Study Abroad
Should you start in the UK in September or January? Compare the September, January and May intakes, 2027 deadlines, CAS and a step-by-step Student visa timeline from Nepal.
"Should I start in September or wait for January?" is one of the first questions Nepali students ask when they decide on Britain. The UK does not have one fixed start date. Most universities have a main September intake, many offer a January intake, and some run a smaller May intake. This guide compares them, lists the 2027 deadlines to watch, explains how CAS fits in, and gives a realistic Student visa timeline from Nepal.
Dates here come from GOV.UK, UCAS and named university pages, checked in November 2026. Deadlines, fees and funds change, so confirm them for your exact course before you pay anything.
September (sometimes October) intake. According to the British Council's Study UK site, the UK academic year starts in September or October. This is the main intake. It has the widest choice of bachelor's and master's courses, the most scholarships and the most university accommodation options.
January intake. Many universities also start courses in January, mostly taught master's degrees, some bachelor's degrees and foundation or pre-master's programmes. Fewer courses are offered, but it can suit you if your results, English test or funds are not ready for September.
May intake (and some April or June starts). A smaller group of universities start selected courses in late spring, mainly business, computing and management master's. For example, Cardiff Metropolitan University lists a May 2027 intake starting on 17 May 2027, and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) lists May 2027 as a start date for its MSc International Business.
September is usually the best choice if you want the most options. Reasons to aim for September:
More courses. Some programmes, including many bachelor's degrees, only start in September.
Scholarships. Many university scholarships and external awards are built around the September cycle. See our guide to scholarships in the UK for Nepali students.
Settling in. You start with the full student group, freshers' events and the normal timetable.
The downside is pressure in summer: visa centres, TB test clinics and accommodation all get busy between June and October, so book early.
January can be a smart choice rather than a "second best" option. It may suit you if:
You finished your bachelor's in Nepal recently and are still waiting for your transcript or provisional certificate.
Your IELTS or PTE score is not ready yet. Our IELTS and PTE requirements for the UK guide explains what you need.
Your family needs more time to arrange funds or an education loan for the 28-day rule.
You missed the September deadlines.
The trade-offs: fewer courses, fewer scholarships and a winter arrival. Course length can also change. For example, ARU says its MSc International Business lasts 12 months for September starts, 16 months for January starts and 20 months for May starts. A longer course can mean more living costs and a different visa length, so check this before you accept an offer. Our cost of studying in the UK guide helps you budget.
Most full-time bachelor's applications go through UCAS. For courses starting in 2027, UCAS lists these key dates:
15 October 2026 (18:00 UK time): Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses.
13 January 2027 (18:00 UK time): the "equal consideration" date for most other undergraduate courses.
30 June 2027 (18:00 UK time): applications received by this date are sent to universities. After this, applications go into Clearing.
UCAS also notes that many universities keep accepting international applications later in the year, closer to the course start. Popular courses can fill early, so do not rely on this. If you are applying after NEB +2, our universities in the UK for Nepali students guide explains UCAS, direct applications and foundation years.
Master's applications usually go directly to the university, and each one sets its own international deadline. If you are reading this in November 2026, several January 2027 deadlines are very close. Published examples:
Cardiff Metropolitan University: January 2027 application deadline 20 November 2026, offer conditions by 27 November and deposit by 4 December. Teaching starts on 18 January 2027 (undergraduate) and 25 January 2027 (postgraduate).
University of Westminster (postgraduate): international application deadline 20 November, last date to request a CAS from outside the UK 18 December, and first week of teaching 18 January.
UWE Bristol: applications close on 27 November 2026, with 18 December 2026 as the latest date for a CAS to be issued.
These are examples only; courses can close early when full. For September 2027, Cardiff Met lists 16 July 2027 as the deadline for applicants from Nepal, but applying between October and March leaves time for the steps below.
You cannot apply for a UK Student visa without a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). GOV.UK says your university sends you this reference number once it has offered you a place, and you need an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor.
Before a university issues your CAS, you usually need to:
Meet all offer conditions, such as final results and an English test score.
Pay the tuition deposit stated in your offer letter.
Upload your passport, academic documents and funds evidence.
Pass any pre-CAS or credibility interview.
GOV.UK also says you must apply for your visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS. Universities set their own last CAS dates for each intake, as the January examples above show. Our UK student visa from Nepal guide covers the CAS, documents and funds rules in detail.
You must show money for your tuition (the amount on your CAS for up to one academic year) plus living costs. GOV.UK currently lists GBP 1,529 a month in London and GBP 1,171 a month outside London, for up to nine months. The money must be held for at least 28 consecutive days, and the end of that period must be within 31 days of your visa application.
This matters for January students. Under the Statement of Changes HC 584, the living-cost amounts rise to GBP 1,570 (London) and GBP 1,203 (outside London) a month for applications made on or after 30 November 2026. If you are applying for a January 2027 course, plan your bank balance on the higher figures. Treat all amounts as verify on publish and check GOV.UK on the day you apply.
GOV.UK sets three timing rules for applicants outside the UK:
Earliest application: 6 months before your course starts.
Decision time: usually within 3 weeks. You may be offered a faster service for an extra fee.
Earliest travel: up to 1 month before your course starts if it lasts more than 6 months (1 week before for shorter courses), and never before the start date on your visa.
A practical plan working backwards from your start date:
9 to 12 months before: shortlist courses, check entry rules and book your IELTS or PTE.
6 to 9 months before: apply to universities and work on scholarship applications.
3 to 5 months before: accept an offer, meet conditions, pay the deposit and start holding your funds for the 28-day period.
2 to 3 months before: take your TB test at an approved clinic, receive your CAS and apply for the visa.
1 to 2 months before: book student accommodation in the UK, flights and your first weeks' budget.
The Student visa fee is currently GBP 558 from outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge (verify on publish).
Not its length. GOV.UK says the Graduate visa lasts 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027 (three years for PhD graduates), which covers everyone starting in 2027. Your intake only changes when you finish and apply. Read our UK Graduate visa for Nepali students guide for the full rules.
Choose September if your documents, English score and funds are ready, and you want the most course and scholarship choice. Choose January if you need a few more months, or your preferred master's runs in January. Consider May only if your specific course and university offer it, and you are comfortable with a longer course or a summer start. If you have a gap after +2 or your bachelor's, see is a study gap accepted in the UK.
September (sometimes October) is the main intake, with the widest course and scholarship choice. January is the second intake at many universities.
Yes, for the right course. It gives more time for results, English tests and funds, but has fewer courses and scholarships.
Some universities offer May starts for selected courses, mostly master's degrees. For example, Cardiff Met lists a May 2027 intake starting on 17 May 2027. Check each course page.
GOV.UK says the earliest you can apply from outside the UK is 6 months before your course starts, and you must apply within 6 months of receiving your CAS.
GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK. Some cases take longer, so do not book non-refundable flights until your visa is approved.
Everest Global Education has guided Nepali students since 2016. For the UK, we help you compare intakes, match your +2 or bachelor's results to the right course, plan your English test, deposit, 28-day funds and CAS, and prepare your Student visa file. All advice is checked against current GOV.UK guidance and university pages. We counsel from our offices in Nepal and Australia and do not guarantee admission or visa outcomes.
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Share your academic results, English test score (if any), preferred course and budget, and we will help you pick the right UK intake and plan your timeline.
Submit an enquiry at https://everestglobaledu.com/enquiry and our team will contact you by phone or email.
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Phone: +61 8 6157 0080
Email: info@everestglobaledu.com
Website: https://everestglobaledu.com/
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