January Intake Universities in UK 2027: Fees & Deadlines

Several January intake universities in UK have confirmed courses for 2027, particularly at postgraduate level. Current options include Liverpool, Strathclyde, Birmingham, Queen Mary, Portsmouth, Northumbria and other UK universities, with international deadlines ranging from October to December 2026.

The table below compares verified January 2027 universities, study levels, course areas, fees and application deadlines.

List of January Intake Universities in UK 2027

These universities have published January 2027 courses, application information or confirmed start dates on their official websites.

University	January 2027 options	Popular course areas	International fee example	Deadline or application status
University of Liverpool	Mainly postgraduate	Business, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Health	Check course	18 Dec 2026 for many international applicants; some courses close 30 Nov
University of Strathclyde	Postgraduate	Computing, Engineering, Business, Finance, Marketing, Law	Check course	Course-specific
University of Birmingham	Mainly postgraduate	Computer Science, Engineering Management, Education, Public Administration	Check course	30 Oct 2026 for most overseas PGT applicants
Loughborough University	Postgraduate	Business, Design, International Relations and selected Masters	£27,000 on one London Masters example	14 Dec 2026 for international applicants
Queen Mary University of London	Masters and Pre-Masters	Management, Marketing and selected specialist subjects	£35,250 for Management MSc	14 Dec 2026 for overseas PGT applicants, unless an earlier course deadline applies
University of Portsmouth	Undergraduate, postgraduate and pathway	Business, Computing, Engineering, Project Management	£18,600 for MSc Project Management	Applications open; course-specific deadlines
Northumbria University	Undergraduate top-up and postgraduate	Business, Computing, Engineering, Finance, Development	Check course	Applications open
University of Salford	Undergraduate and postgraduate on selected courses	Business, Engineering, Computing, Health	Around £16,000 to £22,140 for full-time international courses in 2026/27	Applications open; course-specific
University of Lincoln	Mainly postgraduate	AI, Computing, Engineering Management, Education, Law	Check course	Course-specific
Brunel University of London	Postgraduate	Business, AI, Engineering and Management	£24,795 for International Business MSc	Recommended by 13 Nov 2026
Royal Holloway, University of London	Postgraduate	International Business, Project Management and selected Masters	Check course	7 Dec 2026
Kingston University London	Selected January courses	Business, Data, Computing and Management	Check course	11 Dec 2026 for standard January intake applications
University of Exeter	Postgraduate	Business, Management, Analytics and selected Masters	£31,000 for MSc Business and Management	Course-specific
Manchester Metropolitan University	Mainly postgraduate, plus selected undergraduate	Business and other January-start subjects	Check course	Course-specific
University of Lancashire	Undergraduate and postgraduate	Business and selected international courses	Check course	30 Nov 2026 for January 2027 international applications
University of Dundee	Undergraduate and selected postgraduate	Business, Finance, Energy and specialist programmes	Check course	Course-specific; some international PG deadlines fall in Nov 2026
Anglia Ruskin University	Selected undergraduate top-up	International Business	Check course	January 2027 start confirmed on relevant courses
Birmingham City University	Selected undergraduate and other courses	Business Management and related subjects	Check course	January 2027 start available on selected courses

The important word here is selected.

A university may have a January 2027 intake while your exact course remains September-only. Always check the individual course page before paying a deposit or making visa arrangements.

If you are still working out the wider process, it helps to plan the full UK study journey before building your shortlist.

UK January Intake 2027 Deadlines

There is no single UK January intake 2027 deadline. Universities set different dates, and some courses close earlier than the university's general deadline.

For international students, the application deadline is only the first date that matters. Deposit payments, outstanding conditions, CAS checks and visa preparation can follow quickly.

University	Published January 2027 deadline
University of Birmingham	30 October 2026 for most overseas postgraduate taught applications
Brunel University of London	Recommended by 13 November 2026
University of Lancashire	30 November 2026
Royal Holloway	7 December 2026
Kingston University London	11 December 2026
Queen Mary University of London	14 December 2026 for overseas postgraduate applications, unless earlier
Loughborough University	14 December 2026
University of Liverpool	18 December 2026 for many international courses; selected programmes close earlier

These dates come from current university admissions information for January 2027.

Here is the thing: December may be an official deadline, but it is not an ideal application month for most international students.

Liverpool, for example, gives many international January applicants until 18 December 2026, yet teaching begins on 1 February 2027. That leaves little room for delayed documents, offer conditions, CAS processing or visa issues.

When should you apply for January intake in UK 2027?

A practical timeline looks like this:

August to September 2026: research courses, compare fees and prepare documents.

September to October 2026: submit most applications.

October to November 2026: respond to offers, meet academic or English conditions and check scholarships.

November to December 2026: pay the required deposit, complete pre-CAS checks and prepare financial evidence.

December 2026 to January 2027: receive CAS, submit the Student visa application and arrange accommodation.

January to February 2027: complete enrolment and begin teaching according to the university calendar.

If January becomes too tight, compare the wider autumn intake or check whether a later spring entry point is available for your course.

UK Universities With January Intake for Postgraduate 2027

The UK universities with January intake postgraduate 2027 options are significantly broader than the undergraduate selection.

Universities with confirmed postgraduate January 2027 routes include Liverpool, Strathclyde, Birmingham, Loughborough, Queen Mary, Portsmouth, Northumbria, Salford, Lincoln, Brunel, Royal Holloway and Exeter.

Study area	Common January 2027 options
Business	Management, International Business, MBA, Project Management
Computing	Computer Science, Data Science, AI, Cyber Security
Engineering	Mechanical, Civil, Engineering Management, Renewable Energy
Finance	Accounting, Finance, Business Analytics
Marketing	Marketing, Digital Marketing, International Marketing
Health	Public Health and selected professional health programmes
Education	Education, TESOL and related Masters
Law	Selected LLM and specialist legal programmes

Strathclyde has one of the clearest postgraduate January portfolios. Its official list includes Advanced Computer Science, Machine Learning and Deep Learning, Civil Engineering, Finance, Business and Management, Marketing and Digital Marketing Management.

Liverpool also offers January starts across Business, Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering and selected health programmes.

If the subject is not yet fixed, compare courses against your academic and career goals before choosing universities.

UK Universities With January Intake Undergraduate 2027

Undergraduate January intake in the UK is smaller, but it is real.

This is an area where many generic university lists become misleading. A university offering January Masters courses does not automatically offer first-year Bachelor's entry in January.

Current verified examples include:

University	January 2027 undergraduate example
University of Portsmouth	Business and Management BA, Computer Science BSc, Civil Engineering top-up and other January options
Northumbria University	Global Business Management and several London top-up routes
University of Lancashire	Business Administration BA top-up
University of Dundee	International Business BSc and International Finance BIFin
Anglia Ruskin University	International Business BSc top-up
Birmingham City University	Business Management BA
University of Kent	Business BA top-up
University of Stirling	Business Studies BA and selected other undergraduate degrees

Portsmouth lists January 2027 undergraduate and top-up routes, including a one-year Civil Engineering and Construction Management top-up and London-based Bachelor's options.

Northumbria's January page includes several undergraduate and top-up Business routes, while Lancashire confirms Business Administration BA top-up for January 2027.

Dundee, Anglia Ruskin, Birmingham City, Kent and Stirling also publish specific January 2027 undergraduate starts.

Does the January UCAS deadline mean January intake?

No.

For most 2027 undergraduate courses, UCAS gives an equal consideration deadline of 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time. Many of those courses start in September or October 2027 rather than January.

So check two separate things:

1. The UCAS application deadline.
2. The actual course start date.

If you are applying for undergraduate study, work through the UCAS process carefully rather than assuming that a January application date means a January start.

Top UK Universities With January Intake for International Students

For this guide, “top” does not mean that one league table has placed a university above another. It means the university currently has useful January 2027 options, clear information and a realistic route for international applicants.

University of Liverpool is particularly useful if you want clear postgraduate dates. Its official page publishes course-level international deadlines, welcome dates and teaching dates.

University of Strathclyde stands out for the breadth of its January Masters portfolio and January-specific international scholarships.

University of Birmingham has selected January 2027 Masters at its UK campus and publishes a clear 30 October overseas deadline for most postgraduate taught courses.

Queen Mary University of London is worth considering for Management, Marketing and selected specialist postgraduate courses, but the cost can be substantial. Its Management MSc lists an overseas fee of £35,250 for January 2027.

University of Portsmouth gives students more flexibility than many competitors because its January offering extends beyond standard Masters degrees into undergraduate and pathway options.

Loughborough University is another clear January option for selected Masters, with a published international application deadline of 14 December 2026.

A mildly counterintuitive point is that the most famous name on your list is not always the strongest January choice. The right course, affordable fee, achievable deadline and realistic visa timeline often matter more.

Best Courses in UK With January Intake

Some subject areas appear far more often than others in current January 2027 university lists.

Business and Management is one of the broadest categories. International Business, Management, Project Management, Marketing and MBA routes appear across several universities.

Computer Science, Data Science and AI are also strong. Liverpool, Strathclyde and Birmingham all publish January technology options.

Engineering choices include Civil, Mechanical, Engineering Management and related specialist fields.

Finance, Marketing, Education, Public Health and selected Law programmes also appear, but availability varies more sharply.

Do not choose a course simply because it has January entry. Look at modules, accreditation, entry requirements, total cost and career relevance.

January Intake UK 2027 Fees and Cost

There is no special national tuition fee for the January intake. The university and course set the price.

Current international fee examples include:

University and course	January 2027 international tuition example
University of Portsmouth, MSc Project Management	£18,600
Brunel University of London, MSc International Business	£24,795
Loughborough University, MA International Relations	£27,000
University of Exeter, MSc Business and Management	£31,000
Queen Mary University of London, MSc Management	£35,250

These are course examples, not average UK prices.

Portsmouth also says its typical 2026/27 international tuition range is about £17,900 to £20,000, while Salford states that international full-time courses starting in 2026/27 range from £16,000 to £22,140, depending on course and level.

If cost is one of your main filters, look at lower-fee UK study options before finalising your shortlist.

UK Student visa financial requirement

Under current GOV.UK rules, eligible Student visa applicants need living funds of:

• £1,529 per month in London, for up to nine months
• £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months

That produces a maximum maintenance calculation of £13,761 in London or £10,539 outside London, before considering any unpaid tuition fees you also need to show.

The money usually needs to meet the relevant financial evidence rules, so prepare your bank evidence correctly rather than relying on an old example.

The current Student visa application fee is £558.

The Immigration Health Surcharge for students is £776 per year, although the amount actually charged depends on the length of immigration permission.

Always check the latest Student visa funding requirement on GOV.UK before using these figures for an application.

Scholarships for January Intake UK 2027

January students can receive scholarships, but funding varies by university, subject and nationality.

Strathclyde has particularly clear January 2027 awards for eligible international postgraduate students:

• Engineering: £6,000
• Humanities and Social Sciences: £6,000 to £8,000
• Science: £6,000
• Strathclyde Business School: £7,000 to £9,000

Higher-value faculty awards can also be available.

Kingston says its January 2027 International Merit-Based Scholarship will offer a £5,000 tuition fee reduction to successful applicants.

Lincoln's South Asia Scholarship for September 2026 and January 2027 is worth £3,000 to £5,000, while its Global Postgraduate Scholarship is worth £2,000 for eligible students.

Royal Holloway offers an International Masters Scholarship worth £2,000 to £4,000 for eligible students from selected countries.

Exeter also offers January 2027 postgraduate funding, including Exeter Excellence awards and country-specific scholarships for eligible international applicants.

Scholarship rules often move separately from admission deadlines. Check funding while shortlisting rather than after accepting an offer.

You can also compare wider UK funding opportunities alongside university-specific awards.

Entry Requirements for January Intake Universities in UK

January entry requirements are usually based on the course rather than the intake.

For postgraduate study, universities commonly look at:

• your Bachelor's degree and grades
• the subject of your previous study
• English-language ability
• work experience where relevant
• personal statement or statement of purpose
• academic or professional references

A UK 2:2 equivalent is accepted by many taught Masters programmes, while more competitive courses may require a 2:1 or specific academic background.

English requirements also vary. IELTS scores around 6.0 to 6.5 are common across many courses, but there is no universal January-intake score.

Check which English evidence your target university accepts. If IELTS is the main issue, you can also explore other English-language routes where the university permits them.

Documents Required for January Intake UK 2027

Most applicants should prepare:

• valid passport
• academic transcripts
• degree or school certificates
• English-language evidence
• personal statement or SOP
• references
• CV where required
• work-experience documents for relevant courses
• portfolio for selected creative subjects
• ATAS certificate where applicable
• financial documents for the visa stage
• TB certificate where UK rules require one

Keep clean digital copies ready before applying.

A small real-world problem causes more delays than people expect: students sometimes find a suitable January course, receive an offer quickly, then spend days chasing an old transcript or reference while CAS deadlines get closer.

Preparation gives you room to deal with those problems.

How to Apply for January Intake in UK 2027

1. Choose the course first

Start with the subject you actually want to study.

Then identify universities where that exact course starts in January 2027.

2. Verify the course start date

Do not rely only on a general “January intake” university page.

Open the individual course page and confirm January 2027.

3. Check the international deadline

Look beyond the application date. Find out whether there are separate deposit, condition, CAS or pre-CAS deadlines.

4. Prepare your application

Postgraduate applicants normally apply directly to the university.

