Canada Intakes 2024: Fall, Winter, Spring (Summer) Intakes

dummy

Meridean Overseas

Updated On 06 November 2023 & Read Time 9 minutes

2k

Overview

Canada is one of the most popular destinations among international students for studying abroad. Every year, several international students migrate from different countries to Canada in order to gain academic excellence.

 

Canadian universities offer admissions to international students in three main intakes, namely, September, January and May intakes. While being primary, secondary and tertiary intakes in Canada, the availability of your chosen course being offered in these intakes entirely depends on the university you’re applying to.


In this blog, we will look at all three of these intakes, along with the famous universities and courses of these intakes. So, without any further delays, let’s get to it right away.

 

Intakes in Canada

 As we learned in the overview, there are three intakes in Canada. If you’re planning to study in Canada, then you must have a sound understanding of all three of these intakes. With this, let’s head on to the table presented below:

Overview of the Intakes in Canada

Intake 

Month of the Intake 

Details About the Intake 

Fall Intake (Primary Intake) 

September-January 

  • It is the most popular intake in Canada. 

  • All the universities and colleges offer admission to this intake. 

  • Classes of this intake typically start in September. 

  • The fall intake in Canada offers a large number of courses to choose from.

Winter Intake (Secondary Intake)

January-May

  • The winter intake in Canada is known as the secondary or the second most popular intake in Canada. 

  • The winter intake in Canada acts more like an extension of the fall intake.  

  • The majority of the courses are available in this intake.

  • Except for a few, most universities offer admission in this intake. 

Summer Intake 

May-August

  • The summer intake in Canada is the tertiary intake in Canada.

  • Only a limited number of universities and colleges offer admission to this intake. 

  • A small number of courses are available in this intake. 

  • Generally, Diploma courses are available in this intake. 

Timeline of the Intakes

 The timeline of intakes is very crucial to keep in mind, and you must prepare for applications accordingly. So, let’s take a look at the timeline of the three intakes in Canada in mind.

What to do? 

Fall Intake 

Winter Intake 

Summer Intake

Research the course and the university

Do it by August to October of the year prior to intake 

Do it by January-April of the year prior to the intake year 

Do it by May of the year prior to the intake year

Start shortlisting universities you wish to apply to. 

Do it by December of the previous year. 

Do it by June – July of the previous year

Do it by July- August of the previous year

Fulfill all the set eligibility criteria 

Do it by January-February the year applying

Do it by August of the previous year

Do it by August -September of the previous year

Application 

Do it before the set deadline of the university 

Do it before the set deadline of the university 

Do it before the set deadline of the university 

Apply for a student visa 

As soon as you accept the offer letter and pay the fee and GIC 

As soon as you accept the offer letter and pay the fee and GIC 

As soon as you accept the offer letter and pay the fee and GIC 

Pros and Cons of all Three Intakes in Canada

Let us take a look at the pros and cons of all three intakes in Canada.

Pros and Cons of Fall, Winter and Summer Intakes in Canada

Name of the Intake

Pros 

Cons 

September/Fall 

  • If you join a university in the fall intake in Canada, you’ll find great weather in Canada, making it easy to adjust. 

  • Offers ample amount of time to settle down. 

  • A large number of universities to choose from.

  • Good internship and scholarship opportunities.

  • The majority of the courses are offered. 

  • A high number of applications are done in this intake because it is a primary one, which increases competition. 

  • In order to be eligible for admission to the chosen course, your test scores and entrance exam points should be higher than the requirement. 

January/Winter

  • The winter intake in Canada offers an ample amount of time to study for English language proficiency exams, entrance exams, visas and study permits. 

  • Due to the number of applications in this intake, the chances of getting into the desired university and course accepted are high. 

  • While choosing the winter intake in Canada, you’ll find that the weather is very harsh. 

  • In this intake, programs that are offered will be very few.

May/Summer/Spring 

  • The Spring intake in Canada is the tertiary intake and has a very low competition rate. 

  • Due to lower competition rates, the chances of securing admission at the university of your choice become very high. 

  • This intake offers you the chance to opt for short-term courses, helping you upgrade your skills until you finally get your desired course. 

  • In this intake, generally, only short-term courses are offered. 

  • There are fewer internship or part-time opportunities. 

