January Intake 2026 at UK Universities

A Uk university campus with sky on the background

UK universities have a wider range of intakes during the academic year, offering more flexibility and the chance to enrol on your course whenever is best for you.

If you missed the September intake to apply for your studies, or you can’t wait for September 2026 to start your course, the January intake 2026 may be the right choice for you.

University admissions in the January intake

Unlike other education systems, courses at UK universities may start at multiple times of the year, giving more flexibility and options for home and international students when applying to UK universities.

The September entry date is undoubtedly the most popular date for university courses. However, January is still the second most popular intake in the UK due to the wide range of courses offered by institutions.

Are January intake courses shorter than September courses?

Many international students may think January courses are shorter than September courses. In reality, there is no significant difference between university intakes in terms of course quality and duration.

As January courses start later in the year, they also end later, typically in the middle of summer, compared to September courses, which usually terminate around May or June.

January courses are fully accredited courses, as are September courses. These have the same number of modules and the same degree is awarded upon graduation. 

Simply, courses in January have a more condensed schedule, meaning modules are completed in a shorter time.

Why start a course in the January 2026 intake?

Students may start their courses in January for different reasons or circumstances.

Generally, you may want to consider starting in January if you:

  • want to start your course as soon as possible.
  • missed the deadline for the September intake.
  • had no university offers for the September intake.
  • stopped the application due to personal or family reasons.
  • have your course of interest starting on the January intake at your favourite university.

Advantages and disadvantages of the January intake

The January intake presents different advantages and disadvantages based on your situation and goals.

Advantages of the January intake

  • More flexibility: more options and opportunities to start your studies throughout the year.
  • More time to prepare and complete the university application, including gathering documents, passing the language proficiency test, and requesting financial aid.
  • Less competition from other applicants compared to the September intake. This means more chances to receive an offer from the universities.
  • More time to settle into the new environment, given the quieter ambience of the campuses in January.

Disadvantages of the January intake

  • Less turnaround time for student application – earlier January deadlines at many universities may require you to have everything prepared and ready in advance.
  • Limited course availability, as many courses get the majority of applications in September.
  • Less social activities and events.

UK Universities with January intake 2026

Many top universities in the UK offer courses in the January intake, including:

University courses starting in January 2026

As stated previously January intake presents a more limited course availability. However, top universities still offer a wide variety of courses.

The following are the most popular subject areas available if you plan to start university in January 2026:

Apply to UK universities in January 2026

Whenever you’re planning to apply for your course, university applications tend to be long and time-consuming. You should get everything ready well in advance: have your course choices, documents, qualifications and personal statement ready way earlier of submitting your application.

At EU STUDENTS IN THE UK we provide university admission support throughout the entire admission process to international and EU students. Get in touch to start your university course this January.

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