Time it right
Three intakes,One plan.Fall, Winter and Summer, and how to time them right.
Canada opens its doors three times a year. The one you aim for decides your deadlines, your odds, and your whole timeline.
Intakes · at a glance2026
FallSept · widest
WinterJan · quieter
SummerMay · limited
PlanMonths ahead
Timing is everything
Fall is the frontdoor, not the only one.
Most students picture September, and Fall really is the biggest intake. But there are three doors a year, and the right one depends on your program, your readiness, and how much runway you have.
Whichever you choose, the secret is the same: work backward from day one. The offer, the attestation letter, the study permit and the flight all have to line up, and that takes months, not weeks. We help you start at the right moment.
Interactive · The three doors
Pick a season.
Each intake has its own size, mood and odds. Tap one.
September start
Fall, the front door
Programs
Widest
Competition
Highest
Funding
Most
The biggest intake by far, with almost every program open across undergraduate, postgraduate and college. The most scholarships live here too, which is why it is also the most competitive. Aim for Fall if you want full choice, and start early.
January start
Winter, the quieter door
Programs
Good range
Competition
Lower
Funding
Some
A solid second intake with a good range of programs and noticeably less competition, since fewer students apply. Fewer scholarships than Fall, but a strong choice if you need a little more time to prepare.
May start
Summer, the flexible door
Programs
Limited
Competition
Lowest
Funding
Least
The smallest intake, usually limited to diplomas, certificates and vocational courses, with fewer seats. Best as a flexible option if you missed Fall or want to start sooner in a focused program.
Work backward from day one
The runway.
Pick your intake and watch the whole timeline shift. This is when each step has to happen to land on time.
A year aheadPrep & test
Jan to MarApply to schools
Feb to AprOffer + PAL
Apr to JulStudy permit
AugustFly to Canada
SeptemberClasses start
Spring beforePrep & test
Aug to OctApply to schools
Sep to NovOffer + PAL
Oct to DecStudy permit
DecemberFly to Canada
JanuaryClasses start
Summer beforePrep & test
Nov to JanApply to schools
Dec to FebOffer + PAL
Feb to AprStudy permit
AprilFly to Canada
MayClasses start
Windows are a guide, not a promise. Exact dates vary by school and country, and study permit processing runs longer in the busy season, so starting earlier is always safer.
The year at a glance
A year, three doors.
Where the intakes land, and when the application windows open before them.
JanWinter starts
Febapply window
Marapply window
Apr
MaySummer starts
Jun
Jul
Augapply window
SepFall starts
Octapply window
Novapply window
Decapply window
Fall startWinter startSummer startApply window
Find your fit
Which one is yours?
Tap the line that sounds most like you, and see the intake that usually fits.
I would say...
Best fit
Fall
Go for September. It has the widest choice of programs and the most funding, which is exactly what you want when you are ready to move. Start early, because it is the busiest door.
Best fit
Winter
Aim for January. It gives you extra months to finish your tests and documents, with a good range of programs and less competition than Fall.
Best fit
Summer
Look at May. It is built around diplomas, certificates and vocational courses, and lets you start sooner in a focused program without waiting for Fall.
Best fit
Fall, early
Target September, and apply as early as you can. The most scholarships and the most competitive programs sit in Fall, so the earliest, strongest applications win.
How early to start
Lead time.
A rough head start for each door. Earlier is always safer, especially in the busy season.
Fall · September
10 to 12
months before
The most steps and the most competition, so give yourself a full head start for tests, offers, the attestation letter and the permit.
Winter · January
8 to 10
months before
A little tighter than Fall but very workable, with deadlines often landing in the autumn before.
Summer · May
6 to 8
months before
The shortest runway of the three, but the smaller intake means you must move quickly on limited seats.
We keep you on schedule
Hit the window.
Most missed intakes are not about grades. They are about starting too late. That is the part we lock down.
01
Pick the right intake
We match your program, readiness and timeline to the season that gives you the best shot.
02
Build the backward plan
We set every milestone from your start date back, with the tests, offer, attestation letter and permit in the right order.
03
Keep you ahead
We push you to apply with buffer, so a slow processing season does not cost you a whole semester.
Intake mix-ups
Tap to clear it up.
The timing mistakes that cost a whole semester. Six, flipped.
Tap a card to see the real picture
Questions, answered
Intakes, asked.
Q1How many intakes does Canada have?
Three: Fall in September, Winter in January, and Summer in May. Fall is the largest by far.
Q2Which intake is best?
Fall has the widest choice and most funding; Winter has less competition; Summer suits short and vocational programs.
Q3How early should I start?
Roughly eight to twelve months before your start date, and more for competitive programs or slow processing seasons.
Q4When do I apply for Fall?
School deadlines often land around January to March of the same year, but earlier is always better, especially for scholarships.
Q5What can delay my start?
A late application, the attestation letter turnaround, or study permit processing during the busy season.
Q6Can I change my intake later?
Sometimes, with the school's approval, but it can shift your permit timeline and change which programs are available.
Q7Do you help me time it?
Yes. We build a backward plan from your chosen start date and keep you ahead of every deadline.
The road to Canada
The whole journey, guide by guide
Every stage of your Canada move, mapped, from first test to permanent residency.
After you sign up
Start free →
You do not just arrive. You climb to staying.
One short form, then we climb the whole way with you, from your first permit to permanent residency at the top.
Admission & PAL
Offer secured, PAL in hand.
Study permit
Prepared and lodged with you.
Study
You land and start your course.
PGWP
Post-graduation work permit.
PR
Permanent residency. The summit.
Where this climb ends
Not a visit. A place to stay.
Mafit Study Centre • CanadaFrom Nigeria to Canada.
From Nigeria to Canada.
Study. Work. Stay.
The study permit, the PAL, post-graduation work and the road to PR. One team runs the whole journey with you.
- ✓ Admission, PAL and study permit, all guided
- ✓ A real road to stay: PGWP and PR
- ✓ A Nigerian team you can sit across from