There are many reasons people come to live in Japan. Some people come to experience the unique culture while others come in search of a job opportunity.
Another of the main reasons is to study at a Japanese university.
Japan offers several different types of post-high school education, and many of the institutions that provide these kinds of education have special programs or entrance exams to make them more accessible for foreign applicants.
In this article, I will show you what are these post-high school education institutions as well as what kind of programs and entrance exams they offer for foreign students.
In other words, I will introduce to you different ways hot to get into a Japanese university.
*Note: In this article, we will mostly discuss the system of a regular 4-year university.
Why study in Japan?
There are various reasons that make Japan a popular place to study.
First, there’s the aspect of the environment. It is said that there are over 220,000 international students from over 170 countries studying in Japan. This makes it a good place to get to know people from all around the world which helps to expand your worldview.
Another reason many people like to study in Japan is to learn about Japanese culture and to find an opportunity to get into a Japanese company to work. Japanese companies are famous for having good services and good business manners, so many people are interested in learning these company cultures to take back to their home countries.
Another attractive point is that you will be able to visit some of the best tourist spots during weekends and vacations. You can also get to experience the unique cultural aspect of Japan such as the different events that come with every season.
It is also a big plus that Japan is one of the safest countries to live in in the world.
*According to a survey, 92% of foreigners who come to study in Japan said that they are satisfied with the experience of studying in Japan.
Educational System in Japan
Now, let me explain how the education system works in Japan.
In Japan, in general, there are 6 years of elementary school followed by 3 years of middle school (lower secondary school) and 3 years of high school (upper secondary school). After these 12 years of education is when post-high school education starts.
As I previously stated, there are various types of institutions where you can get various types of degrees. The following are some of the types of post-high school education in Japan.
University (大学): Generally 4 years (6 years depending on the faculty) of study to get a bachelor’s degree.
Master’s Program (修士課程): Generally 2 years of study to get a Master’s degree.
Doctoral Program (博士課程): Generally 5 years of study to get a Doctoral degree.
Junior College (短期大学): Generally 2 to 3 years of study to get an Associate degree.
Professional training college (専修学校・専門学校): Generally 2 to 3 years of study to get a diploma or 4 years of study to get an Advance diploma.
There are actually more types of post-high school education institutions, but these shown above are the main ones. You can also divide these entities into National Universities, Public Universities, and Private Universities.