Masters Intake in UK

UK universities have three main intake periods for Masters programmes: September/October, January/February and May/June. These are the UK Masters intake months you’ll see on almost every course page. September is the biggest by far, while January and May are open only for selected courses.

Every masters intake in UK works a little differently. Top names like University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) start most taught Masters only in September. Newer universities, like Coventry University and Northumbria University, also run January and May starts. For January 2027, many deadlines close between late November and mid-December 2026. Coventry University’s May 2027 deadline is 5 April 2027.

In this article, you’ll find each UK master intake explained in plain words. You’ll also see which universities offer each start, real 2027 dates, a month-by-month plan and an easy way to pick the right start for you.

How Many Intakes Are There for Masters in UK?

There are three. The masters intake in UK runs in September/October, January/February and May/June. September has the most courses by a wide margin, and at many top universities it’s the only start date you’ll get.

For a wider look that covers bachelor’s courses too, read our full guide on Intakes in UK.

The table below compares the UK Masters intake months side by side, so you can see what each one offers:

Intake	When Classes Start	How Many Masters Courses Run	Best Suited For
September/October	Mid-September to early October	The widest choice, at every university	Students who want the most options and funding
January/February	Mid to late January	A shorter list, chosen course by course	Students who need a few extra months to get ready
May/June	Mid-May to early June	Very few, mostly at newer universities	Students who’ve found the right course with a May start

A university offering January entry doesn’t mean every course starts then. Coventry University says it plainly: not all its courses have January and May entry. So whichever masters intake in UK you’re eyeing, check the start date on the course page itself.

A few universities go beyond the usual UK Masters intake months. Three points are worth knowing before you plan:

• More than three dates: At Coventry University, most postgraduate courses can start in September, November, January, March, May or July.
• June, not May: University of Salford runs a June start for some business courses instead of May.
• Research is different: The University of Edinburgh offers a January start for some PhDs, like its Education PhD. Its taught Masters still start in September.

September Intake for Masters in UK

September is the main UK master intake. Every university runs it, and it’s when most scholarships are given out. At University of Oxford, almost every course has a December or January deadline, and applying by then is how you’re considered for most Oxford scholarships.

The three sections below cover why September works for most students, where you can study and when to send your application.

Why Choose the September Intake?

September gives you the full menu: every course, every university and the biggest pool of funding. For most students, it’s the safest masters intake in UK to aim for.

These are the main reasons September stays the top pick:

• Course choice: Every UK university runs its full list of Masters courses in September.
• Top universities: Leading names like University of Oxford and The University of Edinburgh start taught Masters only in September.
• Scholarships: Big awards follow the September cycle. The UCL Global Masters Scholarship, for example, was worth £15,000 (INR 19.31 lakh) for 2026 entry.
• Bigger student group: You start with the largest batch of new students, which makes settling in easier.

Courses and Universities Available

Almost every course runs in September, from MSc Data Science to MA Marketing. King’s College London, for example, says most of its taught courses start in late September and the rest start in January.

Shortlist from course pages, not homepages. Our September Intake in UK guide lists more universities and their dates.

Two well-known September-only courses show how this works:

• The University of Manchester: MSc Management at its Alliance Manchester Business School starts in September 2027 only. The fee for international students is £34,800 (INR 44.80 lakh) a year.
• The University of Edinburgh: Its MSc Management also runs in September only, with five application rounds.

When to Apply for September Intake

Apply early. Top universities set deadlines up to 10 months before classes begin, and some courses close as soon as seats fill. Oxford is a good example of how early a masters intake in UK can close.

These September 2027 deadlines come straight from official pages:

University or Scholarship	Course	Application Deadline
University of Oxford	Most graduate courses	December 2026 or January 2027, at 12 noon UK time
The University of Edinburgh	MSc Management	Round 1: 14 October 2026; final round: 9 June 2027
Chevening Scholarship (UK government)	Any eligible Masters	Closed on 6 October 2026

If you’re aiming for Chevening, plan for September 2028. The 2027-28 round has already closed.

Suggested Read: UK Scholarships for Indian Students

January Intake for Masters in UK

January is the second-biggest masters intake in UK. People also call it the winter or spring intake, and classes begin in mid to late January. Queen Mary University of London, for example, starts teaching on 25 January 2027.

