UNIVERSITIES IN JAPAN

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Universities are higher education institutions that primarily offer four-year degree programs. Depending on the institution, there may be options for non-degree or auditing students, allowing flexible course selection and examinations. In addition to long-term, degree-seeking study programs, universities also offer short-term study options, providing students with a variety of academic pathways.

1. 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 designated foreign schools in Japan equivalent to overseas upper secondary education;
Completion of more than 11 years of education overseas as designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT);
Being 18 years or older and holding an International Baccalaureate (IB), Abitur, French Baccalauréat, or meeting the required score 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 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 a designated overseas program has not been completed, applicants may be required to complete a designated preparatory course or an approved training program.

2. 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 certteacher;
Other documents as required.

Required documents vary by institution; applicants are advised to contact us directly for detailed guidance.

3. Entrance Examinations

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

Common assessment components include: