USA Universities & admissions - Intakes & deadlines

For a January 2027 master's, the UK typically offers more January intake options than Canada or the USA, and most UK master's take 1 year. The UK Graduate Route allows up to 18 months of post-study work, while Canada and the USA can offer longer options but fewer January intakes.

Many US universities open applications for biotechnology programmes roughly 8 to 12 months before the intake begins, as a rough guide. Start shortlisting universities, checking eligibility and gathering transcripts, test scores, SOP and recommendation letters well in advance. Opening dates vary by programme and university.

The Stanford MBA programme for Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship recipients begins in September 2027 at Stanford GSB. MBA decisions are released on 9 December 2026 (Round 1), 1 April 2027 (Round 2) and 27 May 2027 (Round 3), after the separate MBA application.

The tentative Stanford MBA rounds for the 2026-27 cycle are Round 1 on 9 September 2026, Round 2 on 6 January 2027 and Round 3 on 7 April 2027. Fellowship applicants must apply to the MBA separately after securing a nomination, so verify exact dates officially.

For the winter intake in the USA, classes typically begin between January 2027 and February 2027, and the semester usually ends between April 2027 and May 2027. These windows are examples. Dates vary by university, and some universities have Spring 2027 deadlines in November to December 2026.

Applications for the Spring intake in the USA typically open from July to October of the previous year, but this varies by university, and some open as early as February or July. For Spring 2027, check each programme before you plan.

Application deadlines for the USA winter intake typically fall between July 2026 and November 2026, and applications usually close between November 2026 and December 2026. These are typical windows only. Dates vary by university, and classes may start around mid January and run into early May.

Typical Ivy League deadlines are November 1 for Early Decision and, at most colleges, Early Action (Cornell has no Early Action), with results in mid December. Regular Decision usually closes between January 1 and 5, with results in late March or April. Exact dates vary by college.