Taking forward our exploration of the maze of intakes and deadlines of universities and colleges, in our series of study-abroad counseling for major destinations for international students like you, today we examine Canada. If you are planning for higher studies in Canada, you are, in many ways, in the same league with aspirants aiming for the other major destination in the North American continent, viz., the US. Let us take a quick look at the landscape of intakes and deadlines for universities and colleges in Canada.
Which Intake for Me?
You need to decide carefully which intake best suits you. You must consider the fact that the deadlines for applying to an intake are usually a few months before the date of the starting of the semester.
Also, note that
- For a master’s level study, your deadline may vary depending on your program/subject. For example, deadlines for intensely competitive subjects such as Computer Engineering, Data Analytics, or an MBA at a top School can be as early as November of the previous year
- Schools/Departments/Faculty within the same university may have different deadlines
Ideally, if you are aiming for a top Canadian university, you should start your applications 12-15 months before the intake. Universities usually take about 8-10 weeks to process the applications.
Intakes: Canadian Universities
Similar to the US, universities and colleges across Canada enroll
students three times in an academic year: Fall, Winter, and Summer/Spring.
| INTAKE | STARTS FROM | DURATION | NATURE | PROS AND CONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FALL
(Also known as September intake) |
September | September–December/early January | Primary/Major intake | Most popular intake for international students, including Indian students because
|
| WINTER
(Also known as January intake) |
January | January–May | Secondary intake |
|
| SUMMER/SPRING
(also known as May intake) |
May | May-August | Least preferred intake |
|
Which Intake for Me?
You need to decide carefully which intake best suits you. You must consider the fact that the deadlines for applying to an intake are usually a few months before the date of the starting of the semester.
Also, note that
- For a master’s level study, your deadline may vary depending on your program/subject. For example, deadlines for intensely competitive subjects such as Computer Engineering, Data Analytics, or an MBA at a top School can be as early as November of the previous year
- Schools/Departments/Faculty within the same university may have different deadlines
Ideally, if you are aiming for a top Canadian university, you should start your applications 12-15 months before the intake. Universities usually take about 8-10 weeks to process the applications.
Fall vs. Spring Intake in Canada: Undecided?
We suggest that before you decide on your university intake, consider the following:
| Program | Consider |
|---|---|
| MS in Canada |
|
| PhD in Canada |
|
| MBA in Canada |
However, a few B-schools such as Sauder School of Business, DeGroote School of Business, Desautels Faculty of Management, Molson School of Business do offer Winter intake for part-time MBA |
So, with Winter/January intake being the harshest time of the year to start class at a Canadian university and therefore a less viable option, the upcoming intakes in Canada for you should be Fall 2022 and Summer/Spring 2022.
Deadlines for All the Intakes in Canada
Application deadlines are important milestones in your application process. Hence, you must have a very clear idea about the different deadlines of universities you are applying to. Here is a general guideline for the deadlines of Canadian universities. Top universities normally set their deadlines 8-12 months before the commencement of the program. Also, here you will get to know deadlines for Diploma courses in colleges in Canada that have similar intakes those of the universities
- Fall/September Intake
- Top Universities (A, A+): Between December and March of the previous year
- Colleges: Between February and April of the same year
- Winter/January Intake
- Top Universities (A, A+): Between September and November of the previous year
- Colleges: Between August and September of the previous year
- Summer or Spring/May Intake:
- Top Universities (A, A+): February of the same year
- Colleges: Between January and February of the same year
Also, like many US universities, many Canadian universities offer rolling deadlines.
