Canadian Academy Admissions: Timeline, Steps and Fees

Dates and fees are from Canadian Academy's admissions, application and fees pages, checked on 11 October 2026. The school reviews fees every year; confirm with admissions before you apply.

Canadian Academy (CA) is an international day and boarding school for PreK to Grade 12 on Rokko Island, Kobe. Most families moving to Kobe look at it first, and popular grades fill early, so it helps to know the timeline.

When to apply

• Up to a year ahead. CA accepts applications up to one year before your child would start.
• Priority deadline for 2027–28: January 31, 2027. Applications completed by then are prioritized, and decisions are sent in March 2027.
• After that, and during the year, CA admits students on a rolling basis when a grade has space, including mid-year.

Entry ages

Children are placed by their schooling so far and their age on October 1 of the school year:

The six application steps

1. Online application. Create an account and complete one application for each child. You can save and return to it.
2. Supporting documents. School records from the past three years where possible, any standardized test results (such as MAP, ITBS, PSAT or TOEFL), any assessments or evaluations, and a copy of your child's passport with a digital photo.
3. School references. One confidential reference for PreK-3 to Grade 5; two for Grades 6 to 12, from a teacher, principal or counselor.
4. Application fee. ¥90,000 per application, not refundable.
5. Admissions interview. A conversation to get to know your child, and for some ages short assessments in math, reading and writing. Children who are not native English speakers are assessed to see whether they would benefit from English as an Additional Language (EAL) support.
6. Acceptance of offer. You have one week to sign and return the form, and the registration fee is due one month after you are notified. If you miss these deadlines, the place is offered to another applicant.

If there is no space

If your child's grade is full, the application goes into CA's waiting pool. It stays active for two school years, so it is considered for the year you applied and the start of the following year, with no second fee.

Fees

CA's fees page lists these fees for 2026–27:

Boarding is ¥3,500,000 a year on top of tuition.

Fees are reviewed every year, and the school says to expect a modest annual increase. Check the tuition and fees page before you apply, and see international school tuition in Japan to compare.

School days

The school year runs from mid-to-late August to early June. Classes run from 8:30am to 3:25pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, finishing at 2:25pm on Wednesdays. CA runs a school bus service; ask admissions about routes from your area.

Before you apply

• Visit. See our Canadian Academy visit guide for what to ask.
• Test the commute. Rokko Island is reached by the Rokko Liner from JR Sumiyoshi; see Ashiya and Nishinomiya and Rokko Island for families.
• Preschool doesn't guarantee a place. See preschool before Canadian Academy.

FAQ

When should we apply to Canadian Academy? As early as a year before your child starts. For 2027–28, applications completed by January 31, 2027 are prioritized.

Does Canadian Academy accept students mid-year? Yes, when there is space in the grade.

How much is the application fee? ¥90,000 per application, not refundable.

What age does my child need to be for PreK? Three on October 1 for PreK-3, four for Kindergarten A and six for Grade 1.

What happens if the grade is full? Your child goes into the waiting pool, which stays active for two school years without a second fee.

Does CA require fluent English? CA does not list a set English level. Children who are not native speakers are assessed to see whether they need EAL support.