When do January 2027 UK university applications open?

Most universities open January 2027 applications in August 2026, with main deadlines between mid-October and mid-November 2026 to leave enough time for CAS issue, visa processing and travel before late-January course start dates.

Which UK universities offer a January 2027 intake?

Around 90 UK universities run a January intake including selected Russell Group programmes (Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow, Queen Mary) and most post-92 universities (Bolton, Bedfordshire, BCU, Coventry, DMU, UEL, Greenwich, Hertfordshire, LJMU, London Met, Sheffield Hallam, Staffordshire, Sunderland, Teesside, West London, Wolverhampton).

Is the January 2027 intake the same degree as September 2026?

Yes. The qualification, tuition fees, modules, contact hours, Student Visa rights and 2-year Graduate Route eligibility are identical to the September intake. Only the start and graduation dates shift by about 4 months.

How fast can I get a CAS for January 2027?

Post-92 universities typically issue CAS within 5-15 working days of receiving the deposit and meeting conditions. Russell Group and pathway providers usually take 15-25 working days. Aim to have CAS in hand by early December 2026 to allow safe visa processing.

January Intake UK 2027: 40+ Universities & Deadlines

Reviewed against official UK university and UKVI sources. See oureditorial policy.

Quick answer: Around 90 UK universities run a January 2027 intake, with applications open from August 2026 and most deadlines between mid-October and mid-November 2026. The January intake is the perfect backup for students who missed September 2026, need extra time to fund the trip, or want to avoid the August-September CAS bottleneck.

Why January Intake Matters

Identical degree, fees and qualification as September entry.

Quieter accommodation market - cheaper rent.

Fewer applicants per course - higher admission chance with the same grades.

Faster CAS turnaround (5-15 working days vs 20-30 in the September peak).

Visa appointment availability is much higher in October-December than July-August.

Application Timeline at a Glance

Step	Suggested date

|------|---------------|

Submit applicationAugust - October 2026Receive conditional offer1-4 weeksMeet conditions + pay depositNovember 2026CAS issuedMid-November - early December 2026Student Visa applicationDecember 2026Visa decision1-3 weeks (priority 5 days)Fly to UK2nd-3rd week of January 2027Course startMid - late January 2027

UK Universities Confirmed for January 2027 Intake

Russell Group (limited courses)

University of Birmingham (PG Business, Computer Science)

University of Leeds (selected MSc)

University of Sheffield (Pre-sessional + selected MSc)

University of Liverpool (PG Business)

University of Glasgow (selected PG)

Newcastle University (selected PG)

Queen Mary University of London (selected PG)

Top Modern + Plate Glass

University of East Anglia

University of Essex

University of Surrey

University of Strathclyde

Aston University

Brunel University London

City, University of London

Post-92 / Highly International-Friendly (large January intake)

University	UG January	PG January	Tuition (PG)

|-----------|-----------|-----------|--------------|

University of BoltonYesYesGBP 13,950University of BedfordshireYesYesGBP 14,800Birmingham City UniversityLimitedYesGBP 16,265Coventry UniversityYesYesGBP 18,300De Montfort UniversityYesYesGBP 16,700University of East LondonYesYesGBP 15,840University of GreenwichYesYesGBP 16,150University of HertfordshireYesYesGBP 16,140Leeds Beckett UniversityYesYesGBP 16,500London MetropolitanYesYesGBP 16,600Liverpool John MooresLimitedYesGBP 17,400University of RoehamptonYesYesGBP 15,750Sheffield HallamLimitedYesGBP 16,655Staffordshire UniversityYesYesGBP 15,500University of SunderlandYesYesGBP 14,500Teesside UniversityYesYesGBP 15,000University of West LondonYesYesGBP 16,250University of WolverhamptonYesYesGBP 14,950Anglia Ruskin UniversityYesYesGBP 16,200Buckinghamshire New UniversityYesYesGBP 14,750Leeds Trinity UniversityYesYesGBP 13,500University of SuffolkYesYesGBP 14,598York St John UniversityYesYesGBP 14,000University of CumbriaYesYesGBP 14,500University of Bedfordshire (Luton + Bedford)YesYesGBP 14,800

(Use the eligibility checker for the full live list.)

Most Popular January 2027 Courses

MSc Business Management / MBA

MSc Computer Science / Cyber Security / Data Science

MSc International Business

MSc Finance / Accounting

MSc Project Management

MSc Healthcare Management / Public Health

BSc Business Studies (UG January)

BSc Computing (UG January)

Foundation Year (January start at Coventry, Hertfordshire, BCU, Bolton, Sunderland)

Financial Requirements (Same as September)

The visa funds calculation is unchanged (see full breakdown):

London: GBP 1,483/month x 9 = GBP 13,347

Outside London: GBP 1,136/month x 9 = GBP 10,224

Plus full first-year tuition (minus deposit paid)

Held for 28 consecutive days, statement within 31 days of visa submission

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving the application to December - too late for visa.

Skipping the deposit payment - no deposit = no CAS = no visa.

Booking flights before the visa decision.

Choosing a course not listed for January (always reconfirm the start date in writing).

Which UK Universities Have a January 2027 Intake?

Around 90 do. The largest January cohorts are at Coventry, Hertfordshire, Greenwich, De Montfort, Sunderland, Teesside, Bolton, Bedfordshire, East London, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam, Staffordshire, West London, Wolverhampton and Anglia Ruskin. Selected Russell Group Master's (Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow, Queen Mary, Newcastle) also run January starts, usually in Business, Computing and Data Science. See the full deadline table by university.

Can I still apply for January 2027 in November 2026?

Yes, but only at universities with rolling admissions and fast CAS (Bolton, Sunderland, Teesside, Bedfordshire, London Met, UEL, Wolverhampton). You need offer, deposit and CAS inside 2-3 weeks and a priority visa. After late November, switch your target to the May 2027 or September 2027 intake.

Is the January intake easier to get into?

Slightly. Applicant volume is roughly 30-40% lower than September, so the same grades face less competition and offer turnaround is faster. Entry requirements themselves are unchanged - universities do not lower them for January.

Do January starters still get the Graduate Route?

Yes. A January 2027 Master's finishing in early 2028 carries the same 2-year Graduate Route (3 years for PhD) as a September start. Nothing about the intake month changes your post-study work rights.

How much does a January 2027 start cost?

Tuition is identical to September. Budget GBP 13,500-18,500 tuition for most post-92 universities, plus GBP 10,224 (outside London) or GBP 13,347 (London) living costs for the visa. The cheapest January 2027 options start under GBP 14,000.

Which subjects have the most January 2027 places?

Business and MBA first, then Computing, Data Science and Cyber Security, then Engineering and Project Management. Subject-specific guides: Business and MBA January 2027 and Engineering January 2027.

What if I miss the January 2027 deadline?

Most universities also run a May 2027 intake (Bolton, Sunderland, Teesside, BCU, Coventry, Hertfordshire, UEL, London Met, Wolverhampton) and every university runs September 2027. Missing January costs you four months, not a year.

Bottom Line

The January 2027 intake is a smart, well-resourced alternative to September 2026, with the same degree, same visa rights and faster processing. Start applications in August-October 2026 and you can be in the UK by mid-January 2027.

January Intake UK 2027: 40+ Universities & Deadlines

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