Characteristics of Japanese Universities and Junior Colleges

The different types of universities and junior colleges include national, public, and private.

The number of private institutions is greater, as there are currently 86 national, 101 public, and 620 private undergraduate level universities, and 14 public and 295 private junior colleges.

Including the admission and tuition fees, the total cost of the first year is approximately 820,000 yen for national universities, 930,000 yen for public universities, and 1,100,000 yen for private universities (excluding medical, dental, and pharmaceutical programs).

The tuition for universities in the United States amounts to 3,600,000-4,900,000 yen (using the calculation 1 USD = 130 yen), and British universities charge approximately 1,800,000-3,600,000 yen per academic year (using the calculation 1 GBP = 150 yen), so comparatively speaking, the tuition for Japanese universities is much cheaper.

Classes at Japanese universities and junior colleges are generally held in Japanese, however, in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of university (Bachelor's) degree programs taught entirely in English.

In order to be accepted into a Japanese university or junior college program that is taught in Japanese, individuals must have passed the N1 or N2 JLPT examination in addition to scoring at least 250 points on the Japanese section of the EJU.

Admission Requirements

In order to be admitted to Japanese universities or junior colleges, one the following conditions must be satisfied:

1. Individuals who completed 12 years of formal school education
2. Individuals who, after finishing their high school education abroad (less than 12 years of formal school education) completed the designated university preparatory course^*1
3. Individuals who have a foreign university admission certification, such as the International Baccalaureate, Abitur, Baccalaureat, or GCE A-Level.
4. Individuals above the age of 18 who passed their region's high school equivalency exam that is equivalent to 12 years of formal education (individuals who completed less than 12 years of formal schooling must have also completed a university preparatory course or course at a training facility)
   *Please consult your country/region's embassy to confirm whether the high school equivalency exam you took is equivalent to 12 years of formal education.
5. Individuals completing at least 11 years of coursework overseas, completing education at schools corresponding to a senior high school and otherwise satisfying the requirements.
6. Individuals who completed their formal education at a foreign high school in Japan (individuals who completed less than 12 years of formal schooling must have also completed a university preparatory course or research course)
7. Individuals who completed their formal education at an overseas educational institution officially recognized as equivalent to a high school
8. Individuals completing 12 years of coursework at an educational institution certified by an international accreditation institution (WASC, CIS (ECIS),A CSI, NEASC).
9. An individual who has passed the high school equivalency examination (individuals under the age of 18 will be considered as having passed the examination the day after they turn 18 years old)
10. Individuals who completed their education at a special needs secondary education institution or College of Technology (individual must have completed 12 years of formal education)
11. Individuals completing their secondary education at a designated specialized training college
12. Individuals who completed their formal education at a school under Japan's old education system
13. Individual who, on the basis of the university's admission requirements, qualified for the university's individual selection process

*Please consult your country/region's Japanese embassy to determine the number of years of formal education your schooling/curriculum is equivalent to.

*1 University preparatory course: In order to be admitted to a Japanese university, an applicant must have completed at least 12 years of formal education. However, in some countries or regions, education through high school lasts less than 12 years. In this case, students must complete MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)'s designated "university preparatory course for admission to university" in order to be eligible to apply for Japanese universities.

Application Materials/Entrance Examinations

In many cases, the following application materials are required. The necessary application documents differ by school, so please check the requirements for the schools you plan to apply for. Some schools may also ask for Japanese or English translations.

• Application form (designated by the university)
• High school graduation diploma
• High school transcript
• Letter of recommendation from the principal or a teacher of the high school from which the applicant graduated
• Certificate that indicates Japanese and English proficiency
• Other

Many schools conduct entrance examinations for foreigners (international students).
There are also schools that conduct an evaluation of application documents and academic knowledge, an interview, or the EJU examination.

University Admissions Guide for Privately Financed International Students

This is a guidebook containing valuable information on university entrance examinations and the number of successful international student applicants.

Edited and published by the Asian Students Cultural Association

• Available at Study in Japan Resource Facilities.