Courses Available in Different Canada Intake 2022
| Courses Offered | Intake |
| All kinds of programs (undergraduate and postgraduate) | Fall |
| Selected study programs | Winter |
| Short-term courses | Summer |
Deadlines for Diploma Courses in Canada: Intakes for 2022
| Intake | University Deadline | College Deadline |
| Fall Intake | Between December and March of the previous year | Between February and April of the same year |
| Winter Intake | Between September and November of the previous year | Between August and September of the previous year |
| Summer Intake | February of the same year | Between January and February of the same year |
Deadlines for Each Course in Canada
|
Course |
Intakes |
| UG | Fall Intake Winter Intake |
| PG | Fall Intake Winter Intake |
| MBA | Round 1 in Fall Intake Round 2 in Winter Intake Round 3 in Summer Intake |
UG: In case of the UG, the deadlines for Fall are between December and March and for Winter are between September and November.
Note that:
- For UG admission through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre, refer to your university’s website.
MS: In the case of a Master’s, there are generally two types of deadlines.
- Financial Aid/Scholarship deadline
- Regular deadline
MBA: Most B-Schools have various rounds of deadlines: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, etc.
- Round 1 deadline for B-schools is generally in September or October
- Round 2 deadline is usually in January
- Round 3 deadlines are usually in March
Also, note that
- Most Business schools in Canada either have a fixed deadline or process applications on a rolling basis
- Most B-Schools strongly recommendinternational students to apply “no later than” Round 3 to allow enough time for visa processing.
Here we chart out the representative deadlines for full-time MBA admission to a few leading Canadian B-Schools. However, owing to the extraordinary situation because of the CoViD-19 situation, we strongly recommend that you check out your target university website before applying.
| Business Schools | Deadlines For 2022 Intakes (INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS) |
|---|---|
| Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia | Winter/January 2022 (Final Application deadline):
Application deadline September 20, 2022 Document Deadline: October 20, 2022 Fall: February 28 (Representative) |
| DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University | Fall/September 2022:
Round 1 Application: October 15, 2021 Round 2 Application: January 15, 2022 Round 3 Application: March 31, 2022 Fall: May 26 (Representative) |
| Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University | February 15 previous year (Representative) |
| Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto | Fall/September 2022:
Early Round: August 7, 2021 Round 1: October 5, 2021 Round 2: January 11, 2022 Round 3: March 8, 2022 Round 4: April 26, 2022 Between September 1 and April 30 (Representative) |
If you are still feeling a little confused, you can reach out to us at Manya Education. We would be happy to answer the questions that you may have.
September Intake in Canada 2022
The September intake, often known as the fall intake in Canada, is the largest intake for applying to universities in Canada and draws a high number of international students. Starting in September, the deadlines range from December to March, depending on the university and course. Make sure you have all of your documentation ready at least 3-4 months before the application window begins in September to apply for the September intake in Canada. Language proficiency test results, as well as admission essays such as Statements of Purpose (SOP) and Letters of Recommendation (LORs), are among these requirements. Students typically receive acceptance letters in April or the following months, after which they can begin the process of applying for a student visa.
- The University of Toronto
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
- University of Calgary
- Sheridan College
- McMaster University
- Niagara College
- University of Alberta
- University of Waterloo
- Queen’s University
- Ryerson University
- Simon Fraser University
- University of Manitoba
- University of Ottawa
- Carleton University
- Humber College
- University of Windsor
Steps to Study in September Intake in Canada
Step 1: Shortlist the Universities (February 2022)
Step 2: Crack the Exams (January 2022 to March 2022)
1. Register for the GMAT/GRE by June-July
2. Give TOEFL/IELTS at least 30 days before the exam date.
Step 3: Submit Your Applications and the Documents Required (February 2022 to March 2022)
Step 4: Wait for Your Acceptance/Offer Letter (April 2022 to May 2022)
Step 5: Apply for the Student Visa and look for Finances (May 2022 to July 2022)
Step 6: Get Ready to Fly (July 2022 to August 2022)
So, these were some of the steps to apply for upcoming intakes to study in Canada.
January Intake Canada 2022
The January intake is a less popular intake out of the three intakes available in Canada. The January intake, in particular, includes a number of top programs as well as some courses where seats are still available. Students should keep in mind that the qualifying criteria and application procedure are the same for all upcoming intakes in Canada. Here are some of the universities you should consider applying to for the January intake:
- The University of Toronto
- Carleton University
- University of British Columbia
- Queen’s University
- Cape Breton University
- Douglas College
- Mount Saint Vincent University
- Fanshawe College
- Centennial College
- Lambton College
- University of Manitoba
- McGill University
- University of Ottawa
- Carleton University
Steps to Study in January Intake in Canada
Step 1: Shortlist the Universities
Step 2: Crack the Exams (July 2022 to August 2022)
Step 3: Submit Your Applications (August 2022 to September 2022)
Step 4: Acceptance Letters and Interviews (September 2022 to October 2022)
Step 5: Apply for Student Visa / Education Loan (October 2022 to November 2022)
Step 6: Get Ready to Fly (November 2022 to December 2022)
So these were some of the steps to apply for upcoming intakes in Canada.
May Intake in Canada 2022
The summer intake is the least popular intake among international students which begins in April/May. Because the number of candidates is low, most universities offer short-term courses, diploma courses, and restricted full-time courses during this intake. Summer input is a unique intake that allows overseas students to catch up with their classmates during vacation. Here are several Canadian colleges and universities for May intake 2022:
- Algonquin College
- University of Fraser Valley
- Vancouver Community College
- Northern College
- University of Waterloo
- Ryerson University
- Seneca College
- Centennial College
Steps to Study in May Intake in Canada 2022
Step 1: Shortlist the Universities
Step 2: Appear for the Exams between August and September
Step 3: Start applying to universities between October and December
Step 4: Wait for the Acceptance Letters and Give the Interviews (December to January)
Step 5: Apply for Student Visa and Education Loan (January 2022 to February 2022)
Step 6: Get Ready to Fly
Spring Intake in Canada
Duration: May, June, July, August
May intake is also known as spring intake or summer intake in Canada. This is the least popular intake of all the input options available in Canada. There are not many colleges that offer a course during the spring semester, and those that do are rare.
When Should One Apply for Spring Canada Intake 2022?
Start applying between the months of October and December. The majority of universities in Canada offering spring Intake have their deadlines between the months of October and February.
Deadline for May Intake Canada: The deadline for May intake in Canada generally falls in February. However, the dates may vary depending on the university.
Universities for Spring Intake in Canada
- Mount Saint Vincent University
- Brock University
- University of the Fraser Valley
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Capilano University
- New York Institute of Technology
- Lakehead University
Scholarships for Winter Intake 2022 in Canada [Open Now]
Following is the list of some scholarships for winter intake in Canada:
- Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program at University of Toronto
- Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award
- Humber International Entrance Scholarships
- UBC Graduate Global Leadership Fellowships for Developing Country Students
- University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships
- Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award at University of British Columbia
- University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)
- Waterloo International Master’s Award of Excellence
- International Undergraduate Student Bursary at University of Manitoba
MBA Intakes in Canada
In Canada, MBA is a very popular curriculum. Thousands of overseas students apply to the country to study business management and its different specializations. This program is offered at many universities in September and January.
Pros and Cons of Different Intakes in Canada
| Intake | Popularity | Pros | Cons |
| Fall Intake | Highly Popular | Good weather Enough time to familiarize yourself with the environment A head start of 4-5 months for applications Apply for major courses Great funding and scholarship opportunities |
Intense Competition A lot of applicants apply during this time |
| Winter Intake | Popular | Gives you time to prepare for the study permit and visa More time to prepare for the university application |
Harsh Canadian winters Less international applicants Limited courses available |
| Summer Intake | Least Popular | Least intense competition Better chances of getting the offer |
Only Short-terms courses are available Not a mandatory semester Offered by very few universities Students prefer taking a spring break |
Documents Required to Study in Canada
- Transcripts of 10th and 12th and degree courses
- CV/ Resume
- Photocopy of Passport
- Extra-curricular certificates
- 2 passport size photographs
Find Your Dream University
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