  • Very few, and probably the least number of universities, offer admission in this intake.  

Fulfil your study abroad dreams with Meridean Overseas

Embark and excel in your study abroad journey with our expert team!

CTA-blog

Top Universities to Study in the Three Intakes in Canada

For students wanting to study in Canada in any of the intakes mentioned above, there are many options to consider. Let’s take a look at the top universities in Canada that you can apply to any of the intakes in the country. They are mentioned below.

  • University of Toronto

  • McGill University 

  • University of British Columbia 

  • University of Alberta 

  • University of Waterloo

  • Western University 

  • University of Montreal 

  • University of Calgary 

  • McMaster University

  • University of Ottawa 

  • Queen’s University at Kingston 

  • Dalhousie University 

  • Simon Fraser University 

  • University of Victory 

  • University of Saskatchewan  

  • York University 

  • Concordia University 

  • University of Laval

  • University of Guelph 

  • Memorial University of Newfoundland 

  • University of Windsor

  • Carleton University 

  • University of Manitoba 

  • University of Brunswick

  • University of Quebec 

  • University of Northern British Columbia 

  • University of Sherbrooke 

  • Toronto Metropolitan University 

  • University of Regina

  • Vancouver Island University 

  • Brock University 

  • Ryerson University

 

Top Courses to Opt for in these Intakes in Canada

Let us look at the top courses to study in Canada in the three intakes mentioned above.

  • Engineering 

  • Master of Business Administration 

  • Finance 

  • Psychology 

  • Information Technology 

  • Software Engineering 

  • Health Science 

  • Economics 

  • Biological Sciences 

  • Hospitality Management 

  • Mining Engineering 

  • Dentistry

  • Agriculture 

  • Supply Chain Management 

  • Publishing 

  • Creative Writing 

  • Communications 

  • Digital Marketing 

  • Public Relations 

  • Journalism and Mass Communication 

  • Film Studies 

  • Financial Accounting 

  • Computer Science

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Canada is an amazing country to fulfil your study abroad adventures. There are three intakes in Canada, and you can easily choose the one that fits your needs perfectly. Check the availability of your chosen program in the intake you wish to apply to, as some courses are only offered in some particular intakes. Keep the information mentioned in the blog above in mind and plan your study abroad accordingly. We know you’ll do great!

 

We hope you had fun reading about the intakes in Canada and got some beneficial insights into all three intakes. So, are you also ready to start your study abroad journey to Canada? If yes, then we encourage you to have a word with our team of expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC).

 

If you are unable to travel to our offices, we offer online counselling services via our website. Our dedicated counsellors will provide you with the best guidance regarding your application to study in Canada. Apart from this, our expert counsellors will also provide assistance in the visa process for your successful study abroad journey. Don't hesitate to contact us at application02@meridean.org or call us at 1800-1230-00011.

 

FAQs

Q1. Which is the best intake for Canada?

Ans. The September or the Fall intake is the most popular and primary intake in Canada.

 

Q2. What is the start date of the fall or September intake?

Ans. Every year, the fall intake begins in September and carries on till January end or February start.  Regular classes in this intake start in September, and students receive their Letters of Acceptance by April.

 

Q3. What are the chances of getting admission in the Spring intake in Canada?

Ans. Acceptance in the May/spring intake is highly competitive because few seats are available, and very few universities offer admission. The likelihood of being admitted in the spring intake is low, but it rises dramatically if the applicant has outstanding academic credentials.

 

Q4. What are the advantages of studying in the summer intake in Canada?

Ans. Beginning studies during the summer intake has several benefits, such as shorter programme lengths, increased flexibility, access to special courses, smaller class sizes, and milder weather.

 

Q5. What is the deadline for the summer intake in Canada?

Ans. The deadline for the summer intake in Canada depends on the university and the course you’re applying to. Generally, the deadline lies somewhere between December and March. It is best to check on the university website that you’re applying to and plan accordingly.

Contact our counselors for application details

Get your free counselling

blog meet

Get the best study abroad guidance

Contact MOEC Experts for Study Abroad Guidance!

x
Event Promotion

Contact MOEC Experts for Study Abroad Guidance!

x

By using our site, you agree to our use of cookies.

whatsappnew