COLLEGES IN JAPAN

Refer to:

1. Collges of Technology (Kosen)

Colleges of Technology, known as KOSEN, are post-lower-secondary institutions in Japan.

These institutions offer specialized technical training for five years (five and a half years for maritime programs) for students who have completed lower secondary school. International students typically enter at the third-year level. KOSEN include national, prefectural, and private institutions.

a. Training features

KOSEN train practical engineers capable of adapting quickly to advanced scientific and technological demands by providing a strong combination of theoretical instruction and hands-on training, experiments, and practical workshops;
They offer various technical majors, including a maritime commerce department for training ship crew members;
After completing the 5-year program, students receive the qualification of “Associate Degree” (Junkyū Daigaku)”;
An additional 2-year advanced course is available after the 5-year program;
After completing the advanced course and passing the evaluation by NIAD-QE, students may obtain a Bachelor’s degree.

b. Eligibility for transfer admission

Applicants must meet one of the following conditions (for national KOSEN):

Completion of 11 years of schooling outside Japan;
Passing an academic qualification test equivalent to 11 years of education overseas;
Completion of studies at an approved foreign school in Japan equivalent to an overseas high school;
Possession of an International Baccalaureate (IB), Abitur, or French Baccalauréat;
Completion of 11 years at a foreign school in Japan accredited by WASC, CIS, or ACSI;
Passing Japan’s upper secondary school graduation exam;
Meeting any other admission criteria stipulated by the Japanese education exam.

c. Required documents

All national KOSEN follow a standardized application format. Please check the official KOSEN Association website for details.

d. Entrance examination

The KOSEN Association evaluates applicants based on:

Application form;
Results of the EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students);
TOEFL / IELTS / TOEIC scores;
Interview.

The interview must be conducted in Japan.

e. Post-graduation Pathways

Graduates may enter the workforce or transfer to universities. Many continue their studies at national universities.

2. Vocational schools (Specialized training colleges)

Vocational schools, also called “Senmon Gakkō”, are post-secondary educational institutions offering specialized programs to develop practical skills, technical expertise, and cultural knowledge for immediate workplace application.

a. Training features

Vocational schools supply essential skilled professionals for Japanese industries, and graduates are expected to apply specialized skills effectively in the workplace.

Senmon Gakkō train personnel in globally expanding fields—from “Cool Japan” industries such as manga, animation, game design, and fashion, to environmental technology, IT, healthcare, and welfare.

Regardless of economic fluctuations, vocational schools consistently maintain high employment rates.

b. Required Japanese Language Proficiency

Because instruction is conducted entirely in Japanese, students must meet at least ONE of the following criteria:

Completion of 6+ months of study at a Japanese language school approved by the Ministry of Justice;
Passing JLPT N1 or N2;
Completion of 1+ years of study at Japanese primary, lower secondary, or upper secondary schools;
Score of 200+ (combined Japanese reading, listening, and listening-reading) on the EJU;
Score of 400+ on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test.

c. Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet ONE of the following:

Completion of 12 years of schooling outside Japan;
Age 18+ and passing a qualification test equivalent to 12 years of schooling overseas;
Completion of approved foreign school programs in Japan equivalent to high school overseas;
Completion of 11+ years of schooling overseas as designated by MEXT;
Age 18+ with an IB Diploma, Abitur, French Baccalauréat, or adequate GCEA scores;
Completion of 12 years at institutions accredited by WASC, CIS, or ACSI;
Passing Japan’s upper secondary school graduation exam;
Eligibility deemed equivalent by the school’s own evaluation criteria;
If schooling is less than 12 years, a designated preparatory program may be required.

d. Required Documents

School’s application form

High school diploma;
Highest-level transcript;
Attendance and performance records from Japanese language school (if residing in Japan);
Japanese or English language certificates (if applying from abroad);
Additional documents as required by each school.

e. Entrance Examination

Selection methods typically include:

Application screening;
Academic tests;
Interviews;
Essays;
Aptitude and skill assessments;
Japanese language tests;
EJU or JLPT scores.

Entrance examinations focus on evaluating the following factors:

The applicant’s purpose and motivation for enrollment
Whether the applicant has sufficient Japanese language proficiency and academic ability to successfully pursue the program after admission
The applicant’s willingness and commitment to study

Program Qualifications

	Specialized Diploma	Advanced Specialized Diploma
Required duration	2 years or more	4 years or more
Total study hours	1,700 hours or more	3,400 hours or more
Completion certification	Academic performance is assessed through examinations to certify course completion	Academic performance is assessed through examinations to certify course completion
Program structure	The curriculum is systematically organized	The curriculum is systematically organized

To graduate and complete the program, students must meet the requirements outlined above. Upon successful completion of specialized programs officially recognized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), students will be awarded either a “Specialized Diploma” or an “Advanced Specialized Diploma.” Some universities allow students holding a Specialized Diploma to transfer into undergraduate programs, while those with an Advanced Specialized Diploma may be eligible for admission to graduate-level programs. Applicants are advised to confirm specific transfer pathways directly with the institution they plan to apply to.

Many vocational schools also offer Japanese language departments, which are officially recognized as Japanese language education institutions. Students should verify with each school which programs qualify for the award of a Specialized Diploma.

References:

3. Junior colleges

Junior colleges are higher education institutions that primarily offer two-year programs. Depending on the institution, students may enroll as non-degree or auditing students and freely select courses to take examinations. In addition to long-term degree-seeking study, short-term study programs are also available.

a. Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet one of the following conditions:

Completion of 12 years of schooling outside Japan;
Being 18 years or older and passing an academic qualification examination equivalent to 12 years of schooling overseas;
Completion of studies at approved foreign schools in Japan equivalent to overseas upper secondary education;
Completion of more than 11 years of education overseas as designated by MEXT;
Being 18 years or older and holding an International Baccalaureate, Abitur, French Baccalauréat, or meeting required scores in the GCEA examination;
Completion of 12 years of education at institutions accredited by WASC, CIS, or ACSI;
Passing the upper secondary school graduation examination;
Meeting alternative admission requirements stipulated under the School Education Act;
Being 18 years or older and recognized by the institution as having academic ability equivalent to or higher than a high school graduate.

For conditions 1-3, if the total length of education is less than 12 years or the designated overseas program has not been completed, applicants may be required to complete a designated preparatory course or a training program at an affiliated institution.

b. Required Documents

Application form (as prescribed by the institution);
Upper secondary school diploma or certificate of graduation;
Upper secondary school academic transcripts;
Letter of recommendation from a high school principal or teacher;
Japanese or English language proficiency certificate;
Other documents as required by the institution;

Required documents vary by school; applicants are encouraged to contact us directly for detailed guidance.

c. Entrance Examinations

In addition to entrance examinations for Japanese applicants, many institutions conduct separate entrance examinations for international students. Selection criteria may vary by institution, and applicants should carefully review each school’s examination guidelines.

Common assessment components include:

Application document review;
Academic examinations;
Interviews;
Essays or written compositions;
Aptitude and competency assessments;
Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU);
Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT);
National university entrance examinations.

d. Graduation Requirements

Students who successfully complete the program and meet the following requirements will be awarded a “Junior College Bachelor’s Degree (Associate Degree)”: