Fall Intake: Your Complete Guide to Making the Right Choice

The Fall Intake, typically commencing in September and concluding in December, is widely regarded as the optimal application period for most universities. This intake is particularly notable for MBA candidates and full-time programs. Early applicants benefit from competitive advantages, such as reduced application fees and broader access to scholarship opportunities.

How is Fall Intake Different than the Other Intakes?

^{A key benefit of applying during the fall intake is the wider range of courses available. Due to the higher number of applicants and the importance of the semester, universities offer more courses in the fall compared to the spring intake.}

Which universities are to be targeted during fall intake?

When deciding between the fall and spring intakes, the first step is to check if your target universities accept applications for both. Many top schools don’t offer spring admissions, so thorough research is key.

Fall intake generally offers better chances of acceptance due to larger class sizes and a wider selection of courses, as more students apply during this period.

Moreover, job fairs and campus recruitment events are often timed to benefit fall students, who will have completed more semesters by the time these opportunities arise. Weather is another factor, as the two intakes occur in different seasons, so consider your comfort. There’s a misconception that visas are easier to obtain for fall, but this isn’t true—visa approval depends on your profile and the university, not the intake.

Take your time, do your research, and choose the intake that best aligns with your goals and circumstances.

Most Popular Universities During The Fall Intake- USA

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• Columbia University
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Chicago
• University of Southern California
• New York University (NYU)
• University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
• Cornell University

Most Popular Universities During The Fall Intake- UK

• University of Cambridge
• University of Bristol
• University of Exeter
• University of Strathclyde
• University of Birmingham
• University of Leeds
• University of Oxford
• University College London
• Coventry University

Most Popular Universities During The Fall Intake- Australia

• Australian National University
• The University of Melbourne
• The University of Sydney
• The University of Queensland
• Monash University

Job opportunities in the Fall Intake

In terms of job prospects, there is no significant difference between fall and spring students, as long as you excel in your field. However, spring students may face fewer internship opportunities. Additionally, since fall students are one semester ahead, they may have already formed their project teams, which can put spring students at a disadvantage when it comes to group work. It’s comparable to joining in the second year of a bachelor’s program, where established teams and networks are already in place.

Collaboration & Group Studies During the Fall Intake

International students commencing their studies in the fall have a six-month advantage over those starting in the spring. This advanced timing can lead to challenges for spring students in forming social and professional networks and may complicate the process of selecting collaborators for group projects and other team-based activities.