Academic calendars differ from nation to country, and most universities abroad have more than one entrance intake every year. Numerous admittance intakes are available for popular locations like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, the UK, and other places in Europe. The two most common admissions are in the fall and spring. Typically, the fall intake begins in September and the spring intake begins in January.
Twelve to eighteen months before to the intended intake is the optimal time to begin planning. Start taking the exams because many applicants retake them to get better results. Transcripts, essays, and other application materials should be completed at least a month prior to the application deadline. As soon as you receive the admission letter, begin looking into scholarships. Have your scholarship paperwork prepared at least a month before your visa interview. Compared to the application process for Indian universities, the application process for overseas education requires a lot more planning. Additionally, it must be completed while taking exams and attending classes that follow the Indian academic calendar.
The intakes for several well-known study locations are included, along with the top study abroad scholarships and their application deadlines. The months in which they typically occur have been provided in cases when dates have not yet been made public.
Canada
The three categories of intakes offered by Canadian institutions are as follows-
- October or September intake
- or Winter intake in January
- Summer or May intake
The fall intake is the one that international applicants choose the most frequently out of these. These semester intakes are period-based on seasonal grounds, and the entire application procedure is completed by the admissions deadline.
The admission deadlines for each intake are as follows-
| Intake | Program | Tentative admission deadline |
| September or Fall | Undergraduate and Postgraduate | December – March |
| January or Winter | Undergraduate and Postgraduate | September – November |
| May or Summer | Diploma | January – February |
Scholarship timelines of Canada to be followed-
| Scholarship | Application Timeline |
| McGill University Scholarships | Deadline: January |
| University of Winnipeg Scholarships | Winter Term Deadline:
February |
| Carleton University Scholarship | Deadline: June |
| University of Waterloo
Scholarships |
Undergraduate Deadline: April
Masters Deadline: July
PhD: November |
| University of Saskatchewan Scholarships | Deadline: March |
| UBC Scholarship | October – November |
|
University of Victoria Scholarship |
February – April |
| Brock University Scholarships | Deadline : April |
| University of Manitoba
Scholarships |
Westland Foundation Education Fund Award Deadline: July
Rhodes Scholarship Deadline: August |
New Zealand
Few New Zealand colleges offer multiple September and November admissions. The two intakes that New Zealand generally has are in January and July. You should start the application procedure for admission about six months prior to the application deadline. Universities often have three deadlines during one intake. It is up to the students’ convenience to decide which deadline to use as a goal. Your language and aptitude tests must be completed three months prior to the deadline. Throughout the previous three months, the application form must have been correctly filled out.
It is crucial to make sure that the entire application procedure, including showing up for interviews and submitting a visa application, is finished by October or November for the February intake. Some schools may still accept applicants if you’re looking for admission to a vocational programme in March, April, May, or July.
Scholarship timelines for New Zealand-
| Scholarship | Application Timeline |
| New Zealand Commonwealth
Scholarships |
Deadline: April |
| New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) | May – August |
| NZ-GRADS New Zealand Global Research Alliance Doctoral Scholarship | Deadline: September |
| New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS) | Deadline: July |
| SEG Scholarship | November – March |
The United Kingdom
In the UK, there are primarily two intakes: January/February Intake and September/October Intake. A few courses are also offered at some UK universities in April or May.
- January Intake
The second intake period begins in January. Compared to the September intake, fewer courses are offered in January, however this intake provides a chance for students who were not admitted in the main intake. Students are given more time to continue working on their applications. Depending on the subject and the university, the application deadlines will occur between June and September.
- September Intake
Intake in September is the primary intake in the UK. In the UK, it’s also referred to as autumn intake. All of the programmes are offered in the September intake at the majority of UK universities. Between February and May of that academic year, the application deadlines for the September intake will take place. But it will always fluctuate depending on the course and varies from university to university. For more information, students should contact their local university.
- May Intake
There are few openings for the May UK university intake. But there are some courses available for the May intake as well. International students can enrol in a few programmes with a May intake at universities including Coventry University, Northumbria University, Southampton Solent University, University of Bedfordshire, etc.
