Are you excited about studying abroad in Japan, but not sure how the education system is organized? Here’s everything you need to know about the structure of Higher Education in Japan…
-
Japanese Educational System:
The nation is known for its rich culture, unbeatable cuisine, and quality of education and has an adult literacy rate of nearly 100%! Here’s what you need to know about how higher education is structured.
- Elementary education (6 years of elementary school) and
- Secondary education (3 years of lower secondary school) and 3 years of upper secondary school).
- In Japan, its higher education starts upon the completion of 12 years of education
-
Types of Higher Education Institutions:
There are 5 types of higher education institutions where international students can be admitted to, which are
(1) Colleges of technology,
(2) Professional training colleges (postsecondary course of specialized training colleges),
(3) Junior colleges,
(4) Universities (undergraduate) and
(5) Graduate schools.
Furthermore, various types of Japanese language schools are available for those who want to study Japanese in Japan.
Each student may have a different reason for choosing to study in Japan.Depending on the funding bodies, this higher education institutions are categorized into three types: National, Local public and Private.
Universities and junior colleges constitute the core of higher ed- ucation institutions in Japan. In principle, the required period of study for universities is four years, while that for junior colleges is two years. Some universities and junior colleges offer audit and credit-earning programs, both intended for part-time students. Also, in addition to degree-programs or long-term research pro- grams, non-degree, short-term programs are also available.
Colleges of technology are higher education institutions and are called 高 専 (KOSEN) for short. They offer a comprehensive five-year program (a five and half year program for mercantile marine studies) for junior high school graduates. As a general rule, international students start from the third year of the College of technology’s program, skipping the first and second years.
Specialized training colleges offering postsecondary courses are called professional training colleges and is one of the institutions classified under higher education institutions. These colleges provide the learning of know- how, technology and skills useful in one’s future job and life as well as to improve their education.
-
Bachelor’s degree
A bachelor’s degree is conferred upon those who have completed undergraduate studies. To graduate with a bachelor’s degree, a student must study at a university for at least 4 years (at least 6 years in the cases of medicine, dentistry and veterinary science) and acquire at least 124 credits (188 credits in the case of medicine or dentistry and 182 credits in the case of veterinary science).
-
Master’s degree
A master’s degree is conferred upon those who have completed postgraduate studies in a master’s course. To graduate with a master’s degree, a student must study at a graduate school for 2 years in principle (or the required number of years for research courses or fields of specialty that have set a different standard), acquire at least 30 credits in his or her special field, as well as receive necessary research guidance and pass examinations conducted by the graduate school such as writing a master’s thesis that is judged satisfactory.
-
Doctor’s degree
A doctorate is conferred upon those who have completed postgraduate studies in a doctor’s course. To graduate with a doctor’s degree, a student must, in principle, study at least 5 years in a graduate school (3 years for those who have completed a master’s program), acquire at least 30 credits, receive necessary research guidance and write a doctoral thesis that is judged satisfactory and pass an examination.
-
Associate’s degree
This is the degree conferred upon graduates of junior colleges and colleges of technology.
Junior colleges: To graduate from a junior college, students must, in principle, attend the junior college for at least 2 years and acquire at least 62 credits in the case of 2-year colleges, or, in the case of 3-year colleges, attend for at least 3 years and obtain at least 93 credits.
Colleges of technology: To graduate from a college of technology, the student must, in principle, attend for at least 5 years and acquire at least 167 credits.
-
Technical Associate’s degree
Graduates of post-secondary courses of special training colleges that have been accredited by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as those fulfilling necessary requirements, such as minimum course attendance of least 2 years and a total of at least 1,700 hours of instruction, can call themselves “qualified specialists.”
-
Japanese Language School
Japanese language institutes are intended to teach the Japanese language for non-Japanese speakers. Generally, a prospective international student first enrolls in a Japanese language institution aiming to be admitted to higher education institutions in Japan. In many cases, he or she studies Japanese language and other related subjects such as EJU, JLPT, English, mathematics, science or liberal arts. For this reason, the choice of the Japanese language institution is very important for the prospective student.
There are two types of Japanese language institutes for international students aiming to enter higher education.
-
Japanese language institutes:
Controlling entity: Educational Foundations (Specialized training colleges, miscellaneous schools), the public interest incorporated foundations, corporations, voluntary organizations, individuals and etc.
Objective: (1) Acquire Japanese language proficiency for academic purposes (2) Receive preparatory education for admission to universities (3) Acquire Japanese language proficiency for purposes other than academic purposes Status of Residence: Student
To be eligible for the status of residence of the student, international students must be enrolled in Japanese language institutes designated through official notification by the Japanese Minister of Justice (and published in the Official Gazette of Japan).
-
Preparatory Japanese language programs offered at private universities and junior colleges
Controlling entity: Private universities and junior colleges
Objective: Acquire Japanese language proficiency for academic purposes Status of Residence: Student
Preparatory Japanese language programs are set up in private universities and junior colleges. Japanese language, Japanese culture, Japanese affairs and other basic subjects for entrance into universities are offered. Students planning on further study in universities may use the admission on recommendation system, if available, for admission into the university or proceed to other universities of their choice. The advantages here would be the ability to use the university’s facilities and services.
-
Degree Programs in English:
The following are examples of programs in which Japanese language proficiency is not required at the time of admission.
- Programs in which international students can earn a degree by taking courses in English
- Programs in which international students are not required Japanese language proficiency at the time of entrance and can start their study taking classes in English but are required to take classes that require Japanese proficiency too as they move through the academic years.
In universities and graduate schools, there are programs in which students can acquire an academic degree by taking courses in English only. On the other hand, colleges of technology and professional training colleges do not have pro- grams conducted in English only in which students can acquire an “associate degree” or the academic title of “diploma.” In general, programs that are conducted in English have names such as “Degree program in English,” “Degree program for International Students,” or “English-based Degree Programs.”
Although it varies depending on the school, as a guideline, most schools require the following English language proficiency at the time of application.
-
Academic year and school term system:
The academic year of schools in Japan normally starts from April and ends in March of the following year. Many universities in Japan adopt a semester system (two terms), with a first semester from April to September and a second semester from October to March. Some of the universities adopt a trimester system (three terms) or a quarter system (four terms).
Think of the above and you should clarify your objective before selecting a school.
