Japan University Intakes: April vs September Entry 2026
Study guide
April or September intake?
- 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.
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/
- Pick a default Japan intake before building the timeline: Write down your preferred intake and backup intake.
- April and September or October can both work, but each changes document, housing, and visa timing: Find the first application deadline for each option.
- 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.
Status: Last reviewed 2026-01-21. This is a planning guide, not legal or immigration advice. Always verify the latest rules on official pages and your university’s instructions.
If you’re still deciding Japan vs Korea overall, start here:
1) What “intake” really affects (so you don’t choose blindly)
Choosing an intake isn’t just “when school starts”. It affects:
- application deadlines (some are earlier than you expect),
- when you’ll need final documents from Singapore,
- housing timelines (dorms, deposits, move-in dates),
- and how calm or chaotic your visa prep feels.
So instead of asking “Which intake is better?”, ask:
- “Which intake can I realistically execute, with my current timeline and documents?”
Reviewed by
Marcus Pang·Managing Director (Maths)
