When should I apply for the September, January, and May intakes at UK universities?
Apply November-February for September intake - well before the official June deadline. For January intake, submit applications July-September. May intake needs applications in by January-February. Scholarship deadlines close months before university cutoffs, making early applications critical if you need Chevening or GREAT funding.
For September intake, target your applications between November and February - well before the official June deadline. January intake applications should go in between July and September. May intake applications need to be submitted by January-February. These early windows matter because scholarship deadlines close months before university admission cutoffs, and popular programs fill their cohorts long before the official deadline date.
Application Timeline by Intake (2026-2027)
Intake | Target Application Window | Final Admission Deadline | Key Scholarship Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
September 2026 | November 2025 - February 2026 | May / June 2026 (most universities) | Chevening: Nov 2025 | GREAT: Jan 2026 |
January 2027 | July - September 2026 | October / November 2026 | Apply early; limited scholarship options |
May 2027 | November 2026 - January 2027 | February / March 2027 | Very limited scholarships available |
UG Applicants: UCAS Deadlines (September 2026 Entry)
University Type | UCAS Deadline |
|---|---|
Oxford and Cambridge | 15 October 2025 |
Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science (most universities) | 15 October 2025 |
All other universities (main deadline) | 29 January 2026 |
Late applications via Clearing | 30 June 2026 (limited places remaining) |
Month-by-Month Planning: September 2026 PG Intake
Month | What to Do |
|---|---|
October - November 2025 | Research programs, shortlist 4-6 universities, sit English proficiency test if not done |
November 2025 | Apply for Chevening Scholarship (closes early November each year) |
December 2025 - January 2026 | Submit university applications with SOP and LORs; apply for GREAT Scholarships |
February - March 2026 | Receive conditional / unconditional offers; accept and pay tuition deposit |
April - May 2026 | Receive CAS from university; submit UK student visa application |
June - August 2026 | Visa processing and pre-departure preparation |
September 2026 | Arrive in the UK and begin the course |
My Advice
The single most common and costly mistake I see is students applying in April or May for a September start and then discovering that scholarship deadlines passed months earlier. University admission may still be open, but Chevening closed in November and GREAT closed in January. If scholarships are part of your financial plan - and for most students with a budget constraint they should be - you need to apply in November or December at the latest. For top-ranked programs at universities like Warwick, Edinburgh, or LSE, popular MSc courses fill up well before the official deadline. A December application to a competitive program is meaningfully stronger than a March one, even when both are technically within the deadline.
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