If you’re searching for a college for Masters in UK for winter intake, this is the start you mean. Many students try to find Masters in UK for Jan intake after missing September, and a January intake Masters in UK course is often the best fix.

Why Choose the January Intake?

January buys you time. You can retake a test, save money or finish a job notice period. Each January intake Masters in UK course follows the same syllabus as its September version.

If you’re weighing a college for Masters in UK for winter intake, the table shows the good parts and the trade-offs side by side:

What You Get	What You Give Up
Four extra months to prepare documents and test scores	A shorter list of courses to pick from
The same entry requirements; Coventry University confirms later starts match January or September	Fewer big scholarships, since most follow September
A 12-month course that ends around January 2028	Housing isn’t always guaranteed; Cardiff University asks January starters to book private rooms

For a deeper comparison, read Difference Between September & January Intake in UK Colleges.

Courses and Universities Available

January runs course by course. Business, computing, data science and health courses show up most often. To find Masters in UK for Jan intake, filter each university’s course search by start date.

Each January intake Masters in UK option below comes from an official university page:

University	January 2027 Options	Key Date
University of Hertfordshire	Many taught Masters (MSc Management standard route is closed)	Apply until the course fills
University of Salford	Selected science and engineering Masters	Submit CAS documents by 30 November 2026
Cardiff University	Courses like MSc Business Management and MSc Marketing	Apply by 4 December 2026
Queen Mary University of London	Medicine, dentistry and life sciences Masters	Teaching begins 25 January 2027
Loughborough University London	A range of full-time Masters	12-month courses ending January 2028
King’s College London	Courses that don’t start in September	Check each course page
Northumbria University	MSc courses like Data Science and International Business Management	September, January and May starts listed

CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It’s the reference your university gives you for the Student visa.

Note: The University of Manchester’s January Masters are online and part-time, so they won’t get you a Student visa. The University of Edinburgh’s January starts are for research degrees only. If you need an on-campus college for Masters in UK for winter intake, neither one will fit. That’s normal for a smaller masters intake in UK.

When to Apply for January Intake

Start in summer. Most January deadlines fall between late November and mid-December, and you’ll need time after the offer for your CAS and visa.

The best time to find Masters in UK for Jan intake is June or July. Follow this month-by-month plan if you’re aiming for a January intake Masters in UK course in 2027:

1. June to July 2026: Shortlist courses and check that each one lists a January start.
2. August to October 2026: Send your applications with every document ready.
3. November 2026: Accept your offer, pay the deposit and send your CAS documents.
4. December 2026: Apply for your Student visa as soon as your CAS arrives.
5. January 2027: Fly in, enrol and start classes.

Cardiff University’s real dates show how tight this gets. You apply by 4 December 2026, pay the deposit by 11 December 2026 and meet the CAS deadline on 18 December 2026.

May Intake for Masters in UK

May is the smallest masters intake in UK and the last of the three UK Masters intake months. Only a handful of universities run it, and almost all of them are newer, career-focused ones. Coventry University is the clearest example, with most of its postgraduate courses open for a May start.

The next three sections cover whether May is right for you, where to look and which dates matter.

Is May Intake Available for Master’s Courses?

Yes, though only at a few universities. It’s the least common UK master intake. You won’t find a May start at University of Oxford, UCL or King’s College London.

Check these three things before you plan around May:

• The exact start date: Look for “May 2027” on the course page itself, not just the university’s intake page.
• The month: Some universities use June instead. University of Salford runs June starts for some business courses.
• Your finish date: A one-year course starting in May ends around mid-2028, so plan your job search for that point.

Universities and Courses to Check

Two universities stand out for May, and both list it as a regular start on many Masters courses.

Start your search with these:

• Coventry University: Most of its postgraduate courses run in May. It also offers November, March and July starts.
• Northumbria University: Courses like the Artificial Intelligence Technology MSc in London list September 2026, January 2027 and May 2027 starts.
• University of Salford: There’s no May start for taught Masters, though Salford Business School runs a June 2027 intake.

When to Apply for May Intake

Apply by February if you can. The official deadline comes later, but your visa needs time too.

Coventry University’s official May 2027 dates are:

Step	Date
Final application deadline	Monday 5 April 2027
Deadline to meet offer conditions	Thursday 8 April 2027
Enrolment deadline	Tuesday 1 June 2027

Coventry University also warns that students from countries with visa delays may face earlier deadlines. Treat 5 April as your last date, not your target.

Universities Offering Masters in UK Across Different Intakes

Each university picks its own intakes. Big research universities tend to stick to September, while newer ones spread the UK Masters intake months across the year. That’s why the same masters intake in UK can look very different from one campus to the next.

Use this table as a starting point, then confirm on your course page. Start dates can differ even inside one university.

University	September	January	May or June	Key 2027 Date
University of Oxford	Yes	No	No	Course deadlines in December 2026 or January 2027
The University of Edinburgh	Yes	No (taught)	No	MSc Management Round 2: 9 December 2026
The University of Manchester	Yes	Online only	No	No on-campus January start
King’s College London	Yes (most courses)	Yes (remaining courses)	No	Check each course page
Queen Mary University of London	Yes	Yes	No	Teaching begins 25 January 2027
Cardiff University	Yes	Yes	No	Apply by 4 December 2026
University of Salford	Yes	Yes	June (Business School)	CAS documents by 30 November 2026
University of Hertfordshire	Yes	Yes (many courses)	No	Apply until the course fills
Northumbria University	Yes	Yes	Yes	Starts listed on course pages
Coventry University	Yes	Yes	Yes	May deadline: 5 April 2027

A January intake Masters in UK is open on campus at 7 of these 10 universities. If you want to find Masters in UK for Jan intake, the January column is your shortlist, and any university with a “Yes” there is a college for Masters in UK for winter intake worth checking. 

For rankings and fees at more universities, see Top Universities in UK for Masters.

Suggested Read: Masters in UK

Application Timeline for Masters Intake in UK

Start 12 to 18 months before your course begins. It sounds early, though it isn’t. Oxford’s deadlines fall up to 10 months before an October start, and you can only file your visa 6 months before classes begin.

Every masters intake in UK follows the same basic rhythm, even though each university sets its own deadlines. The four stages below turn your UK master intake plan into clear steps.

12 to 18 Months Before Your Intended Intake

This is your research stage. You pick the course, the city and which of the UK Masters intake months suits you. You also look for funding, since big scholarships close almost a year ahead.

Cover these three tasks in this stage:

• Shortlist courses: Pick 5 to 8 courses and note the start dates listed for each.
• Check costs: Work out tuition and living costs. Our guide on the cost of Masters in UK for international students can help.
• Look for funding: Write down every scholarship deadline. Many close before the course deadline itself.

6 to 12 Months Before Your Intended Intake

Now you build your application. Most UK universities take Masters applications through their own portals, not through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). UCL and Coventry University both use their own online systems. If you’re aiming to find Masters in UK for Jan intake in 2027, this stage falls between January and July 2026.

Get these ready during this stage:

• Documents: Transcripts, degree certificate, CV and passport copy.
• SOP and references: Write your statement of purpose (SOP) and ask your referees early.
• English test: Book IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or another accepted test so your score is ready on time.

3 to 6 Months Before Your Intended Intake

This is when you hit submit. Send each application before its course deadline, as some courses close early once places fill. For a January intake Masters in UK course, this window runs from August to October.

Keep these three points in mind:

• Decision time: Coventry University aims to give a first decision within one week, though it can take longer in busy months.
• Offer conditions: Meet them on time. Queen Mary University of London asks January 2027 applicants to clear their conditions by 4 January 2027.
• Deposits: Many universities ask for a deposit before they issue your CAS.

After Receiving an Offer

Once you accept, the visa stage begins, whichever masters intake in UK you’ve chosen. You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts, and you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

Plan for these official visa costs and funds:

Visa Cost or Fund	Amount
Student visa fee (applying from outside UK)	£558 (INR 71,837)
Immigration Health Surcharge	£776 (INR 99,902) a year
Living funds for courses in London	£1,483 (INR 1.91 lakh) a month, for up to 9 months
Living funds for courses outside London	£1,136 (INR 1.46 lakh) a month, for up to 9 months

You’ll also need to show your first year’s tuition fees. For the full process, read our Student Visa for UK guide. To see how visa dates line up with each start, check UK Study Visa Intakes.

One more date matters here. From 1 January 2027, the Graduate Route drops to 18 months for Masters graduates who apply on or after that date. Anyone starting a one-year Masters now will apply after it, so plan your job search around 18 months, whichever UK master intake you join.

