Japan University Intakes (Singapore Students) 2026: April vs September/October, and How to Plan Around IP/JC/NS
TL;DR
A Singapore-friendly, source-first guide to Japan university intakes: what the official schedule says, how to choose between April vs September/October, and a practical planning timeline you can follow without guessing.
21 Jan 2026, 00:00 Z
Reviewed by
Marcus Pang·Managing Director (Maths)
Planning a revision session? Use our study places near me map to find libraries, community study rooms, and late-night spots.
> **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/
<Image
src="/optimised/study-abroad-japan-korea-checklist-campus-spring-20260119-bf9860a6.avif"
alt="Students on a campus walkway under trees, planning their next steps."
width={720}
height={480}
/>
*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:
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/Study-Abroad-Japan-vs-South-Korea-Checklist
---
## 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?”
---
## 2) What the official schedule says (use this as your baseline)
Start with the official schedule page:
* https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/flow-chart/schedule.html
That page lays out typical start months for different school types.
Two useful takeaways (in plain English):
* Universities commonly align around **April** and **September/October**.
* Some other school types can have additional start months (so always verify on your specific programme page).
Then use the official flow chart to keep your planning sequence correct:
* https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/flow-chart/
---
## 3) A simple way to choose your default intake (no jargon)
Here are three questions that usually settle the decision fast.
### Question A: “When will I realistically have my key documents?”
Examples:
* final graduation certificates / transcripts
* predicted grades (if your school issues them)
* passport validity (renewal can take time)
If your documents arrive late, forcing an earlier intake can create unnecessary stress. An intake is only “good” if you can execute it cleanly.
### Question B: “Do I need extra time for exams or language milestones?”
If you’re aiming for routes that rely on exams (or you want to build Japanese before you start), give yourself breathing room.
If you’re considering EJU, start here:
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/EJU-Singapore-Guide-Who-Needs-It-Japan-University-Admissions-2026
If you’re planning JLPT milestones:
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/JLPT-vs-TOPIK-Singapore-When-to-Take-What-It-Unlocks-Guide-2026
### Question C: “Do I want a faster start, or a calmer build-up?”
Both are valid.
* If you want a faster start, you’ll likely choose the earliest intake you can execute.
* If you want a calmer build-up, you’ll choose the intake that gives you time to prepare documents, budget, and housing properly.
---
## 4) A Singapore-friendly planning timeline (copy/paste structure)
This is a “default plan” you can adapt to April or September/October.
### 18–12 months before start (decision + shortlist)
* Choose your intake (April or Sept/Oct).
* Shortlist programmes and list the *exact* requirements for each.
* Decide degree route vs language-first route.
Helpful links:
* Decision tree: https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/Japan-vs-Korea-Decision-Tree-4-Routes-Degree-vs-Language-First-Guide-2026
* English-taught degree search workflow: https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/English-Taught-Degrees-in-Japan-Singapore-Programme-Search-Shortlist-Guide-2026
### 12–6 months before start (documents + applications)
* Build your document pack early (don’t wait until deadlines loom).
* Apply based on each programme’s timeline (they won’t all match).
* Ask schools one clear question: “What will you need from me for the visa process, and by when?”
Singapore document pack playbook:
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/Singapore-Overseas-Scholarship-Document-Pack-Playbook
Admissions documents guide:
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/Japan-Korea-University-Admissions-Documents-Singapore-Transcripts-Predicted-Grades-Translation-Guide-2026
### 6–3 months before start (visa context + housing)
Use the official immigration procedures overview as your baseline:
* https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/immigration-procedures/
Then plan housing early (deposits and lead times are real):
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/Housing-in-Japan-vs-Korea-Singapore-Students-Dorms-Deposits-Questions-Guide-2026
### 3–1 month before start (arrival prep)
Create a calm “arrival folder”:
* passport + copies
* acceptance documents
* proof-of-funds documents (if your school requests them)
* housing confirmation
If you want the Japan-specific visa sequence in plain English:
* https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/Japan-Student-Visa-Singapore-COE-to-Visa-Arrival-Checklist-Guide-2026
---
## 5) Next action (today)
Pick one:
* Open the official schedule page and circle the intake you want to target:
- https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/flow-chart/schedule.html
* Write a 10-line “intake plan” doc with:
- target intake, target programmes, missing documents, first deadline you can see
* If you’re still deciding Japan vs Korea:
- https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/Study-Abroad-Japan-vs-South-Korea-Checklist
