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2027 Intake Timeline: When to Apply to Study Abroad from Southern Africa
November 10, 2026
3 min read
Kuro Team
The most common reason students miss an intake is starting too late. Visas, certified documents and English tests all take time. This timeline works back from the two main 2027 start dates, using real deadlines from our deadlines page.
The two main intakes
- February/March 2027 (spring): offered by our Polish partner universities and some German programmes. Fewer courses, faster turnaround.
- September/October 2027 (autumn): the main intake almost everywhere in Europe, with the widest choice of programmes and scholarships.
Key 2027 deadlines
| Deadline | What | Intake |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec 2026 | Kuro Poland partner universities | February 2027 |
| 15 Jan 2027 | Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary) | September 2027 |
| 1 Feb 2027 | Hamburg University of Technology, international master's | October 2027 |
| 15 Mar 2027 | DAAD EPOS — INEMA (Germany) | October 2027 |
| 30 Apr 2027 | Australia Awards Africa | January 2028 |
| 30 Jun 2027 | Kuro Poland partners (Vistula, WSB, WSEI, UITM, VIZJA, Akademia Tatrzańska) | October 2027 |
| 15 Jul 2027 | Hamburg University of Technology MSc; Schmalkalden UAS | October 2027 |
| 31 Aug 2027 | Hochschule Merseburg, admission-free programmes | October 2027 |
Month-by-month for an October 2027 start
November – December 2026: research
- Choose 2–3 destinations based on budget. Compare costs on our destination pages.
- Check that your passport is valid for at least 12 months beyond your planned arrival; renew it now if not.
- Shortlist programmes on the courses page.
January – February 2027: documents and scholarships
- Order certified copies of certificates and transcripts. Some countries also need an apostille or legalisation.
- Book an English test if your programme needs one.
- Submit scholarship applications: Stipendium Hungaricum closes 15 January.
March – May 2027: apply
- Send university applications, starting with the earliest deadlines.
- Write a clear motivation letter for each programme.
May – July 2027: offer, fees and visa
- Accept your offer and pay the deposit or first-year tuition your university requires.
- Book your visa appointment immediately. Appointment slots, not processing time, are often the real bottleneck.
- Arrange proof of funds, for example a German blocked account (€992 per month for 2026).
August – September 2027: prepare to travel
- Book accommodation and flights once your visa is approved.
- Buy health insurance and prepare documents for registration after arrival.
Visa lead times to plan around
Allow extra time beyond official processing times: Poland about 15 working days, Germany 6–12 weeks, Austria up to 3 months, Canada 8–12 weeks. See each country's page for current fees and steps.
Get your personal plan
The 2027 intake planner turns this into a personalised month-by-month checklist for your country and intake, with budget estimates and live deadlines.