Eligibility and Documents for Masters Intake in UK

Your masters intake in UK doesn’t change the entry rules. A January intake Masters in UK course asks for the same grades and English scores as a September one. What changes is how quickly you need everything ready.

Universities check two main things, covered below.

Academic and English Language Requirements

Most universities ask for a bachelor’s degree at a set UK grade. That’s usually a 2:1 or a 2:2, depending on the course.

The main requirements usually look like this:

• Grades: Coventry University accepts a 2:2 honours degree or above on many courses. UCL’s Statistical Science MSc asks for at least a 2:1 in a numbers-based subject.
• English: Most courses ask for an IELTS score between 6.0 and 7.0.
• Test validity: Some universities, like The University of Manchester, need your English test report to be valid on your course start date.

Documents Required for Applications

Your documents stay the same for every UK master intake. Having them scanned and ready can save you weeks.

Coventry University asks international applicants for these documents:

• Academic transcripts: For every year of your degree.
• Degree certificate: Or a work reference if you’re employed.
• Personal statement: Often called a statement of purpose.
• One academic reference: From a teacher who knows your work.
• English test score: From an accepted test.
• Passport copy: Your current, valid passport.

Some courses also ask for extra items, like a portfolio for design or a research proposal for research-heavy Masters.

How to Choose the Right Masters Intake in UK

Pick the course first, then the month. The right masters intake in UK is simply the one where your chosen course actually runs and you can be ready in time.

Match your situation with the right UK master intake using this table:

Your Situation	What to Do
Your course starts only in September	Apply early and target the December or January deadlines
You need more time to prepare	Check if the exact course lists a January start
You want to start in May	Confirm May on the course page, then apply by February
You need a scholarship	Compare the scholarship deadline with the course deadline
You’ve missed your deadline	Ask about late applications, deferral or the next start date

The four sections below explain each factor in a little more detail.

Choose Based on Course Availability

Course first, always. If your dream course runs only in September, January isn’t an option, no matter how ready you are. Trust the UK Masters intake months listed on the course page, since a university-wide intake page can be misleading.

Choose Based on Application Readiness

Be honest about your timeline. Do you still need an English test score, a final degree certificate or a reference? If so, picking a college for Masters in UK for winter intake gives you about four more months. A rushed application rarely helps, whichever masters intake in UK you pick.

Choose Based on Scholarships and Funding Deadlines

Funding often decides the month. Big awards like Chevening follow September only, although some universities do give money to January starters.

Two verified examples are worth knowing if you’re applying for a January intake Masters in UK course:

• University of Hertfordshire: The Chancellor’s International Scholarship gives £500 to £4,000 (INR 64,370 to INR 5.15 lakh) to new international students joining in January 2027, with no separate application needed.
• Northumbria University: Its UK International Scholarship gives a £3,000 (INR 3.86 lakh) fee discount to September 2026 or January 2027 starters at the Newcastle campus. It’s only for students already studying at another UK-based institution.

For more funding routes, read about scholarship for MS in UK.

What to Do If You Miss Your Preferred Intake

Don’t panic. Most universities give you at least one next step, though the rules differ a lot.

Three universities show how differently this works:

• University College London (UCL): It doesn’t accept deferred entry for taught Masters, so you’ll need to apply again in the next cycle.
• Coventry University: It can normally move your place to the next masters intake in UK.
• Queen Mary University of London: It asks you to request a deferral to January or September 2027 by 6 November 2026.

One warning: at Northumbria University, deferring your place cancels your scholarship offer. If you’ve missed September, you can still find Masters in UK for Jan intake at universities like Coventry University and Cardiff University.

Suggested Read: Study in UK

Conclusion

The UK Masters intake months are simple once you see them laid out. September is the main masters intake in UK, with the most courses and the most funding. A January intake Masters in UK course works well at universities like University of Salford, Cardiff University and Queen Mary University of London. May is the smallest UK master intake, led by Coventry University and Northumbria University.

Whichever masters intake in UK you choose, check the course page first, then work back from its deadline. If you’re trying to find Masters in UK for Jan intake, start in summer, because most January deadlines close by mid-December.

If you’re still torn between September and January, or need help timing your CAS and visa, book a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad’s study abroad experts and get a clear plan for your study abroad journey.