Intakes in Canada
International students can apply to Canadian universities through three primary intakes. The intakes are classified as fall intake (September), winter intake (January), and summer intake (May). Among the three intakes, fall intake is the most common; all universities and courses accept applications for this intake. If students miss out on fall intake, they can opt for winter intake, which is also offered by many universities and has a large number of courses available. The spring intake does not have many possibilities for courses and universities, because the applications have been full up. The majority of diploma programs will be available during the fall and winter intake periods. However, few universities extend their winter entry deadlines if there is a vacancy for applications and enough seats available, so students should verify with their preferred university and course. The deadlines for these intakes primarily vary based on the universities, and the table below may provide you a broad notion of the deadlines.
| S. No | Intake | Deadline | Duration of the course |
| 1 | Fall- September | December to March | September to December |
| 2 | Winter- January | September to November | January to April |
| 3 | Spring- May | January to February | May to August |
Fall Intake
Students can begin applying for this intake in August and complete all of the necessary procedures, such as collecting documents and shortlisting universities based on the course they want to apply to. They should also check the application deadline for that specific university and submit their application a month before the closing date. The closing dates for September applications are between December and March, and they may vary depending on the university. This intake, often known as a primary intake for overseas students, provides all courses at the preferred universities in Canada. It will also assist students get ahead of other students by 4 to 5 months, giving them better job chances back in Canada, making their public relations operations easier.
- Dalhousie University
- Columbia College
- Fraser International College
- George Brown College
- Lakehead University
- Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
- Navitas International College of Manitoba
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic University
Winter Intake
Students can apply for this intake beginning in June and completing the relevant procedures such as shortlisting universities, writing the English proficiency test, gathering documents, and submitting the application. All of these processes must be finished by November. In this intake, not all universities offer courses like they do in the autumn intake, but students who missed the fall intake can apply for the winter intake instead of waiting a year. However, the winter temperature in Canada is quite harsh, giving overseas students less time to adjust to the campus environment than fall admission students. The first semester would run from January to April.
- Fanshawe College
- Cape Breton University
- Douglas College
- Lambton College
- Mount Saint Vincent University
- Carleton University
- Centennial College
Spring Intake
It is also known as the May intake because the semester begins in May. This is the least popular intake due to the limited selection of courses and the small number of colleges that offer it. This semester is considered spring or summer break in Canada, hence the majority of students do not apply. To apply for this intake, begin your application process by August. It is critical for students applying for the spring intake to select the best potential career path, although those applying for diploma courses will have numerous possibilities during this intake. Students should complete their application process by February, as all university deadlines may close by this month; however, this may vary, thus students require check the school’s website for exact dates.
- Mount Saint Vincent University
- Brock University
- University of the Fraser Valley
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Capilano University
- New York Institute of Technology
- Lakehead University