Japan Graduate Schools (Singapore) 2026: Coursework vs Research, What to Verify, and a Practical Plan
TL;DR
A Singapore-friendly, source-first route map for Japan postgraduate study: what the official Study in Japan page says about graduate schools (English programs, timelines, costs, and advisor requirements), how to plan a degree route vs a…
22 Jan 2026, 00:00 Z
Reviewed by
Marcus Pang·Managing Director (Maths)
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> **Q:** I’m a Singapore student aiming for masters/PhD in Japan — what’s the clean way to plan this without getting lost?
> \
> **A:** Use the official Study in Japan graduate school page as your baseline, then decide which “shape” fits you: a coursework-heavy degree route or a research-led route (often involving an advisor). After that, it’s just verification: programme page, documents, timeline, and immigration procedures.
> **TL;DR (fast route)**
> - Read this official overview first: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/learn-about-schools/graduate-schools/
> - Then check English-medium starting points (official): https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/learn-about-schools/english-programs/index.html
> - Keep immigration procedures open for baseline context: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/immigration-procedures/
> - If you’re building a document pack from Singapore: https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/Singapore-Overseas-Scholarship-Document-Pack-Playbook
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*Status:* Last reviewed 2026-01-22. This is a planning guide, not admissions or legal advice. Requirements and timelines vary by programme, so always verify using official pages and your target graduate school’s admissions site.
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## 1) What the official graduate schools page is telling you (in plain English)
Official page:
* https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/learn-about-schools/graduate-schools/
As of our last review, it highlights a few realities that matter for Singapore students:
* while many university degree programs are normally conducted in Japanese, there are graduate programs taught completely in English (and the trend is especially visible at graduate level)
* some schools offer fall admission (September/October) in addition to spring admission (April)
* graduate study is not “one shape” — there are research-led routes, professional graduate schools, and non-degree categories like research students (which can affect what you need to verify)
**Practical takeaway:**
* Decide on your route shape first, then shortlist schools.
* Don’t start by reading 30 university websites in random order.
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## 2) “Coursework-heavy” vs “research-led”: a Singapore-friendly way to think about it
This isn’t an official classification — it’s a practical mental model.
### A) Coursework-heavy route (good if you want structure)
Typical signs:
* the programme description clearly outlines modules, credit requirements, and a predictable timeline
* you can apply through the admissions portal without having to “secure” an advisor first (still verify this)
What to do first:
* shortlist programs using official English-program entry points:
- https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/learn-about-schools/english-programs/index.html
### B) Research-led route (good if you have a strong research direction)
The official graduate schools page explicitly notes that:
* in many cases, you may have to find your own thesis advisor, and some schools may require advisor approval before applying
What to do first:
* shortlist labs/advisors and research themes, then verify the school’s process.
If you’re doing the advisor route, this Singapore-friendly outreach guide can help you write better emails:
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/MEXT-Research-Singapore-Professor-Outreach-Email-Strategy-Guide-2026
---
## 3) What to verify (this prevents most “I wasted a year” stories)
For each target graduate school, verify on the official admissions pages:
* language of instruction (entirely English, partly English, or Japanese)
* admissions timeline (April intake vs fall intake, and the real deadline)
* required documents (and whether translations/certified copies are expected)
* whether advisor approval is required before application (common for research-led routes)
* whether you’re applying as a degree student vs research student vs another category (this can affect procedures and status of residence)
If you want a Singapore document checklist that works across MEXT/GKS/admissions:
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/Singapore-Overseas-Scholarship-Document-Pack-Playbook
---
## 4) Immigration procedures: keep the official baseline open
Even when your school guides you, it helps to keep the official baseline open so you can ask better questions:
* https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/immigration-procedures/
Use it for:
* “What’s the overall sequence?”
* “What happens after I get accepted?”
* “What should I expect upon arrival?”
If you’re still earlier in the pipeline (COE → visa), this guide is Singapore-specific:
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/Japan-Student-Visa-Singapore-COE-to-Visa-Arrival-Checklist-Guide-2026
---
## 5) Next action (today)
Pick one “today” task:
* Build a shortlist of 6 programs (2 cities × 3 programs) using the official English-program entry point:
- https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/learn-about-schools/english-programs/index.html
* For each program, write 3 bullets:
- “Is this coursework-heavy or research-led?”
- “Do I need an advisor’s approval before applying?”
- “What’s the intake month + deadline?”
* If you’re going research-led, draft one short advisor email using this as a reference:
- https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/MEXT-Research-Singapore-Professor-Outreach-Email-Strategy-Guide-2026
