Study in Japan

Who this applies to

International (foreign) students at Japanese universities. Admissions are PER-UNIVERSITY; MEXT/JASSO provide the common framework (EJU, scholarships, visa).

Governing authority

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Info portal: Study in Japan (studyinjapan.go.jp, run by JASSO).

Degree system

Bachelor 4 yrs (Medicine/Dentistry/Pharmacy/Veterinary 6 yrs) · Master 2 yrs · PhD 3 yrs.

Admission

Japanese Taught

Most undergrad programs require the EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) + the university's own entrance exam/interview, plus JLPT (often N1/N2).

English Taught

Growing number of all-English degree programs (e.g. UTokyo PEAK, Kyoto iUP, the former Global 30 / G30) admit via documents + SAT/IB/A-Levels + TOEFL/IELTS, with NO EJU or Japanese requirement.

Graduate

Apply directly to a department/graduate school; often need to contact a prospective supervisor first; recognized degree + transcripts + research plan.

Language Requirements

Japanese Taught

JLPT N2–N1; EJU Japanese-as-a-foreign-language section.

English Taught

TOEFL iBT / IELTS.

Tuition Per Year Jpy

National Universities

Standard ~¥535,800/yr tuition + a one-time admission fee ~¥282,000 (same for domestic & international at most national universities)

Private Universities

~¥900,000–¥1,500,000/yr (medicine/dentistry far higher, ¥3M–¥9M)

Note

Roughly ¥535,800 ≈ US$3,500/yr at national universities — very affordable; private and English-medium programs higher.

Source

MEXT; Study in Japan; university fee pages

Student visa & residence permit

Type

'Student' status of residence.

Process

The university applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) from immigration on the student's behalf → student takes the CoE to a Japanese embassy for the student visa.

Work Rights

Part-time work up to 28 h/week with permission ('Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted').

Scholarships

MEXT (Japanese Government) Scholarship — fully funded (tuition + monthly stipend ~¥117,000+ + airfare), via embassy or university recommendation; JASSO Student Exchange Support honors scholarship; university and private (e.g. Rotary, Honjo) scholarships.

Sources & references

• scholarships/EJU/MEXT — https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarships/about-scholarships/ (2026-06-10)
• MEXT scholarship detail — https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/mext-scholarship.html (2026-06-10)