Scholarships in the United Kingdom timelines-
| Scholarship | Application Timeline |
| Chevening Scholarships | August – November |
| Scotland Saltire Scholarships | September – December |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Scholarship | October – January |
| Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarships | Deadline: January |
| Felix Scholarships | Deadline: December/January |
| Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT) | Long term grants: Currently open – January
Short term grants: Currently open – February |
| Inlaks Scholarships | February – March |
| AS Hornby Educational Trust Scholarship | October – September |
| Rhodes Scholarship | June – August |
Australia
Generally speaking, universities offer admissions in February and July, though some also offer admissions in September and November. Because it typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to process an application, you must submit your application at least 6 months in advance of the intake. Applying for the programme you want to study in Australia at is the first step in the process. You will need to submit a separate application to each university if you are requesting admission to different institutions.
Scholarships in Australia timeline to be followed-
| Scholarship | Application Timeline |
| University of Sydney International Scholarship | Deadline: 30 Sept 2022 |
| Vice-Chancellor’s Social Champion Scholarship at University of Canberra | Deadline: 9 Oct 2022 |
| Sydney Scholars Awards | Deadline: 30 Sep 2022 |
| University of New South Wales International Scholarships | Deadline: 31 July 2022 |
| The Global Excellence Scholarship at the University of Western Australia | Deadline: varies (Annual) |
| Australia Awards Scholarships | Deadline: 29 April 2022 |
| CDU Vice-Chancellor’s International High Achievers Scholarships | Deadline: 30 June 2022 |
| Griffith Remarkable Scholarship | Deadline: 18 Apr/5 Aug |
Ireland
Universities and colleges in Ireland can choose between two sizable intakes. At many universities in Ireland, an intake is also referred to as a semester. Irish universities receive students in two primary intakes. the early September to early December Autumn Intake, which begins, and the late January to late may Spring Intake.
- Autumn/Fall Intake
The Fall Intake is the largest intake at Irish universities. At all Irish universities, the majority of programmes are accessible for Autumn Intake. In Ireland, the Fall semester typically begins in September.
- Spring Intake
Not all colleges or courses offer Spring Intake. Less universities and courses are offered in Ireland than during the Fall Intake. In Ireland, spring semester classes start in February.
Scholarship timelines for Ireland-
| Scholarship | Application Timeline |
| Government of Ireland International
Education Scholarship 2023 |
Deadline: March |
| Fulbright Scholarships | Deadline: May |
| Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship | Deadline: October |
| The Walsh Fellowship | June – September |
| University College Dublin Scholarships | Deadline: April |
Europe
| Country | Intakes in Europe | |
| UK | January / February | September / October |
| France | January | September |
| Germany | April | September / October |
| Netherlands | February | September |
| Spain | October | October |
| Ireland | February | September |
| Finland | January | September |
| Hungary | February | September |
| Poland | February | September or October |
| Sweden | January | September |
| Switzerland | February | September |
Timelines and Deadlines to be followed-
- French Intakes
Quality Education and Research are also conducted in the World Capital of Food, Fashion, and History. In France, there are two intakes: September and January. The major intake is in September, and students who are unable to enrol in September can apply in January. But January also offers a lot of course options, and every year, there are a lot of applications from international students.
- Germany Intakes
In terms of luring overseas students, Germany’s free public universities and high standard of instruction are its key draws. September/October and April Intake are two intake periods in Germany. The primary intake for English Speaking Courses is once again in September. The English Speaking Courses are also offered by a number of universities for the April intake.
- Netherland Intakes
One of the first countries in Europe to provide courses with an English-speaking instructor is the Netherlands. September and February are the intake months for the Netherlands. Similar to many other countries, the major intake takes place in September, while the secondary intake happens in February throughout the winter. Students who do not get accepted into the September intake typically apply to colleges having February admissions.
- United Kingdom Intakes
The United Kingdom continues to be one of the top choices for international students. Intakes occur primarily in January-February and September-October in the UK. In the UK, the primary intake is in September, and the secondary intake, for which the deadlines fall in September and October, is in January.
- Ireland Intakes
Irish colleges and universities have access to two sizable intakes. At many Irish universities, an intake is also known as a semester. Irish universities have two primary admissions cycles. the late January to early May start of the Spring Intake and the early September to late December start of the Autumn Intake.
- Spain Intakes
Spain is sometimes ignored among its European rivals as a study abroad destination despite offering a wide range of courses at some of the most renowned universities in Europe. Spain has two intakes: the major intake, which begins in October, and the secondary intake, which begins in February and has a deadline in early December.
Scholarship timelines to be followed for the UK-
| Scholarship | Application timeline |
| Charpak Masters Scholarship in France | January – March |
| VLIR-UOS Training and Masters Scholarships in Belgium | January – April |
| The Orange Tulip Scholarship in the Netherlands | Deadline: February |
| Global Excellence Scholarships in Ireland | First batch: March – April
Second batch: May; |
| The DAAD Scholarships in Germany | Winter semester May – July
Summer semester: December – January |
Qualifying Exams for Universities Abroad
Numerous exams must be passed by students who want to pursue an international education. A standardised examination and a language exam are usually included. The first determines your eligibility for a particular programme, while the second measures your proficiency in English. The important exams that an applicant must succeed in in order to study abroad are listed here, along with the dates for each.
- IELTS: Students whose first language is not English can test their level of English language proficiency through the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). It is run in India by IDP Education.
- GRE: Those applying to postgraduate programmes at universities abroad take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). More than 160 different colleges and organisations throughout the world recognise GRE scores. The Educational Testing Service conducts the test (ETS).
- GMAT: For MBA admissions in several nations, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) administers the GMAT, or Graduate Management Admission Test.
- TOEFL: The Educational Testing Service administers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which measures a candidate’s command of the English language (ETS). 150 countries accept the TOEFL score.
- PTE: The PTE Academic TM administers the English language proficiency test known as the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic.
- SAT: The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) evaluates a student’s preparation for college, particularly in the US.
- ACT: Similar to the SAT and used for the same thing is the American College Testing (ACT).
- MCAT: In order to be admitted to medical institutions, candidates must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is approved in the US, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean. a survey that the Association of American Medical Colleges performed for MD admissions (AAMC).
- DET: In recent years, the Duolingo English Test (DET) has gained popularity as a test of English language competency.
- CAEL: For foreign students who want to enrol in Canadian universities, there is the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment.
- C1 Advanced: Between the B2 First and C2 Proficiency test levels, the C1 Advanced, formerly known as Cambridge English Advanced (CAE), is a test of English language proficiency. Candidates who want to get admitted to institutions overseas take an exam to assess their language skills.
- CPE: The highest-level English proficiency test offered by the Cambridge English exam suite is the Cambridge English Proficiency Exam, formerly known as the CPE.
- ECCE: The University of Michigan awards the Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE).
- Advanced Placement (AP): The College Board, which also administers the SAT, also administers the advanced placement (AP) tests. Students who want to enrol in university-level courses take the AP exam.
- USMLE: The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a set of tests for acquiring a residency or postgraduate degree in the USA, followed by a medical licence to practise in the relevant American state.
- LSAT: The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) administers the LSAT to determine a candidate’s preparation for law school.
Qualifying Exams and their Exam Schedule for 2023-
| Exam | Schedule for 2023 |
| IELTS | Academic & General Training: January 7, 19; February 11, 25; March 11, 25
Academic Only: January 14, 28; February 4, 16; March 2, 18 |
| GRE | Max 5 attempts per year throughout the year |
| GMAT | Held throughout the year. Candidates can select a date as per their convenience. |
| TOEFL | More than 50 times throughout the year |
| PTE | Throughout the year; exam dates are particular to a specific exam centre. |
| ACT | US: February 11; April 5; June 10; July 15
Non-US: February 11; April 14, 15; June 9, 10; July 15, 16 |
| MCAT | January and from March to September. Different dates at different locations. Final dates not out. |
| DET | Online test throughout the year |
| CAEL | Online test throughout the year |
| C1 Advanced | Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays throughout the year |
| CPE | January 7; February 4, 22; March 11, 18; April 22; May 6, 11, 20; June 3, 7, 17; July 8, 28; August 25; September 9; October 21; November 4, 18, 29; December 9, 16 |
| ECCE | Held at 2,700 centres worldwide on different dates |
| AP | May 1-5; May 8-12 |
| USMLE | Throughout the year |
| LSAT | January 17; April 18; June 13 |
The calendar demonstrates the variety of test dates that are permitted by the exam boards for English language proficiency tests. However, the general rule is to choose a date that would enable you to get the exam results early enough to incorporate them in your applications.
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