Deadlines and intakes
The Japanese academic year starts in April. Many universities also admit in September or October, especially for English-taught and graduate programmes.
Work backwards from the COE. Immigration needs time to process it, then you need an embassy appointment and a flight. For April entry, most applications close in the autumn of the year before. For Japanese-taught undergraduate programmes you will usually need an EJU score first. The EJU runs twice a year: for 2026, the first session's results came out on 28 July, and applications for the second session closed on 31 July. Check the university's own schedule, as each sets its own dates.
Language you need
Most undergraduate programmes teach in Japanese and use the Examination for Japanese University Admission (EJU) plus the university's own tests. English-taught degrees exist, concentrated in top national universities and some private ones, and are more common at master's and doctoral level. They set their own TOEFL or IELTS minimums: check each programme.
For the visa, English-taught students do not need Japanese. But part-time jobs, landlords, city offices and above all graduate recruitment run in Japanese. Japanese employers commonly expect business-level Japanese for regular graduate roles. If you intend to stay after graduating, treat Japanese as part of your degree.