Language School+Master of Japanese University
The first mode is the most common mode. Its advantage is low application conditions. After graduation, you can directly enter the master's degree in Japanese universities, with a wide choice of schools and majors. The disadvantage is that some students don't want to go to language schools when they have a good foundation in Japanese, and they think it's a waste of time. In terms of cost, the annual tuition fee of language schools ranges from 500,000 to 700,000 yen.
Postgraduates in Japanese universities
The second mode is to apply for graduate students (pre-master's degree or auditee) in Japanese universities. The advantage is that the application conditions are not high, and you don't have to study for a year and a half or two like a language school. Some people pass the professor's exam and become formal master's students after half a year. The disadvantage is that if you don't have a good foundation in Japanese, it will be very difficult to take classes with professors, and the course pressure will be greater. The tuition fee for graduate students is thirty thousand yen per month.
Apply directly for a master's degree at a Japanese university.
The third mode is to directly apply for a master's degree at a Japanese university. The advantage is not to delay the master's degree. The disadvantage is that the application is more difficult and the exam is more difficult, so you need to go to Japan to take the exam. In terms of cost, the tuition fee for a master's degree is about 500,000 yen a year.
Cost situation
The tuition fee of language school in the first mode is 500,000-700,000 yen a year, the graduate students in the second mode are 30,000 yen a month, and the graduate students in the third mode are about 500,000 yen a year.
Appropriate time
You can always be ready. You'd better choose one with more free time. So you can spend more time learning Japanese.