Intakes
| Intake | Start | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | August / September | The main intake with the most courses, scholarships and assistantships. |
| Spring | January | Offered by many universities, with fewer courses and less funding. |
| Summer | May / June | Short programmes and some community colleges. |
Typical deadlines for fall
- Bachelor’s: early action or early decision around 1 November, regular decision from late December to mid-January. Community colleges and many universities accept applications on a rolling basis.
- Master’s and PhD: usually December to February for fall, earlier for funding; some are rolling.
12-month timeline for a fall start
- 12–10 months ahead: shortlist schools, book IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo and the GRE or SAT if required.
- 9–6 months: essays, recommendation letters, applications.
- 5–3 months: offers, scholarship decisions, deposit.
- 3–2 months: I-20, SEVIS fee, DS-160 and interview booking.
- Last month: accommodation, insurance, flights.
Many universities no longer ask for the SAT or GRE, but some programmes and scholarships still do.
Check before you rely on it. Every school sets its own deadlines and test rules. Rules, fees and dates are changed by governments often. We last reviewed this page in October 2026. Confirm the current position on the school's own admissions page or ask our counsellors, who check it again before your file is submitted.
Talk to WIEC about the USA
Our Lalitpur counsellors can review your marks, English score and finances and tell you honestly which courses and universities fit. Book a free appointment, start your file online at Apply Online, or practise for the English test with IELTSWIZZ.
Last updated 29 Oct 2026