FAQ
For Prospective Students
Table of contents
Basic Information
Please refer to "Schedule Before Coming to Japan" on the following page. It is important to prepare in advance in order to study in Japan as you anticipate. We recommend that you begin preparing as soon as possible.
1. Access study abroad information materials
Various kinds of information related to studying in Japan can be accessed at Japanese diplomatic establishments abroad. They include the following:
- General information related to studying in Japan (for example, necessary preparations, educational facilities, immigration procedures, living in Japan, etc.)
- Material concerning the Japanese system for international students
- Material related to scholarships
- Information related to Japanese universities (university and undergraduate department guide), graduate schools, specialized training colleges and Japanese-language institutions
- Information regarding accommodations in Japan
- Sample of entrance examinations for international students
2. Information Provision by International Student Advisors
Japanese diplomatic establishments in countries where there are large numbers of students interested in studying in Japan have former international students and other people who are knowledgeable about Japan on hand to serve as international student advisors (please note, however, that they are not full-time staff). In addition, regional information sessions may be held once or several times a year, not only in the capital city but also in regional cities, so please inquire at the Japanese embassy or other diplomatic mission abroad in your country.
Six Japanese embassies and consulates (located in Beijing and Shanghai, China; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Indonesia; and Thailand) have special space set aside to provide information about studying in Japan. Full-time international student advisors are on hand at these embassies and consulates to provide information as well as consultation. Please find the nearest Japanese embassy or other diplomatic mission abroad in your country on the website below.
The regulation that made a guarantor necessary to acquire entry and status of residence in Japan was abolished in December 1996. Therefore, you no longer need a guarantor to enter Japan as an international student. However, guarantors are required in various aspects of life in Japan. For example, you need a guarantor when you are renting a room, taking an entrance examination or gaining admission to a Japanese university or specialized training college. After enrollment, you may also be required to apply for scholarships and tuition fee reductions. Therefore, although you no longer need a guarantor to gain entry into Japan, there will be many situations when you need a guarantor after you arrive in Japan (these are also required of Japanese students).
If you are considering studying in Japan, it is important that you inquire with the school you are planning to attend regarding the need for guarantors since policies differ depending on the school. For example, if you are enrolling in a Japanese language school, the school may become your guarantor while you are a student. In some areas, an association for international relations (run by local government) may become your guarantor while staying in the area.
Please refer to the following page to check the costs required to study in Japan and the estimated cost of living in Japan.
Please refer to the following page for a brief guide to immigration procedures.
If a foreign national travels to Japan to take an exam, they must obtain a Temporary Visitor visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in their country by presenting the exam voucher of their school of choice. The period of stay can be 15, 30 or 90 days. However, if a foreign national is a national of a country under the Visa Exemption Arrangements, they will not need to apply for a visa.
*If you are a national of a country, as a rule, you must return to your home country after passing the exam to obtain a Student status of residence.
Japanese Educational System & Type of schools
Please see the following page.
In addition, the website of the National Information Center for Academic Recognition Japan (NIC-Japan) provides an overview of the Japanese education system, types of higher education institutions, higher education credentials, and information on admission to higher education institutions.
National Information Center for Academic Recognition Japan (NIC-Japan)
Please see the following page for a list of available degrees.
Please use the search function on the website below that allows you to search for schools by specifying your preferences, such as major or school location, etc.
Please refer to the page below for an explanation of specialized training colleges.
Please refer to the page below for a description of college of technology.
Please refer to the page below for a description of schools where you can study Japanese.
Each of the following pages provides information on general application materials and admissions tests. However, application materials and entrance examinations vary greatly from school to school, so please inquire directly with the school you wish to apply to.
Abilities, Examinations & Qualifications
An increasing number of university and graduate schools offer degrees in English. If you wish to enroll in a degree program in English, Japanese language proficiency is often not required.
If you wish to study at a university where classes are taught in Japanese or both Japanese and English, you will need to have at least an N2 level in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), and a score of 2.50 on the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) (excluding the writing section). However, this is only a guideline.
The Japanese language proficiency requirements vary from school to school, so please inquire directly with the school you wish to enroll in.
The examination is available in 17 cities in 13 countries and regions outside of Japan. Please see the following page for more information.
Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU)
In principle, you must have completed 12 years of education to apply for admission to a university (undergraduate), junior college, or specialized training college in Japan. You must have completed 11 years of education to apply for admission to a college of technology, and 16 years of education for admission to a graduate school (master's program).
Students who have completed 10 or 11 years of elementary and secondary school education and wish to apply for admission to higher education institutions, such as universities, in Japan must meet either of the eligibility criteria as follows:
1）Have completed 12 years of formal school education by taking an additional one or two years of schooling at a university or other higher education institution or a university preparatory program in their home country.
2）Have completed university preparatory courses (junbi kyouiku katei)*1 authorized by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (provided, however, that they have completed a level of education equivalent to a Japanese High School).
However, if you have completed elementary and secondary education courses in your home country that are 11 years long or more but less than 12 years, you are considered eligible for admission without completing the university preparatory courses if the said education courses are designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan*2. Please see the following more information.
Scholarships
There are Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) scholarships, privately funded scholarships, and scholarships for students studying abroad under an agreement with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Please see the following page for more information.
A small number of scholarships are available for students from outside Japan (before coming to Japan). Please refer to the follow page for more information. In addition, please download the scholarship pamphlet for a list of organizations, etc. that provide scholarships.
If you cannot find a proper answer among
the entries in the FAQ list,
please contact us at noted below.