Navigating Postgraduate Trends: January 2025 Insights

The January intake is becoming an increasingly popular option for international students. Many universities offer this entry point for various programs, with some even looking to expand their January offerings. 

Are schools truly committed to starting programs in January? Generally, the answer is "yes," and this article will explore the reasons why.

January starts are most popular at the postgraduate level

Our diverse student audience at Keystone fuels our Pulse survey, gathering about 10,000 responses monthly. This allows us to quickly compare study intentions across multiple levels of study, from bachelor's programs all the way to PhD.

The data above is based on Keystone Pulse responses in the third quarter of the year (July to September) for prospective international students (anyone considering studying outside their home country) across all destinations. 

31% of prospective international Bachelor's students are considering starting in January 2025, while this figure rises to a remarkable 46% for PhD students. This likely reflects the general flexibility of postgraduate research, particularly in certain subject areas.

Interest varies substantially by audience

What’s particularly interesting is the variation in the pipeline for individual audiences. While some of this is expected due to global differences in academic calendars, significant contrasts also exist among audiences in the same region.

Responses for this analysis come from audiences looking to study abroad in any destination and at any level. Europe (excluding the UK) has been grouped together for a more manageable chart. More specific data can be explored upon request.

The findings indicate that interest in January starts is highest in South Asia and Africa and lowest among audiences from the UK, the US, and Europe.

Notable exceptions include India, which shows less interest in January than neighboring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh. Similarly, Kenya exhibits lower interest than other African audiences. China stands out with the lowest interest in January 2025 and comparatively little interest in January 2026, as this audience is already focused on September 2025.

While all of these audiences show meaningful interest in January 2025, understanding these differences can help institutions target the right audiences at the appropriate levels.

Differences at subject level are more subtle

The subject a student wishes to study abroad has less impact on their preferred start date. 

This trend suggests underlying audience differences. For instance, Psychology attracts younger students who are often more committed to the September cycle, whereas Social Sciences frequently draw interest from older audiences returning for postgraduate study.

Policy may be having an impact on this

Policy changes often play a significant role in shaping these trends. January 2025 is a crucial cut-off point for several changes impacting international study in popular destinations:

• The UK will raise the proof of funds required from international applicants—a relatively minor change that compounds other cost increases. 
• Australia will introduce student visa caps that, while excluding PhD students, could significantly affect those at the Masters level. 
• Canada will tighten existing visa caps to include postgraduate students for the first time.

These factors present prospective students with important considerations, potentially creating incentives to either act quickly in light of these changes or modify their study plans altogether.