Study Abroad Intakes

Studying abroad takes a lot of planning, including looking into the school you want to attend, improving your application, and many other things. Understanding the admissions requirements for the university of your choice in the target nation is a crucial first step in laying the groundwork. This post will give you information about the criteria you should consider when choosing your chosen study abroad programme.

Most universities will have two intakes, i.e. Spring and Fall. Some universities also have Summer intakes. 

While on the subject, read about the best time to submit your college applications.

The spring intake starts in January and ends in early May. At the same time, the Fall intake begins in late August and goes on till late December, just before the holidays. The summer intake that we mentioned earlier starts in May.

Types of Intakes

There is a significant influx of students each year in universities located abroad. Therefore, universities offer multiple intakes to meet the number of students enrolled each semester. Universities have several inputs to provide students more freedom in selecting the time they want to apply for admission and start their studies.

The Fall Intake

The fall intake begins in late August or early September and ends in the latter part of December. Fall admissions are available at almost all universities, including prestigious ones like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, etc.

1- Comparatively speaking, the acceptance rate is lower than the spring intake. There is greater competition and slim admission prospects since there are more applicants for the fall intake. 

2- For students applying for the fall intake, the university has additional scholarship funding available. Most institutional awards are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. 

3- It attracts the most applications since many high school or undergraduate students’ academic years end in April, making fall admission a popular choice for many students.

The Spring Intake

January marks the beginning of the spring intake, which finishes at the start of May. You might need to check with your top choice of institutions because some might not offer the Spring intake.

1- Most students who enrol in spring classes plan to work or intern after graduation and need additional time to gather user experience and find a comfortable routine.

2- The acceptance rate is typically higher than for the fall intake. Because fewer students choose the spring intake, there is less competition. 

3- Additionally, because the students start their studies during the academic year, they have fewer opportunities to participate in on-campus activities. Universities may have less money available in the spring to administer scholarships. 

The Summer Intake

The summer intake is a unique situation provided by a few universities to a select group of students for specific courses, primarily diplomas or other summer courses.

1- There are more opportunities to receive an offer because institutions accepting applications for the summer intake welcome fewer applicants.

2- Students from all over the world who want to pursue higher education have been affected by COVID-19’s continuous interruptions and are likely to encounter increased competition for admission, which makes applying for the Summer intake very advantageous.

Fall Vs Spring Semester

To help you see how the autumn semester differs from the spring semester amid the never-ending questions regarding the two-seasonal intakes, we’ve compiled the following information:

1. Because the fall intake has substantially larger classes, competition is fierce.

Classes are typically small, and you’ll be taking them alongside people you took classes with in the autumn. As a result, it is now simpler to locate a study group.

2. Because there are more applications this fall, many more courses are available.

The college offers fewer courses this semester because there are fewer applicants for the spring semester.

3- These requirements are identical to your first semester as an undergraduate and are necessary for most of the programmes offered in the spring.

The course schedule is set for the entire academic year, with some courses beginning in the fall and others in the spring.

4- This intake offers many more job options than in the spring semester. This is because a person would have finished at least three semesters, giving them a higher profile.

The prospects are minor, given that experience is only worth two semesters.Hopefully, we have covered everything you need about the spring vs fall semester. Here is a glossary of terms for international students to help you navigate the US education system.