Canada Intakes 2022: Updated Guide

Candidates intending to take up higher education in Canada should be aware of the admission intakes. These intakes are distributed across the academic year and usually range between two and four months. Foreign institutions conduct admissions in a particular cycle, which are popularly known as intakes.

Different Canada intakes correspond to different academic sessions of the country. Applicants should know about all the components associated with the application processes to ensure higher chances of acceptance. International students aiming to take up undergraduate or postgraduate courses can go through the following sections to learn about various intakes in Canada. 

Overview of Various Canada Intakes

There are three major intakes followed by Canadian institutions for admission purposes: Fall, Winter and Summer intakes. The Fall intake is usually the most popular among international candidates applying to Canadian institutions. These sections offer a detailed guide on each Canadian intake:

Canada Intakes	Duration	Description
Fall (Primary intake)	September to early January	The Fall intake is the most sought-after Canadian intake among Indian students. The Fall semester usually starts in the month of September, during which various leading Canadian institutions offer numerous courses across different disciplines.
Winter (Secondary intake)	January to May	This intake typically starts in January. International students who couldn’t enrol during the fall intake choose this one for admission.
Summer	May to August	The Summer intake is available for very few study programs and institutions. It begins during April or May.

 Application Deadline for Different Intakes

While choosing an admission intake, candidates should consider the application deadline for each course and institution. Different institutions come with different deadlines. These timelines are usually communicated at least a year in advance to let candidates prepare accordingly. 

These are the deadlines for each Canadian intake:

• Fall Intake: From December to March
• Winter Intake: From September to November
• Summer Intake: February

Deadlines also vary on the type of study course one pursues. Depending on the course, the application deadlines are as follows: 

Name of the Course	Intake to be Followed
Undergraduate	Winter intake Fall intake
Postgraduate	Winter intake Fall intake
MBA	Round 1 takes place in Fall intake Round 2 takes place in Winter intake And Round 3 occurs in Summer intake

In addition, the application deadlines for Canadian short diploma courses are also different. These deadlines will, however, vary from universities to colleges.

Pros and Cons of Various Canada Intakes

Students making study abroad plans for Canada need to carefully weigh the advantages and drawbacks of each intake to make an informed choice regarding admission. Here is a detailed rundown on the benefits and shortfalls of different 

Canada intakes:

Fall Intake

The Fall intake is highly popular among international candidates looking to pursue higher studies in Canada. 

Advantages

• Candidates can choose from a wide range of courses that are offered by different institutions during this intake.
• Students get enough time and scope to familiarise themselves with the new environment. 
• One can enjoy excellent scholarship opportunities.
• Students can get ample time to prepare a perfect application.

Drawbacks

Since a lot of candidates apply during this phase, applicants can face stiff competition that can impact the chances of acceptance.

Winter Intake

The Winter intake is also a popular period to apply for admission at Canadian institutions.

Advantages

• Students get enough time for visa applications and study permit applications.
• An extended period to prepare a suitable university application will provide a better chance to secure admission.

Drawbacks

Canadian winter can be quite harsh. There are limited courses provided by institutions during this time. 

Summer Intake

This is the least popular of all the Canada intakes and is not exactly a suitable time to apply.

Advantages

This intake sees applications from a considerably lower number of international students. Naturally, the competition is relatively lower, ensuring better chances of obtaining an acceptance offer.

Disadvantages

• Students usually prefer to take a spring break.
• Only a handful of institutions in Canada offer study programs during this intake.
• Candidates will get only short duration diploma courses in this intake.

Courses Available in Different Canada Intakes

All major study programs in Canada are usually open through the Fall intake. Admission for courses such as MBA, MS, 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 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 into.

How to Choose the Best Canada Intake?

Although the admission process is not long, the steps involving the application can be pretty tedious. One has to begin the process well in advance to apply within the stipulated admission deadline. It can be confusing for many candidates to find the most suitable intake to apply for a university in Canada. One needs to consider these factors while figuring out the best intake:

• Availability of the chosen study course
• Academic records
• Application deadline
• The acceptance rate at the shortlisted universities
• Entrance test result dates
• Readiness to join the program and others

Conclusion

Candidates should carefully choose the intakes 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 details of Canada intake 2022 and stay updated with the information as released by the universities.