Universities (Undergraduate) | Study in Japan

Universities
Undergraduate

Eligibility for admission
(any of the following requirements must be met)

  1. Students who have completed 12 years of school education in countries other than Japan
  2. Students who are 18 years of age or older and have successfully passed an academic qualification examination that is equivalent to the completion of 12 years of school education in countries other than Japan
  3. Students who have completed studies at international schools in Japan that are officially recognized as equivalent to high schools in countries other than Japan
  4. Students who have completed 11 years or more of education courses that are designated by the Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in countries other than Japan
  5. Students who hold an International Baccalaureate qualification, German Abitur qualification, French Baccalaureate qualification or who meet the GCE A level course requirements specified by each university
  6. Students who have completed 12 years of curriculum at education institutes that are accredited by any of the following international accreditation organizations: The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Council of international Schools (CIS) or Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
  7. Students who are 18 years of age or older and have successfully passed the Upper Secondary School Equivalency Examination in Japan
  8. A student who satisfies any one of the admission qualifications specified in the School Education Act, other than those outlined above
  9. Students who are 18 years of age or older and are recognized by the educational institutions to which they apply for admission, through their individual admission qualification examinations, as having an academic ability that is equivalent to a high-school diploma or above

Note: With regard to 1) through 3) above, if a student has completed less than 12 years of education and not completed certain programmes designated by the Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, he/she may be needed to complete an authorized university preparatory course or an authorized course at a training facility, among other things.

Entrance examination

Many schools conduct entrance exams not only for Japanese students but also for international students. The exam consists of some of the following items (the detailed methods vary depending on the school, so it is best that you check the school application guidebook for details):

1) Document screening
2) Test of academic ability
3) Interview
4) Short essay
5) Other competence and aptitude tests
6) Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU)
7) Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
8) National Center Test (大学入試センター試験)

Qualifications for course completion and graduation

A student will be awarded a degree upon graduation, provided that the following criteria have been satisfied.
Note : Some universities set their own requirements (number of credits, etc.) for graduation.

Categories Required study period Total credits earned Degrees to be awarded
University (undergraduate) Regular undergraduate faculties and four-year courses of faculty of pharmacy 4 years 124 credits or more Bachelor’s degree
Faculties of medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences, and six-year courses of faculty of pharmacy 6 years Medicine and dentistry: 188 credits or more
Veterinary science: 182 credits or more
Pharmacy: 186 credits or more