Semester Pattern

Understanding the Student Recruitment Funnel

• Students move from awareness → interest → enquiry → application → enrolment
• We focus on students in the “interested to application” phase when they are highly engaged

Recruitment Timing Insights

Spring Intake

• 46% of enquiries happen Jan–Aug of the previous year
• Sept–Nov are peak months but also high in competition

Autumn Intake

• Students start researching 1.5 years in advance
• 40% of efforts should occur before Jan of the intake year
• 80% of recruitment budget should be used by April

Level-Wise Trends

Bachelor’s Students

• Spring: 52% of efforts needed before Oct of the previous year
• Autumn: 77% of enquiries come before May

Master’s Students

• Spring: Peak in May, July, Sept; invest 61% budget early
• Autumn: Steady flow; 41% of enquiries before Jan

PhD Students

• Spread-out enquiries; peaks in Jan–Feb
• Distribute recruitment efforts evenly year-round

Regional Enquiry Patterns

Africa

• Spring: Sept–Oct peak
• Autumn: Oct, Jan–Feb, and May are key

Asia

• Spring: Sept–Oct and Jan peak
• Autumn: Jan, May, June are strong

North America

• Spring: May, Aug, Oct peaks
• Autumn: Major interest in Nov

Europe

• Spring: 50% of enquiries before Oct
• Autumn: Nov and Jan peaks

Oceania

• Spring: Aug–Oct and Dec peak
• Autumn: Strong in Aug, Dec

South America

• Spring: Oct, Nov, Jan peak
• Autumn: Jan, Mar–Jun active

Conclusion 

The study choice timeline varies by program level, intake season, and student origin. Effective recruitment requires consistent, year-round engagement not just peak-month efforts. Focusing only on key months limits access to the broader student pool.