What is the May intake in the UK, and which universities offer it for UG and PG students?

12 Jun 2026 · Answered by Shairal Pathak · 3 min read

Quick Answer verified

The May intake (Summer intake) is the UK's smallest admission window, running April-June at around 40-50 post-92 universities. Course selection is much narrower than September or January - mainly Business, Management, and IT. For most Indian students it works best only when earlier deadlines have been missed.

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The May intake, also called the Summer intake, is the UK's third and smallest admission window, running from April to June. It is offered by a limited number of universities - mainly post-92 institutions with London campuses - and course selection is significantly narrower than September or January. For most Indian and international students it works best for Business, Management, and IT programs when they have missed earlier deadlines.

May Intake Key Facts

Feature	Details
Classes begin	April / May / June (varies by university)
Application window	November - March of the same year
Course availability	Business, Management, IT, Nursing, some Science programs
Level	Predominantly PG; limited UG foundation and HND options
Universities offering it	Approximately 40-50 universities (mainly London campuses of post-92 institutions)
Scholarship availability	Very limited compared to September intake

Top Universities for May Intake in UK (PG)

University	Location	Notable Programs
Coventry University (London Campus)	London	MSc Global Business, MSc Data Science
University of Northumbria (London Campus)	London	MSc Business, MSc Cyber Security
University of East London (UEL)	London	MSc Finance, MBA, MSc Digital Marketing
University of Bedfordshire	London / Luton	Business, IT, Health Sciences
University of Greenwich	London	Business Management, Computer Science
University of Law	Multiple campuses	LLM, MSc Business and Management
Ulster University (London / Birmingham)	London / Birmingham	MSc International Business, MSc Marketing
Anglia Ruskin University	Chelmsford / Cambridge	Business, Healthcare, Social Sciences

Is the May Intake a Suitable Option?

Advantages	Disadvantages
Lower competition for admission slots	Very limited course and subject selection
Good option if you missed January deadline	Not available at Russell Group universities
Shorter wait than delaying to the next September	Fewer scholarship opportunities
Some universities offer rolling applications	Smaller student cohort; less campus life and networking

My Advice

The May intake is a genuine option, but only if the course and university actually fit your career goals. The most common mistake I see is students choosing May intake primarily to avoid a gap year and ending up at a post-92 London campus when they could have waited for September at a stronger institution. If you are targeting any Russell Group university or a highly ranked program in STEM, Finance, or Law, May intake simply does not exist for you. For Business, Management, or IT programs where the specific university ranking matters less than the degree itself, May can work well. Also check carefully whether the university runs a full campus or a London franchise operation - the teaching quality, peer network, and experience at a London campus can differ significantly from the main base.

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