Study Abroad Intakes In Australia - Why The Timing Of Your Application Matters

In Australia, there are three intakes: Semester 1 (February), Semester 2 (July), and Semester 3 (November). Of which, Semesters 1 and 2 are the main semesters, with Semester 1 being the primary and most preferred intake.

The application deadline for Semester 1 is between October and November.  

For Semester 2, you’ll have to apply latest by April to May.

For other intakes such as Semester 3, there are fewer courses available. If you’re looking to take a vocational course, there are intakes in January, May or July, depending on the university and course.

With these options available, you might be wondering which is the best intake for you. Thus, it helps to factor in several things such as the availability of your preferred program, acceptance rates, your academic records and entrance test scores, among others.

In the event you don’t have your scorecards prepared, it might be a good idea to apply for the next intake rather than scramble to get things ready.

Having said that, there are pros and cons to each of the intakes, including scholarships, internships, early graduation and course options. Hence, it is important to weigh what’s more important for you before making a commitment. 

Being the primary intake, Semester 1 will have the largest number of courses offered across various fields of study in all universities – that means you’ll have a high chance of applying to your preferred course as it would likely be available.

However, as this is the main intake, there will be a large number of applicants and it could potentially be a little more challenging to secure a spot in your course of choice due to limited vacancies in each university.

If you’re looking to apply for financial aid or a scholarship, Semester 1 has various types for you to choose from. Hence, you will be able to find one that is a good match based on your individual requirements and apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Apart from that, you’ll have access to a greater number of internship possibilities if you choose to apply for this main intake.

As this July intake happens later in the year, you’ll have ample time to organise your paperwork for your application, get reference letters and obtain other necessary documents.

While your course options are slightly more limited in Semester 2, the majority of the programs are available at this juncture.

The best part is that you’ll also be competing with much fewer applicants for each course as most students would have applied for Semester 1. Hence, increasing your chances of successfully getting accepted.

In the event you missed the primary intake or weren’t able to get into your preferred course, this would be the next best option especially if your course is accepting applications during this secondary intake.

When it comes to scholarships and financial aid, Semester 2 is more limited as compared to Semester 1. Unfortunately, this lowers your chances of getting either a scholarship or financial aid as the requirements might be harder to match since there are fewer options.

Having said that, it is still worth exploring the options that are available since you never know if you never try!

As compared to the first 2 intakes, Semester 3 is not as popular because November is when the summer season begins – that means a less lively campus and limited timetables for lectures and tutorials.

On top of that, course options, scholarships and financial aid are the most limited in this intake.

However, the best thing about Semester 3 is the fact that you’ll have the least competition when it comes to getting into your desired course – which means your chances of having a successful application are the highest if you apply for this intake.

Are you ready to pursue your degree Down Under?

At IDP, we have a team of experienced education counsellors who will be able to help you – from offering tailored guidance for course selection to navigating the entire application process with you.

If you’re ready to take the plunge, book your free counselling session to kickstart the process of studying in Australia!