- Canadian colleges and universities offer three intakes to students. These are:- fall intakes, winter intakes, and summer intakes.
- The fall intake is the first and most popular intake among students. It starts in September and offers the most significant number of courses out of all the intakes.
- The winter intake starts in January and has lesser students than fall. It is for students who missed out on fall intake. It also offers more secondary courses and university options.
- The third and last intake is the summer intake: It starts in May and has the least number of applicants. This is because it doesn't offer many courses or university options. It is for students applying to short-term courses.
Intakes in Universities in Alberta
Alberta houses several of the world's top universities that offer courses in all streams and disciplines. A few of them are given below.
- Bow Valley College
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- University of Lethbridge
- Red Deer College
- Lakeland College
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Top Universities to Study in Alberta, Canada
It will be beneficial for you to get details about the top universities in Alberta, their average tuition fees, and much more.
Universities |
QS Rankings 2023 |
Popular Courses |
Average Annual Tuition Fees (in CAD) |
Bow Valley College |
NA |
Business Administration |
CAD 16,502 - CAD 49,505 |
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology |
NA |
Architecture |
CAD 16,502 - CAD 18,152 |
University of Lethbridge (Only UG) |
NA |
Computer Science |
CAD 13,201 - CAD 24,752 |
Red Deer College |
NA |
Engineering |
CAD 11,551 - CAD 14,851 |
Lakeland College |
NA |
Technology |
CAD 11,551 - CAD 13,201 |
Intakes in Universities in Ontario
Ontario is one of the popular provinces in Canada chosen by international students. Ontario is also home to a bunch of the most famous Canadian universities. A few such universities are listed below for your reference.
- Sault College
- Seneca College
- Conestoga College
- Durham College
- Lambton College
- Niagra College Main Campus
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- Wilfrid Laurier International College
- Fleming College
- Georgian College
- St Laurence College
- York University
- Brock University
- Algonquin College
Top Universities to Study in Ontario, Canada
Ontario is one of the popular Canadian provinces chosen by international students. You will find an increased number of international students, thus making it easier for you to network. We have tabulated a few institutions below, along with the top courses and average annual tuition fees.
Universities |
QS Ranking 2023 |
Popular Courses |
Average Annual Tuition Fees (in CAD) |
Sault College |
– |
Business, Computer Science |
CAD 11,551 - CAD 18,152 |
Seneca College |
– |
Arts, Engineering |
CAD 11,551 - CAD 23,102 |
Conestoga College |
– |
Journalism, Finance |
CAD 11,000 - CAD 27,000 |
Durham College |
– |
Architecture, Medicine |
CAD 6000 - CAD 11,000 |
Lambton College |
– |
Data Science & Analytics, Accounting |
CAD 10,000 - CAD 13,000 |
Niagara College Main Campus |
– |
Animation, Design |
CAD 13,201 - CAD 24,752 |
Toronto Metropolitan University |
801-1000 |
Commerce, Nursing |
CAD 12,000 - CAD 31,000 |
Wilfrid Laurier International College |
– |
Mathematics, Biology |
CAD 29,000 - CAD 35,000 |
Fleming College |
– |
Agriculture, Geography |
CAD 8251 - CAD 24,752 |
Georgian College |
– |
Tourism & Hospitality, Design |
CAD 16,000 - CAD 29,000 |
St. Lawrence College |
– |
Environmental Studies, Graphic Design |
CAD 15,000 - CAD 22,000 |
York University |
456 |
Social Studies, Law |
CAD 31,000 - CAD 38,000 |
Brock University |
1001-1200 |
Biotechnology, Biology |
CAD 29,703 - CAD 31,353 |
Algonquin College |
– |
Journalism, Sciences |
CAD 16,000 - CAD 23,000 |
Intakes in Universities in British Columbia
British Columbia is yet another popular place among international students studying in Canada. This Canadian province has several universities and colleges that appear in top positions in national and international university rankings. A few popular ones are listed below for your convenience.
- Coast Mountain College
- University Canada West
- University of Fraser Valley
- Thompson River University
- Royal Roads University
- Alexander College
Top Universities to Study in British Columbia, Canada
Though we have gathered a list of some of the top universities you can consider, the information provided would be incomplete without giving you the details about the tuition fees, popular courses etc. You can obtain those details from the table below.
Universities |
Popular Courses |
Average Annual Tuition Fees (in CAD) |
Coast Mountain College |
Business, Engineering |
CAD 13,201 - 16,502 |
University Canada West |
Arts, Management |
CAD 7000 - CAD 39,000 |
University of Fraser Valley |
Agriculture, Social Studies |
CAD 3300 - CAD 18,152 |
Tourism & Hospitality, Sciences |
CAD 14,851 - CAD 26,403 |
|
Royal Roads University |
Business, Communication Studies |
CAD 22,000 - CAD 54,000 |
Alexander College |
Science, Business |
CAD 14,851 - CAD 49,505 |
Intakes in Canada for Higher Education
As mentioned earlier, Canada has three significant intakes – fall, winter, and summer. The first and most popular intake is the fall, which starts in September. It has the most considerable number of courses and university options. Almost all international students apply during the fall intake.
The second intake is the winter intake which starts in January. It has fewer applicants than fall intake and offers lesser courses. Students who missed the fall intake can opt for this intake.
The last intake is the summer intake which starts in May. It has the least number of applicants and doesn't offer many options. It is for students applying to short-term courses.
Intakes in Canada |
Starts in |
Details about Study Intakes in Canada |
Fall Intake |
September |
First Intake, Provides all university and course options |
Winter Intake |
January |
Secondary Intake, mainly for students who missed the fall intake |
Summer Intake |
May |
The last intake, Offers selective courses and universities. |
Which Intake to Opt For?
Students opt for different intakes depending on their course and university. But most students go for fall intakes because it offers almost all courses and university options. At the same time, the other intakes provide a limited number of courses.
Given below is a table representing the intakes with their courses and deadlines:
Intakes in Canada |
Course Offered |
Deadlines |
Fall Intake |
All Programmes (Undergraduate and postgraduate in a University) |
September – December/Early January |
Winter Intake |
Selective Programmes |
January - May |
Summer Intake |
Short Term Programmes like Diploma programs in colleges |
May-August |
Application Deadline for Different Intakes
All the intakes have different durations and deadlines. Students must keep an eye out for the intakes of their courses. Along with this, they must also apply before the deadline. All the deadlines depend entirely on their respective course.
Given below are the standard deadlines for each intake:
- Fall Intake: It starts in September and ends in December. It may sometimes last until early January.
- Winter Intakes: Start in January and end by the end of May.
- Summer Intakes: Start in May and end in August.
How to Choose the Best Canadian Intake?
Students should never choose their intake based on other intakes. Every course and the university has different intakes. So, students must pick an intake based on their course and university.
Thus, the student must look up a proper intake for themselves. They can do this by finding the intake for their course and university.
Course Availability for Different Intakes in Canada
In Canada, different intakes have different courses and college availabilities. Fall intake usually offers all kinds of courses and university options. While the other intakes only provide elective course options.
Given below is a table representing the available courses in each intake:
Intakes in Canada |
Course |
Fall Intake |
All Programmes (Undergraduate and postgraduate in a university) |
Winter Intake |
Selective Programmes |
Summer Intake |
Short Term Programmes like Diploma programs in colleges |
How Many Intakes in Canadian Universities?
- Canadian universities provide three significant intakes. These are fall intake, winter intake, and summer intake. The proper intake for each student depends on their course and university.
- The fall intake is the first and most popular intake among students. It offers all the possible course and university options. It starts in September and lasts till December or early January.
- The winter intake is secondary and starts in January. It offers only selective courses and has lesser applications. It is for students who missed the fall intake.
- The summer intake, also called the spring intake, starts in May. It offers the least number of course and university options. It is mainly for students enrolling in diploma and short-term courses.
Fall Intake
- The fall intake is the first and most important intake. It offers UG and PG courses from various universities. It provides almost all possible courses one could think of.
- This intake takes place during the fall season, starting in September. It lasts till December but, in some cases, may last till early January. Sometimes it lasts till march depending on the university and course.
- Students must keep their documents ready 3-4 months before the intake. Once they're accepted, students get their acceptance letters by April.
- It is the ideal intake for all international students who wish to pursue studies in Canada. Thus, students should not miss out.
Universities for Fall Intake in Canada
All the universities with UG and PG courses have fall intakes. Students can also check the university page to know their acceptable intake.
Some of the universities accepting fall intakes are:
- The University of Toronto
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
- University of Calgary
- University of Ottawa
- Carleton University
- Humber College
- University of Windsor
- Sheridan College
- McMaster University
- Niagara College
- University of Alberta
- University of Waterloo
- Queen's University
- Ryerson University
- Simon Fraser University
- University of Manitoba
When Should I Apply for September Intake in Canada?
If a student wants to apply for the September/Fall Intake, they must start in February.
Given below is the timetable they need to follow:
1. Students must begin shortlisting colleges (February)
- They must be aware of all the necessary documents and eligibility criteria.
- They can get an admission brochure for better understanding.
- They can also take guidance from parents or counsellors.
2. Students must take the English skill test/GRE/GMAT/SAT. (March – June)
- Fill out the application form for respective exams.
- For English skill tests, students can apply for TOEFL or IELTS.
- Students must appear for all exams three months before their intake.
- They must apply for the test 1 month before they want to take them.
3. Apply for fall intake. (September)
- The students must have performed all the above steps.
- They can go to the universities website to apply.
- They must have all the necessary documents.
Winter Intakes
Winter intake takes place from January to May. This intake has a lesser number of applicants and is quite unpopular. It only offers a limited number of courses and university options.
It provides applications in specialisation courses or courses that have empty seats. It is ideal for students who missed out on the fall intake.
Universities for Winter Intake in Canada
Winter intakes offer specialisation courses and universities. Sometimes students can also find universities with empty seats in this intake.
Some universities where students can apply in winter intake are:
- The University of Toronto
- Carleton University
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
- University of Ottawa
- Carleton University
- Queen's University
- Cape Breton University
- Douglas College
- Mount Saint Vincent University
- Fanshawe College
- Centennial College
- Lambton College
- University of Manitoba
When Should I Apply for January Intake in Canada?
Students must start preparing in June if they want to apply for the Winter Intake. They must follow the given timetable:
1. Students must start shortlisting universities on June
2. They must also go through the required documents and eligibility criteria.
3. They must prepare all the necessary documents
4. Once students have selected their preferred universities. They can go on to apply for English skill tests and entrance exams. (July -August)
5. The accepted English tests are IELTS and TOEFL. Students can also appear for entrance exams like SAT, GRE, or GMAT.
6. They must appear for the exams three months before the intake.
7. Students must also apply for the exam one month before taking it.
8. The students must finish the above steps before January
9. Finally, the students can start applying in January.
Spring Intakes
The summer/spring intakes take place in April/May. This intake lasts till August and is not opted by many students. It offers a limited number of courses. These are short-term courses, diploma courses, and short full-time courses.
It is also a particular intake as it may help students catch up with their peers. Thus, this is ideal for deferred students due to delays or personal reasons.
Universities for Spring Intake in Canada
This intake is for limited courses. These are short-term courses, short full-time courses, or diploma courses. It isn't viral and has limited university options.
Given below are some universities available for spring intake:
- Algonquin College
- Seneca College
- Centennial College
- University of Fraser Valley
- Vancouver Community College
- Northern College
- University of Waterloo
- Ryerson University.
When Should I Apply for Spring 2022 Intake in Canada?
Students must start preparing in September if they want to apply in Spring Intakes. The application process remains the same as the fall and winter intake.
Documents Required
Students need several documents to study in Canada. They must keep these documents ready 2-3 months before the intake. Given below is the list of the required documents:
- SAT/GRE/GMAT/IELTS/TOEFL score
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
- An optional funding essay
- Research proposal
- Transcripts of 10th and 12th and degree courses
- CV/ Resume
- Photocopy of Passport
- Extra-curricular certificates
- Two passport-size photographs
Still unclear about anything? Well, not to worry. Contact AECC and get your queries answered today! AECC is one of the world's leading educational consultancies with versatile expert professionals ready to help you with any queries you may have. Contact us so we can be of assistance to you in your journey to achieving your dream.