Canada Intakes 2024: Fall, Winter, Spring (Summer) Intakes

Canada is a popular study-abroad destination, with students from all over the world coming to experience the world-class education Canadian universities provide.

The country is less expensive than other prominent study-abroad locations and assists students in obtaining globally recognised educational credentials.

For this reason, students aspire to study in Canada and apply for the three major intakes: Fall, Winter, and Summer. Foreign institutions conduct admissions in a particular cycle, popularly known as intakes.

These Canada intakes are distributed across the academic year and usually range between two and four months.

Here is an overview of all three intakes in Canada.

Fall Intake	Winter Intake	Summer Intake
Primary intake	Secondary intake	Available for limited universities only
Most of the programs are available	At least scholarships and financial aid	Selected programs only
More number of scholarships	Limited scholarships	Very few scholarships
Application deadline: December – March	Application deadline: September – November	Application deadline:  October – February

Intakes in canada correspond to different academic sessions in the country. So it’s hard to determine which intake is best for Canada. However, generally, September or fall intake is largely preferred.

International students aiming to take up undergraduate or postgraduate courses can go through the following sections to learn about various intakes in Canada.

September/Fall Intake in Canada 2023-2024

The fall intake is usually the most popular among international candidates applying to Canadian institutions. This intake has almost all universities offering the largest number of seats available compared to the other two Intakes.

Even the top universities in Canada open slots for their most popular courses in this intake. Most of the students prefer fall intake among Canada intakes to start their studies, as fall intake gives them enough time to be academically focused on their studies and the environment.

Apart from that, the weather during the fall intake is more pleasant than other intakes. Here are the top universities offering seats during fall intake in Canada:

University	Annual tuition fee in Dollars($)
University of Waterloo	47,560
University of Ottawa	26,354
Ryerson University	38,457
McGill University	56,544
University of Alberta	30,090
University of Calgary	40,103
Niagara College	17,215

Pros

• Students get enough time and scope to familiarise themselves with the new environment. 
• One can enjoy excellent scholarship opportunities.

Cons

• This applicant pool can get relatively more competitive.
• Many students start their studies in the fall, leaving you with limited course options.

The application deadline for fall intake 2023-2024 is from December to March.

January/Winter Intake in Canada 2024

The winter intake in Canada is the second most preferred semester in Canadian universities. The institutes offer fewer programs, career opportunities, scholarships, and internship offers.

This intake is for students who have missed their admissions in the fall intake

These students will have another chance to continue their studies without waiting one whole year. The students will have to adapt to the institute’s environment quickly compared to the students from the fall intake.

Let’s explore the top universities offering seats during winter intake in Canada.

University	Annual Tuition fee in Dollars($)
University of Ottawa	26,354
Mount Saint Vincent University	40,980
Centennial College	28,742
McGill University	56,544
Douglas College	18,727
Carleton University	42,873
Queen’s University	27,513
Lambton College	25,340

Pros

• Class strength will be less, allowing you to interact with your faculty better.
• Competition based on admission to the top universities will be high, which drives the applicants with more energy.

Cons

• One of the major disadvantages of applying for the January intake in Canada is that it offers students fewer campus opportunities.
• As fewer students apply during this Intake, you may find fewer international students in the course you apply to.

The application deadline for winter intake 2024 is from September to November.

May/Summer Intake in Canada 2024

The summer intake is the last intake session of the academic year in Canadian universities. Only a very few universities offer this intake for a few programs. Admissions are open during the summer semester for diploma certifications and summer vocational programs.

It is an excellent option for students who want to get a head start on their studies or who want to take the benefit of a shorter summer semester to complete courses more quickly.

Additionally, some programs may only be available during the summer semester. Let’s look at the top universities offering summer intake in Canada:

University	Annual tuition fee
Centennial College	$28,742
Vancouver Community College	$19,900
Ryerson University	$38,457
Northern College	$15,451
University of Waterloo	$47,560

Pros

• There are many courses only be available during the summer intake, so starting your studies in the summer can open up unique learning opportunities.
• The class size will be small, and you get personalized attention from professors.

Cons

• Fewer extracurricular activities, clubs, or events are happening than the regular academic year.
• Finding employment or internship opportunities during the summer months is more difficult.

The application deadline for summer intake 2024 is from January- February.

Courses Available for Different Canada Intakes

All major study programs in Canada intakes are usually open through the Fall intake. Admission for courses such as MBA, MS, and MA is conducted mainly in this cycle.

The winter intake provides an additional window for universities to either fill up the remaining seats or to carry out admission for specialised courses.

The summer intake is meant for short-term courses such as diplomas, certificate programs, summer courses, etc. Here is a list of courses that one can apply for during different Canada intakes:

Courses Offered	Intake
All kinds of programs (undergraduate and postgraduate)	Fall
Selected study programs	Winter
Short-term courses	Summer

 Candidates have to select the admission intake as per the courses they wish to enrol on.

When to Apply for Canada Intakes 2024: A Timeline

Actions	Fall	Winter	Summer
Research Course/University	August – October of the previous year	January – April of the previous year	By May of the previous year
Shortlist Universities	Within December of the previous year	June – July of the previous year	July- August of the previous year
Fulfil Eligibility Criteria	January-February the year applying	August, the previous year	August -September of the previous year
Apply for a student visa	From February – April of the year of applying	From June – September of the previous year	By January of the year of applying
Appear for the standardized tests and English Proficiency tests	Within April of the year of applying	From August – September of the previous year	By January of the year of applying
Find out supporting documents	May-July of the year of applying	September – October of the previous year	From February – March of the year of applying
Apply	August to October	September to November	April to May (variable)

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Do’s and Don’ts for a Successful Application

When applying for Canada intakes, there are some things that you should do to increase your chances of success and some things that you should avoid. Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind:

Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind:

1. Research your eligibility for the visa or immigration program you’re applying for.
2. Fill out the application forms carefully and accurately, providing all the required information and documentation.
3. If you are unsure about any steps in the application process, seek professional help from a study abroad expert.
4. Keep track of the timelines for submitting your applications on time.
5. Don’t provide false information or documentation in your application; it is illegal and can result in serious consequences.
6. If you receive any request for additional information or documentation, don’t ignore it. Failure to provide such requested information can result in your application being delayed or rejected.

Candidates should carefully choose the intake for admission to a foreign university. The entire application procedure will depend on the chosen admission intake.

Those intending to study in Canada in the upcoming year should check the details of Canada intake 2024 and stay updated with the information as released by the universities.

Canadian universities are the most affordable, offering the best opportunities. Want further guidance on studying in Canada and the intakes? LeapScholar is proud to have a highly qualified team of counsellors with 50+ years of combined experience in helping students study abroad. Ready to take the Leap?

Frequently Asked Questions