Study guide
Japan University Intakes: April vs September Entry 2026
In one line
April or September intake?
Key points
- Compare Japan's two university entry windows - application deadlines, how each fits JC/NS timelines, and a month-by-month planning checklist for Singapore students.
Reviewed by
Marcus Pang·Managing Director (Maths)
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Read in layers
1 second
Read the summary above.
10 seconds
Scan the first few sections below.
100 seconds
Jump into the section that matches your decision.
- Start Here
- 1) What “intake” really affects (so you don’t choose blindly)
- 2) What the official schedule says (use this as your baseline)
- 3) A simple way to choose your default intake (no jargon)
Q: “Should I aim for the April intake or the September/October intake?”
A: Both can work. Planning gets much easier when you pick a default intake early, then build a timeline around it. This guide uses official pages as the anchor (so you don’t plan off rumours), and translates them into a Singapore-friendly checklist.
TL;DR (60 seconds) - Official intake months overview (start here): https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/flow-chart/schedule.html - Use the official flowchart to keep the sequence right: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/flow-chart/ - Don’t forget the immigration/visa context baseline: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/immigration-procedures/
Start Here
| If you have... | Read this first | What to do next |
| 1 second | Pick a default Japan intake before building the timeline. | Write down your preferred intake and backup intake. |
| 10 seconds | April and September or October can both work, but each changes document, housing, and visa timing. | Find the first application deadline for each option. |
| 100 seconds | Choose the intake that fits results release, NS timing, scholarship cycles, school deadlines, and calm document prep. | For example, a September English-taught intake may fit a JC student better if April deadlines arrive too early. |
