International and domestic students can apply for courses taught in Japanese or English, and you can find guidance on this page about the application process.
While the majority of courses are taught in Japanese, most of the leading national and private universities have degree programmes taught entirely in English. If you enrol in these programmes, you will not only acquire academic expertise in English but, in many cases, will also be supported by the university to develop Japanese language skills. This language support will help you immerse and thrive in the fascinating local culture, as well as enhance your employability in the local and international job market.
To help international students prepare for study in Japan, we also now offer a new Cambridge IGCSE Japanese qualification (available in Administrative Zones 4 and 5).
International students
Applying to English-taught degree programmes
Internationally recognised universities such as the University of Tokyo (東京大学), Kyoto University (京都大学), Tohoku University (東北大学), Nagoya University (名古屋大学), Osaka University (大阪大学) and Kyushu University (九州大学) all have English-taught degree programmes and accept Cambridge qualifications to apply to their courses.
Many prestigious private universities including Waseda University (早稲田大学), Sophia University (上智大学) and International Christian University (国際基督教大学) also accept students with Cambridge qualifications to their English-taught programmes. Most of these universities require three Cambridge International A Levels to apply to their courses, and some accept Cambridge IGCSEs and International AS Levels with a combination of one or more International A Levels.
While not all Japanese universities openly publish which grades they are looking for, competitive programmes need Cambridge International A Levels with high grades. Specific subjects are required depending on courses. Some universities recognise Cambridge IGCSE English as proof of English language proficiency level.
Once your application is accepted, there are generally two screenings during the selection process. During the first screening, the university will check the applicant’s academic achievements and other qualities based on the submitted documents. Once you are successful in the first screening, you will be invited to the second screening which usually involves an interview.
Most, if not all, English-taught degree programmes start in September. The application dates for starting in September vary depending on institutions and courses. Some universities start to accept applications in the previous October, and others in January and February. In some cases, you are expected to submit application documents to the university within a short period of time, such as one week, so it is important to check the schedule carefully in advance. For an English-taught degree course starting in April, the application starts around June in the previous year.
In the future we are likely to see more Japanese universities offer a type of degree programme in which you apply and start learning in English and gradually move to study bilingually or in the Japanese language. Some universities, like Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU, 立命館アジア太平洋大学), already offer such bilingual degree programmes and they accept Cambridge International AS & A Levels when you apply as an international student.
Applying to Japanese-taught degree programmes
The majority of courses in Japanese universities are taught entirely in Japanese. International students can apply to these programmes, and Cambridge International A Levels are accepted as proof of completing the high school level education necessary to apply to the university.
You need to demonstrate good Japanese language proficiency to apply to degree programmes taught in Japanese. Most universities require you to achieve certain scores in EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) or N1 or N2 levels in JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). That is why many international students who are interested in Japanese-based programmes come to Japan at least one or two years in advance to study the language and prepare for applying to universities.
Japanese-taught degree programmes usually start in April. The typical application period is the previous December.
Domestic students
Applying to English-taught programmes
Many institutions including, but not limited to, the University of Tokyo, Nagoya University, Waseda University and Sophia University accept students regardless of nationality to their English-taught programmes. Tohoku University offers a different route for Japanese citizens to apply to their English-taught programme.
Some universities treat a student with dual nationality (Japanese nationality plus another), or an international student with permanent residency in Japan, similarly to a Japanese student in the admission process. It varies depending on institutions, and we advise you to check the application guidelines of each institution and course you intend to study.
Admission for returnee students
Most Japanese-taught degree programmes have admission routes especially open for Japanese returnee students （帰国生）who have been educated in schools outside Japan. Many of these entry routes recognise Cambridge International A Levels as proof of completing high-school level education necessary to apply.
There will usually be two screenings. If you are successful in the first screening, which involves checking whether you meet the criteria based on the documents you submitted, including Cambridge International A Level results, you will be invited to the second screening which includes an interview and a written exam as well as writing an essay.