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I. Japanese University Education
Japan has a large system of private and public universities (538,683 students graduated in 2000). However, the number of foreign students studying in Japan is very low proportionally - only 1.8% of all students in Japanese universities in 1999 were not Japanese. This compares with a high of 16.9% for British universities, around 10% on average for European universities and 6.2% for the USA in 1997.
The total of 64,011 foreign students in Japanese universities in 2000 is short of the Japanese Government goal of 100,000 foreign students by the turn of the century. However, while there is clearly capacity in the Japanese university system (exacerbated by the declining number of university-age youth in Japan), there is still some way to go before the process of coming to Japan to study at university is simplified sufficiently to encourage more students to choose Japan.
As it is, 90% of foreign students in Japan come from Asia. There is still plenty of room for to increase numbers and diversity of foreign students; however, the language barrier remains a difficult obstacle to be overcome. Those who wish to study in Japan need to set aside considerable time to learn the language as well which discourages many from taking the plunge. However, the Japanese government is attempting to simplify the application process which should help increase student numbers, and the generous scholarship programs available for good students makes it easier to find the resources to come to Japan.
II. University Programs
Japanese universities offer four year undergraduate programs, followed by two-year master's programs and finally three-year doctorates (or a combined five-year Master's/Doctoral program). If you have just completed an undergraduate course in a foreign university system such as the UK where you continue from a three-year undergraduate program directly to a three-year doctoral program, whether you are able to apply directly for the Japanese doctoral course will depend entirely on the university in Japan and on the standard of your academic record. Generally you will have to complete a two year Master's program first.
Japan has many universities, but as mentioned elsewhere, the number of programs offered in foreign languages (i.e. programs offered in English) is limited, meaning that if you intend to study in Japan you will probably need to learn Japanese. Some programs, particularly for recipients of the Monbukagakusho (Ministry of Education) scholarships, come with a preparatory six-month period studying the language full time. However, unless you are already quite proficient at Japanese, six months is not sufficient to master the language - see the language page for more details.
(a) Undergraduate Programs
General
Japanese undergraduate programs are four years in length, but you can take up to six years to complete most (some will allow longer, but who wants to spend even six years getting an undergraduate degree?). Note, however, that most scholarships will not cover you for any years over the basic four: if you have to repeat any years, or fail to get sufficient credits in the four year period, you will have to pay your own way for any extra years. This can become expensive, so make sure that you complete in time if at all possible. If you have a valid reason why you could not complete the program in time, the university might help you out, but this will depend entirely on the university and scholarship program.
Entry requirements
To enter an undergraduate program, you are required to have completed 12 years of full time education. This means that those from countries where you only have to study for 11 years will have to get an extra year of education first unless you can convince the university that your standard is as good as that of a Japanese highschool graduate (the usual comparison). This extra year can include study at a language school in Japan if that school is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education (see the page about Japanese language schools for further details of this point).
Dates and course structure
University begins in April each year, and most courses are based on a semester system running from early April to late September, and from late September to late March. Application deadlines are generally in September or October of the previous year for April admission, and in the case that a university allows September admission as well, the deadline will be in March or April. For this reason, student (ryugaku) visas run from April or from October.
Credit and Credit transfer
Most courses are built on credits, much like the US university system. You have to gain a certain number of credits to graduate, and can take courses that last one year (two semesters) or half a year (one semester). A full-year course will usually count for 4 credits, a half-year course for two credits. A complete undergraduate degree will require something in the region of 130 to 150 credits, so on average you should take eight to ten courses per semester. Credit transfer is not accepted by many universities at the undergraduate level, although it is increasingly easy to do so with the creation of the UMAP (University Mobility in the Asia Pacific) program. See the credit page for further details.
(b) Graduate Programs
General
Graduate programs include Master's and Doctoral courses. Master's courses are usually for two years, and Doctoral courses for five years (the first two years are often treated as if they were a Master's degree). Medical Doctorates (PhDs) are only four years' long.
Entry requirements
Completion of an undergraduate degree is required for acceptance onto a graduate program in Japan. Universities have their own entry requirements, and there is no standardised entrance exam as at the undergraduate level. You will have to contact the university or graduate school concerned to find out what they require of you. Some universities may allow holders of undergraduate degrees to enrol on a Doctoral program, but almost exclusively you will require a Master's degree before you can enrol in a Doctoral program. It can't hurt to ask though.
Dates and course structure
Entry to Master's programs is usually in April or September, although some graduate schools still only accept students from April. Doctoral programs are often only open for entry from April and September, but there is sometimes more flexibility. This will depend entirely on the university, and you should contact them for further details. Master's degrees tend to consist of two semesters, and taught courses (often based on a seminar format) worth two credits each. You generally require 30 credits for graduation, some of which may come from a graduation thesis. MBA programs usually require more credits than MA programs: about 50 credits is common. Doctorates will be less taught and more based around your research and thesis, although there may be a requirement to follow some courses. In both cases, there will be some form of final examination: written, oral or both.
Credit and Credit transfer
Credit transfer is increasingly accepted for Master's programs. There will be a maximum transfer allowed - usually up to ten credits. This will depend entirely on the graduate school in Japan.
III. Application Process
Each university will have different application process. You should check the university homepage, and ask for an application kit. This will usually be sent to you free of charge. However, you will find that all universities have an application fee of about 30,000 to 35,000 yen. You will have to pay this for every university you apply to - Japanese students also have to do the same.
Undergraduate Applications
Follow the instructions in the application kit from the university. You will usually be required to take the "Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students" (see below for details), complete an application form for the university, and if in Japan, may be required to have an interview at the University. The university's application forms among other documents will usually include:
- references from academic supervisors/professors/teachers
- proof of funding to pay for your studies (at the time of application, you may just require a personal statement to the effect that you are able to fund your studies)
- high-school graduation certificate and academic transcript (originals or certified copies)
- copy of your passport
- passport photographs
If you are also applying for a Monbukagakusho scholarship, then usually you specify your choice of university on the application for the scholarship. If your application for the scholarship is successful, the Monbukagakusho will then allocate you a place at the university you specify on the application or may also require that you take the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students. Requirements will vary from university to university, and because of the new entrance exam, procedures have not been confirmed as yet. The application process to Japanese universities is in a state of change - Education Japan will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.
When your application is successful, the university will send you the certificate of eligibility for your student visa (see the Visa Guide for details).
Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students
This new exam is intended to simplify the application process to Japanese universities for foreign students. The exam will be held in June and November at centres throughout Japan and at several centres around the world (locations yet to be confirmed). The exam replaces the existing "General Examination for Foreign Students", and includes a Japanese language exam so that you no longer require both the General Exam and Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) as before. English language ability is not tested, so if the university requires proof of English language ability you will have to take a TOEFL or other test (the university will usually specify one they prefer). The test is administered in English or Japanese, but the Japanese proficiency section is in Japanese only on both versions of the exam of course. You may still have to take the university's own entrance examination.
Graduate Applications
As for undergraduate applications, follow the information in the application kit. The new Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students is not used for applications at the Graduate level, as all universities set different requirements for entrance. These will generally be:
- proof of Japanese Language ability (the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level one or two - level required depends on the university);
- the university's application forms, which among other documents will include
- references from supervisor/professor/teacher at previous university
- proof of funding to pay for your studies (at the time of application, you may just require a statement to the effect that you are able to fund your studies)
- graduation certificate and academic transcript (originals or certified copies)
- copy of your passport
- passport photographs
When your application is successful, the university will send you the certificate of eligibility for your student visa (see the Visa Guide for details).
All figures are taken from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology homepage.
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