I'm from New Zealand, and this kind of stuff isn't a thing where I went (as far as I'm aware). Course enrolments open at some point (everything all at once), and you just log in and fill it out at some point over the multiple months between it opening and the due date for completing it. Some programs have limited admission (with their associated papers being restricted to those enrolled in that program), but limited space at the paper level (as opposed to the course level) and rushing to submit your paper selection just isn't a thing (as far as I'm aware).