September entry: a rarity in Japan?

In many parts of the world, we are used to the academic year starting in September and ending in July. However, those who have studied in Japan would probably realise that this is not the mainstream here. The traditional Japanese academic year runs from the beginning of April to the end of March, with summer vacation being part of the year. This can have implications for students relocating internationally, which partly explains why most international schools in the country adopt the September-to-July academic calendar.

What about university progression?

International school students planning on going to university abroad will mostly face no issues –their final grades will be released in the summer, in time for September enrolment. But what about those who wish to stay in Japan for higher education?

These students will be reassured to hear that the number of undergraduate programmes commencing in Autumn is on the rise in Japan. At the time of writing, more than 70 public and private universities in the country offer a September entry point. This is especially the case with English-speaking programmes which cater for international students, for example the Global BBA at Nagoya University of Commerce and Business (NUCB). That is to say, both Japanese and overseas university options are open to international high school graduates in Japan.