Popular intakes in Canada

If you are planning to study in Canada it can only be possible if you choose the right time to study. In Canada, universities or colleges take admission on indefinite periods; these are commonly known as intakes. There are three major intakes in Canada- fall, winter, and summer intake. So choosing the right intake and the right course is very important for every student to go to Canada for study.

There are various factors that you need to study about the intake before applying for the study visa. Many students get confused about which intake is suitable for them, and they choose the wrong intake. So, this article is going to cover all aspects which you need to know about three intakes before choosing the college.

In Canada, international students are accepted in different intakes because for international studies there are a lot of students who are applying from worldwide. And universities are accepting international students accordingly.

Which intake is best for you? What are the requirements for all three intakes? Let’s get started to clear all your doubts through this article.

What are the major intakes in Canada?

There are three popular intakes in Canada for international students. These are-

Fall intake (September intake)
Winter intake (January intake)
Summer intake (May intake)

These intakes are following a particular time period. Fall intakes started in September, Winter intake started in January, and Summer intake started in May. All three intakes have their merit and demerit. If we will talk about winter intake during this intake students are not able to adapt to the cold weather. During May intake the demerit of this intake is that it is a very short intake as compared to the other two intakes. So students have to choose the intake according to their choice and the availability of the seats.

Fall intake in Canada-

Duration of fall intake- September to December

Fall intake is considered the primary intake for international students to study in Canada. In this intake, most of the colleges are open for international students because most students prefer this intake. Because this intake gives them enough time to settle down and adapt to the conditions of the studies and the environment. Additionally, during this intake most colleges offer the largest number of seats available for all courses as compared to the other two intakes. The benefit of going in this intake is it will put 4-5 months ahead of the students who are in winter intake. Another benefit of this intake is the weather. The weather in fall is very pleasant as compared to the winter.

What is the right time to apply for fall intake-

The process of application is started in August and October. It also depends upon the college that when they are opening the availability of seats for international students. Because most universities open their applications in the month of December. Some universities close their applications in December.

Winter intake in Canada-

Duration of winter intake- January to April

Winter intake is considered the primary intake to study in Canada. Very few seats are available during this intake because this is the continuation of the fall intake. The weather at this intake is very cold and it is very difficult for the student to adapt to the cold weather. That is why international students do not prefer this intake.

What is the right time to apply for winter intake-

This intake is preferred by the student who missed or did not get admission in fall intake. So in winter intake, they get a chance to continue their studies without wasting another whole year studying in Canada. The deadline for January intake is in between September and November or it depends on the college.

Summer intake in Canada-

Duration of summer intake- May to August

Summer or spring intake is also known for May intake in Canada. This intake is the least preferred intake by international students to study in Canada. During this intake, very few colleges are open for admission because of the time period of this intake. By this most international students prefer to go back to their homes to spend their vacations.

What is the right time to apply for summer intake-

If you want to go for summer intake you need to start applying for this intake from October to December. Most of the colleges set their deadline for spring intake in October or it will depend on the college you are going to apply for. The deadline for my intake is in February.

Deadlines for all Courses in Canada-

There are three major intakes and the deadline varies from college to college. There is not much difference in all three intakes. Here is the list of deadlines of all three intake-

January intake- August to September
May intake- January to February
September intake- February to April

Comparison between three intakes for Indian students-

There are various factors which based on a student will decide which intake is best for them. Such as the availability of seats, availability of desired courses, availability of the desired college, etc. Other factors included the availability of job opportunities, the acceptance rate of different colleges, internships availability. Students have to choose the intake after doing their proper research. There are a lot of visa consultants available to help the aspirants. They have to take help if they are feeling any difficulty while searching for the best intake.

The most preferred intake by the international students is September intake because of a few factors. Like the weather, the number of seats, and the availability of all colleges during September. Students who want to study in Canada must find out which intake is the college of their choice for admission in their desired course.

You should thoroughly research admission openings in the preferred intake before applying for the exams such as PTE, IELT, TOEFL. Because these exams have an expiry date after which you have to give the exam again.