Undergraduate routes may use UCAS or direct applications depending on the course.

5. Respond to your offer quickly

A conditional offer may ask for final academic results, English evidence, references or other documents.

6. Complete deposit and CAS requirements

Pay the required amount and complete any financial, credibility or pre-CAS checks requested by the university.

7. Apply for your Student visa

Once CAS and financial evidence are ready, submit the visa application and arrange accommodation and travel.

January Intake vs September and May Intake in UK

Intake	Course availability	Best suited to
September	Widest	Students who want the maximum university and course choice
January	Strong for postgraduate study	Students targeting a confirmed winter-start programme or needing a later start
May	Limited	Students whose university specifically offers a later intake

September remains the largest UK intake.

January is a strong second option, particularly for Masters students.

May is far more course-specific.

There is another useful way to think about it. Lower applicant volume in January does not automatically make admission easier because the number of available courses is also smaller.

Graduate Route for January 2027 Students

The Graduate Route has changed for students who will apply after completing a January 2027 course.

Under current GOV.UK rules, a Graduate visa lasts:

• 2 years if the application is made on or before 31 December 2026
• 18 months if the application is made on or after 1 January 2027
• 3 years for eligible PhD or other doctoral graduates

Most students starting a taught Masters in January 2027 will finish after the new 18-month rule has taken effect.

Check the current Graduate visa rules directly on GOV.UK before making a post-study work plan.

FAQs About January Intake Universities in UK

Which universities have January intake in UK for 2027?

Current confirmed options include Liverpool, Strathclyde, Birmingham, Loughborough, Queen Mary, Portsmouth, Northumbria, Salford, Lincoln, Brunel, Royal Holloway, Kingston, Exeter, Manchester Metropolitan, Lancashire, Dundee, Anglia Ruskin and Birmingham City University. Availability depends on the individual course.

What is the UK January intake 2027 deadline?

There is no single deadline. Current examples range from 30 October 2026 at Birmingham for most overseas postgraduate taught applicants to 18 December 2026 for many international January courses at Liverpool. Several universities have deadlines during November and early to mid-December.

When should I apply for January intake in UK 2027?

International students should ideally aim to submit most applications in September or October 2026. Some universities accept applications later, but applying earlier leaves more time for conditions, deposits, CAS and the Student visa.

Which UK universities have January intake postgraduate 2027?

Strong verified postgraduate options include Liverpool, Strathclyde, Birmingham, Loughborough, Queen Mary, Portsmouth, Northumbria, Salford, Lincoln, Brunel, Royal Holloway and Exeter.

Which UK universities have January intake undergraduate 2027?

Current undergraduate examples include Portsmouth, Northumbria, Lancashire, Dundee, Anglia Ruskin, Birmingham City University, Kent and Stirling. Many of these options are top-up, accelerated or selected Bachelor's routes rather than a full university-wide January intake.

What are the best courses in UK with January intake?

Business, Management, Computer Science, Data Science, AI, Engineering, Finance, Marketing and selected Public Health, Education and Law programmes have some of the strongest January availability.

How much are January intake UK tuition fees?

Fees vary by programme. Current international examples range from £18,600 for Portsmouth's MSc Project Management to £35,250 for Queen Mary's Management MSc. These are course examples rather than a national range.

Can international students get January 2027 scholarships?

Yes. Current examples include £6,000 to £9,000 automatic postgraduate awards at Strathclyde for eligible students, £5,000 at Kingston, £3,000 to £5,000 under Lincoln's South Asia Scholarship and £2,000 to £4,000 under Royal Holloway's International Masters Scholarship.

Can I study in the UK in January without IELTS?

Possibly. Some universities accept other approved English tests or evidence. This depends on the institution, course and applicant, so “without IELTS” should not be treated as “without an English-language requirement”.

Is January intake good for international students?

Yes, particularly for postgraduate students whose chosen course has a confirmed January start. It can also suit students who need additional preparation time after the main September intake.

What Should You Do Next?

When comparing January intake universities in UK, start with five to eight courses that genuinely match your academic background, budget and career plans.

For each course, check the January 2027 start date, entry requirements, international tuition fee, scholarship options and application deadline. Then work backwards from the CAS and Student visa timeline.

Think about Liverpool as a simple example. An international student applying in October has time to fix a missing document or meet an offer condition. A student beginning the same process shortly before the December deadline has far less room for anything to go wrong.

That difference matters.

Choose the course first, verify the details on the university's official website, and apply while you still have enough time to make a considered decision.

If you want your eligibility and shortlist checked before applying, you can discuss your January 2027 options with an adviser.