for scholarships and study abroad loans.

2) May 2025 – June 2025

• Take standardised tests such as SAT or ACT for UG courses and GMAT or GRE for PG courses.

• Take English proficiency tests such as the IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.

• Prepare your application documents that typically require academic transcripts, a statement of purpose, a student resume, letters of recommendation, admission essays, etc.

Important- Exams such as the GMAT or GRE might take some time to prepare. Hence, students are advised to plan their exam preparation accordingly.

3) July 2025 – August 2025

• Visit the official websites of your shortlisted universities and colleges and apply with the help of their application portal.

• Students, who plan to apply for UG courses, need to apply through the UCAS UK Make sure to check the UCAS deadlines as well.

• Apply for scholarships to study in UK as well. Certain scholarships do not need any separate application; whereas, others might need separate applications. Make sure to check eligibility requirements and application procedure for these scholarships.

4) September 2025 – October 2025

• Wait for the decision on your application. Keep an eye on emails from universities.

• Choose an offer that meets your requirements and aspirations.

• Once you have accepted an offer, you must start your UK student visa application as soon as possible.

5) November 2025 – December 2025

• Arrange your accommodation for your stay in the UK.

• Make the final arrangements.

6) January 2026

• Start taking your classes.

How to Apply for Jan Intake in UK?

Application process to apply to the January intake universities in UK is similar to that of other intakes. 

• Start by looking into colleges and programes that start classes in January. Find universities and colleges that offer the course that you are interested in. Research entry requirements, application deadlines and any other prerequisites.

• Remember to take note of January intake application deadlines. Check deadlines for each university you are applying to as deadlines can differ based on institutions and courses.

• Gather all documents including your marksheets, personal statement, letters of recommendation, results of any English language tests you have taken (such as TOEFL or IELTS) and any additional materials that university specifies.

• Fill out university's online application form completely. Upload your supporting documents.

• After submitting your application - you will receive confirmation email. Keep track of your application status and any updates provided by university.

• Your application will be examined by university - so keep eye on your email for any updates or requests from your university as this process could take few weeks.

• If you receive admissions offer- go thorough the terms and conditions. If you want to accept offer - be sure to secure your spot by following university's guidelines.

Once you have accepted your offer - you must start your UK student visa steps.

It is important for students to start early for applying to Jan intake in UK to avoid missing the deadlines. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors.