The May intake in the UK (also known as a summer intake) is a selective university entry point, where some programmes start in May rather than in the standard September or January intakes. It is not an admissions cycle which is universal, and only certain universities, campuses, and courses offer it. A majority of the May intake universities in UK are postgraduate programmes (MSc, MA or MBA), but you may also come across a few alternative or pathway programmes.
For international applicants, the UK May intake 2026 is a practical alternative, though it has to be approached with a great deal of care and forethought. Course availability is limited, the schedules are shorter and visa preparation cannot be postponed to the last moment.
This post clarifies what May intake actually means and who it is most suited for. We also see which universities in the UK offer it and how to organise applications and visas safely.
May Intake in the UK: What it Means and Who it’s Best For
A UK May intake is more appropriately viewed as a programme-level start date, rather than an institution-wide admissions season. Universities offer May intake take in specific courses that are able to sustain various entry points in the same academic year. These programmes are usually 12-month taught postgraduate models or a fast-tracked academic schedule that specifically caters to off-cycle commencements.
May admission can be appropriate when:
- applicants have missed the deadlines in September or January intake options,
- they wish to start studying earlier or
- require a date that fits more personal, professional or funding schedules.
The summer intake UK universities typically covers subject areas like business, management, computing, data, health and international studies. Here, cohort-based teaching can be conducted flexibly under such intakes.
Nevertheless, you need to keep in mind that not all intakes of May are appropriate. There is less flexibility in course choice and less access to scholarships. Also, not all aspects of student life, including internships or graduate recruitment processes will align perfectly.
The key thing to note is: May intake must be assessed programme by programme but never assumed at a university level.
UK university intakes January, May, September
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Factor
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May Intake
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January Intake
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September Intake
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Availability of courses
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Limited, primarily postgraduate
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Widest range
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Moderate
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Scholarships
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Less frequent large-cycle awards
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Majority of funding options
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Some availability
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Housing demand
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Lower demand, limited stock
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Highest demand
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Medium
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Alignment by internship
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Often off-cycle
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Strongest alignment
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Mixed
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Time of graduation
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Earlier completion
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Normal cycle
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A little delayed
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September intake in the UK remains the primary intake in most of the UK universities; however, January and May intakes provide flexibility to students who need alternative timelines. When you need to make a choice of the intake start month, make sure to consider the university choice, funding and alignment with academic and career cycles.
Which UK Universities Offer May intake? Verified Examples and How to Check
Certain universities in the UK have special May start pages showing available courses, whereas others put May start dates on individual programme pages or on academic calendars. Since the availability fluctuates on a case-by-case basis, the only sure way is to go through a chain of verification:
Official university webpage -> particular course page -> verified date of start -> application and CAS timeline.
The following are confirmed cases of UK institutes that publicly list May intake options (not exhaustive).
UK universities May start date (official)
These are universities offering May start postgraduate courses UK in taught programmes and not in all departments. The most common subjects are business, management, computing, data and professionally based programmes. Subjects for May intake computer science MSc UK have the capability of serving a number of cohorts in a single academic year.
What these examples tell us of the May intake patterns?
By looking at the institutions that have been verified, you will notice some patterns that would enable an applicant to receive more opportunities other than the list.
1. May intake is nearly always programme-based and not university-wide
Even in a university that advertises May starts, only specific number of courses will be commencing in May. The applicants must never presume that every single programme in a listed university has a May intake.
2. The location of the campus is important
Universities which have international, urban, or niche campuses and especially in London, are more inclined to accommodate May beginnings. These campuses usually have rolling admissions infrastructure and instruction programs that accommodate international cohorts.
3. Not fixed every year
Availability of May intake does not remain constant available each year. Adding, pausing, or withdrawing May starts may be influenced by demand, staffing capacity and the planning of visa compliance in universities. A programme that gave a May start one year may not give it next year. You need to rely on official university pages to get proper details.
How to check May intake in 2 minutes?
To prevent mistakes, the applicants can apply the below verification checklist to all the shortlisted courses:
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2-min checklist to verify May starts
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1. Use search in the university site with May start or May intake.
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2. Access the individual programme page, not a landing page of the marketing.
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3. Establish the first month and campus where the course was to be taken.
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4. Check the international entry route, to ensure that the May intake is open to international applicants.
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5. Examine the application deadlines and CAS instructions and note deposit or compliance conditions.
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In case of any of these steps being uncertain or absent, treat the programme as unverified until further notice is received either via the admissions or international team of the university.
Build your own validated shortlist
The above-mentioned universities are merely to be regarded as the evidence of concept, rather than the full catalogue. The most secure approach would be the creation of a shortlist that is personal and based on official sources.
Begin with programme-wide searches of subject, check start dates and reconcile May intake application deadline UK with programme, CAS for May intake and visa.
The verification-first policy helps minimise the risk of making an application to a non-existent intake, visa deadline, or committing to programmes not in line with your academic and planning requirements. With May intake in particular, it is the accuracy rather than the volume that counts.
Timeline of May intake application: due dates, deposits, UCAS vs direct apply
The deadlines are usually earlier than applicants expect, particularly for May intake courses for international students UK. They have to consider offer processing and deposits depending on the requirements, UK Student visa and CAS issuance, as well as UK Student visa timelines.
Also, May intake takes place on stricter and more fluctuating schedules, unlike September intake, where most processes are highly standardised. A safe planning technique is to act backwards, a minimum of four to six months before the proposed May commencement date.
A majority of postgraduate May-entry courses receive applications directly into the university’s own portal. These programs are normally evaluated on a rolling basis, implying that spots can be closed once cohorts are filled.
In contrast, undergraduate pathways in the UK are more generally organised around UCAS cycles and May entry opportunities on undergraduate programmes are few and programme-specific. For universities that have undergraduate May starts, applicants need to meet UCAS-linked requirements, unless the university makes it clear otherwise.
Step by Step Planning Timeline
6-5 months prior (November-December) to May commencement.
Only verified May-start programmes based on official university course pages should be shortlisted. Check the date of start, campus and international eligibility and proceed.
5-4 months prior (January)
Send applications together with full documentation. Applications submitted incompletely may stall the allocation of decisions and as well as downstream visa schedules.
4-3 months prior (February-March)
Get offers, fulfill any conditions of the offer regarding academics or the English language, officially accept the offer and pay a deposit where necessary by the university.
3-2 months before start (March)
Obtain the Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) and fulfil any compliance requirements made by the institution.
2-1 months before (April)
Make a UK Student visa application, undergo biometrics and make final travel arrangements, keeping the BRP steps after arrival in mind, according to the recommendations on visa processing and arrival dates on GOV.UK.
Important risks and limits
The deadlines will depend on the course capacity and the readiness of the documents. You should also ask if scholarships are available for the May intake in the UK. Failure to meet a deposit or CAS deadline may lead to a later intake. The published CAS and visa advice provided by the university should never be ignored by the applicants. It is better to refer to these instead of using general timelines. Also, don’t forget to have some time buffer in case of unforeseen delays.
Entry Requirements for May Intake Courses (international + UK applicants)
The entry requirements in May intake courses tend to be the same as those of September entry. Off-cycle starts do not reduce academic standards in universities, but document schedules are likely to be shorter.
Basic types of requirements are:
- Academic transcripts and certificates.
- IELTS or other accepted equivalents of English language test requirements.
- Passport
- Personal statement or statement of purpose.
- References
- CV for work experience evidence for professional programmes.
- Portfolio for creative courses.
Applicants expect conditional offers, although all the terms should be fulfilled before issuing CAS. The applicants should check the programme page for final requirements.
UK Student visa for May intake: CAS, Money Rules and Arrival Window
International students beginning in May need a UK student visa, which is granted depending on a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) by the university. The CAS validates course information, sponsorship and start date.
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Visa-Ready Timeline for May Start
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Step
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Last safe date (May start)
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Notes
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Pay deposit / accept offer
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By early March
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Before CAS can be issued in most universities, guidance on the check programme.
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Request CAS
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Late March
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CAS has to be issued at the time you apply; CAS is commonly given 3-6 months prior to the start of the course by universities.
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Apply Student UK Student visa May intake
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Late March to early April
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You may apply up to 6 months before the course starts, and you must apply as soon as you receive CAS.
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File biometric appointment
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April
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Make appointment early, duration of processing will vary depending on country. GOV.UK recommends that a sufficient lead time should be allowed.
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Get Visa before travelling
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Mid-April or earlier
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Allow buffer before your scheduled date of travelling.
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Visa to UK
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Until 1 month before start of course
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On courses extended beyond 6 months, visa permits arrival of up to 1 month prior to the first academic day.
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In the case of courses that extend past 6 months, students are normally allowed to get to the UK up to one month before the course commencement date, though, of course, it depends on the validity of the visa. The financial evidence requirements, like May intake tuition fees UK, and the bank statement rules for a UK visa are based on the circumstances of the individual applicant, such as the fact that the applicant is entitled to differential evidence arrangements.
Due to the tight schedules of May intakes, students are not supposed to make late CAS requests. Also, it is wise to use official UK government advice and university international advice teams to get proper advice on the case.
Is the May Intake Worth it? Advantages, disadvantages, scholarships and employment time
May can be a good choice when the student is concerned with speed and flexibility, but it is not necessarily the best one.
Benefits: This has the benefit of an early start to studies, smaller groups of cohorts and reduced housing competition. It is also a way through which applicants who missed previous intake.
Disadvantage: Smaller programme options, fewer May intake scholarships UK and possible misalignment with internship or graduate recruiting processes. Students might have to contact employability services sooner and do job searches well in advance.
May intake works best in a purposeful manner with a clear understanding of the academic, visa and career implications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK universities have May intake for international students?
A number of universities in the UK have a May intake of international students, which is primarily restricted to a few taught postgraduate courses. May intake London universities is based on the university, campus and subject area. The intake options available in May vary annually. So before applying, an applicant is always advised to check the start date at the official programme page.
Is May intake available for UK undergraduate courses?
May admission is mostly provided on postgraduate taught programmes. So you will see May intake MSc UK and May intake MBA UK. Undergraduate May starts are uncommon and tend to be confined to particular pathways or campus-based routes. A majority of the UK undergraduate degrees adhere to the common September academic cycle.
When should I apply for a May intake course to remain safe with visa timelines?
International candidates are supposed to submit their applications at least four to six months prior to the planned May commencement. This gives enough time to review the applications, have the conditions, pay the required deposit, get the CAS and fill in the UK student visa process without taking unnecessary risks.
Do May intake students study the same course contents as September intake?
That is correct. The academic curriculum, learning outcomes and assessment structure for May intake students are the same as those of September or January intake students. The distinction is just in the schedule and date of commencement, not the quality of courses, teaching quality or the degree qualification.
Can I get scholarships for May intake in the UK?
There are a few universities which have scholarships for May intake students, although the funding opportunities are usually fewer as compared to September intake. Scholarships can be programme-based or constrained. Therefore, applicants need to check official university pages early and should not depend on large-cycle awards.
Will I be able to work part-time with a UK student visa if my course begins in May?
Yes. Under the visa conditions, students on a UK student visa can work part-time during term and full-time during official vacations. The course starting in May, September, or January does not make a difference, as work entitlements are the same.
What is the difference between May intake, April intake and summer intake?
These terms are used interchangeably to indicate non-standard course starting towards the end of spring or early summer. Mostly the programmes start in May. Applicants need to pay attention to the start date that is specified on the programme page and not the label used.
Will beginning the course in May influence the eligibility for the Graduate Route visa?
No. The UK Graduate Route visa is open to anyone who has successfully graduated with a degree that qualifies and is eligible and meets the visa criteria. The time of the year the course is commenced does not influence the eligibility, as long as the programme satisfies the duration and compliance requirements by UK authorities.
Conclusion
May intake in the UK exists, yet it sits in a narrow lane of taught postgraduate programmes at specific universities and campuses, with CAS and UKVI Student visa timing tied to the exact start date. The safest approach is verification-first, using the official programme page as your source of truth before you plan IELTS, documents, and travel.
Once the start month is confirmed, your next moves become clear: shortlist the right course, submit the application, accept the offer, secure the CAS, complete visa steps, then plan arrival. It also helps to plan practicalities like opening a student bank account in the UK early. Seats can be limited, and the calendar is off-cycle, so a missed deadline can throw off accommodation and job timing. Are your transcripts and references ready now?
If you want a clean finish to your decision, pick two or three options and re-check the May start line on each page before you click submit; that simple habit keeps May Intake Universities in UK predictable and low-stress.
The steps to follow are: Verify -> Shortlist -> Apply -> Accept -> CAS -> Visa -> Arrival.