Fall vs Summer Intake: Choosing the Best Time for Your Study Abroad Journey

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What are your higher education plans? Do you plan to study at a top QS-ranked university? Do you know which intake is better for you? These are just some of the many questions you will encounter as soon as you graduate from high school.

University admissions are offered in different intakes. Each country and their universities have different intakes. The popular ones are Fall (September/ October) and Summer (January/ February). Students must carefully select their admission intake as they play a major role in shaping their entire academic journey. This page is your ultimate guide to understand which intake is better for your study abroad plans: Fall or Summer?

About Fall Intake

The Fall or Spring intake is the main admission intake at top universities in countries like Australia, the USA, the UK, etc. Fall intake starts in September and lasts till October. It is the most popular choice among international students. Students enrolled via Fall intake often can benefit from the vibrant atmosphere of orientation events, sports and social clubs, part-time work, and networking opportunities.

About Summer Intake

The Summer intake is the ideal choice for students planning to complete their degrees faster via accelerated programs. This intake is also suitable for students who missed the fall or spring intake deadlines. Summer intake is often considered as a “secondary admission intake.” This intake offers limited courses, fewer extracurricular activities, and a less crowded campus environment.

Fall VS Summer Intake

Under this section, we will discuss major differences between the fall and summer intakes. After reading these differences, students will be able to understand which intake is better for them and perfectly aligns with their academic interests.

Particulars	Fall Intake	Summer Intake
Deadline	Late September to October	May to August
Purpose	Admission to courses at all academic levels.	Accelerated programs or for students who missed Fall/Spring deadlines
Major Courses	MBA MS in Computer Science MS in Data Science MS in Supply Chain Management MA in International Relations MSc in Environmental Science	BBA BS in Electrical Engineering MS in Finance BA in Liberal Arts MS in Project Management BS in Information Technology
Top Universities	Imperial College London Harvard University University of Pennsylvania University of Chicago Technical University of Munich	University of California, Berkeley Arizona State University Queen Mary University of London Coventry University University of Melbourne
Internship Opportunities	Aligns well with internship hiring cycles and part-time job opportunities	Limited internship opportunities due to fewer companies hiring during this period
Campus Environment	Vibrant campus environment with numerous orientation events, student clubs, and networking opportunities	Quieter campus environment with smaller class sizes, offering personalized attention from faculty
Competition for Admission	Higher competition for admission spots, especially at top universities	Less competition, potentially increasing chances of acceptance

Which Admission Intake is Better?

Fall intake is known as the “primary intake” for admission and it starts in late August or September. Summer intake, on the other hand, is known as the “secondary intake” and commences in May or August.
The purpose of the Fall intake is to offer almost all the major courses at the university. Summer intake provides opportunities for short-term courses, internships, or for students who missed earlier deadlines.
Most universities offer extensive programs during fall intake. In summer intake, very few universities participate and offer limited courses only.
Fall intake features a variety of UG, PG, and doctorate programs. Summer intake focuses on selected programs in specific fields only.
During fall intake, university campuses are bustling with multiple orientation events and student clubs. Summer intakes have quieter campuses.

Top Universities for Fall and Summer Intakes

Here’s a table highlighting the top universities in the world for Fall and Summer admission intakes.

Fall Intake Universities	Summer Intake Universities
Imperial College London (ICL)	King’s College London (KCL)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	University of Manchester
University of Cambridge	Australian National University (ANU)
University of Harvard	University of Queensland
University of Oxford	Stanford University
University of California, Berkeley	University of North Texas
CalTech	McGill University
University of Melbourne	Augsburg University of Applied Science
University of New South Wales (UNSW)	Jacksonville University
Technical University of Munich (TUM)	Florida Atlantic University

Frequently Asked Questions

Which intake is better? Summer or Fall?

Fall or Spring is the primary admission intake at most universities. Students who want to pursue a popular undergraduate or graduate program must consider this intake. Summer intake is the secondary admission intake for students who missed the fall intake deadline. This intake is available only at certain universities and the courses offered are also limited.

Which intake is better to study in the UK?

The Fall/ September intake is generally preferred for studying in the UK. This intake offers a wider range of courses, more university options, and aligns with the primary academic calendar, providing ample time for application and visa processes.

When to apply for summer intake?

The application for summer intake starts in late August to September. Some universities can have the summer intake deadlines in November as well. Make sure to visit the university website to check the admission deadlines.

Are summer and fall semester the same?

No. Fall and summer are two different semester intakes. The Fall intake/ semester runs from September to December. The Winter intake/ semester is from January to May. The Summer/Spring semester is from May to September.

Which is the primary intake at top universities?

Fall is the primary intake at top universities. The Fall intake/ semester usually starts from September to December. During this intake, universities offer admission to their top courses.