Applying to Top Japanese Universities as an International Student: A Practical Guide

With high academic standards, relatively affordable tuition fees, a unique culture, and a safe living environment, Japan proves to be a popular destination for higher education. Nowadays, a big portion of top universities in Japan, including Tokyo University, Kyoto University, Waseda University, and Tohoku University, even offer a wide range of undergraduate courses in English. The application process, however, can be quite confusing—especially for international students. Through this guide, we’ll break down the process clearly.

Understanding the Japanese University System

In Japan, there are 3 main types of college institutions: National, Public, and Private. Among the top universities in Japan, though these different types of institutions generally offer the same quality of education, they differ in terms of price. Given that National/Public universities are government-funded, resulting in their lower cost compared to Private universities.

For international students, it is important to note that application requirements, deadlines, and selection methods always vary by university, making it essential to do thorough research earlier on (around mid 11th grade of high school).

What to Prepare Earlier On

Japanese top universities target students who are high achievers in their academics. In order to stand out among the rest, though, you’d have to have extracurriculars that complement your application for your chosen major. One example may be doing STEM olympiads if you plan to apply for STEM-related programs.

That being said, it is great to have decided on a university major earlier on during your high school years (around year 10-11). Since not only can you prepare your extracurriculars earlier, some of these universities also have certain requirements for subjects you have to take in high school (depending on the programme curricula). For example, Waseda University’s Science and Engineering program requires you to take IB Mathematics AA HL and IB Physics HL, following the IBDP curriculum.

Basic Application Requirements

Most universities with English programs in Japan will require application through The Admissions Office portal, which is a centralized application system for Japanese universities. Commonly required documents from this portal include: academic transcripts, proof or graduation or expected graduation, recommendation letters, and a personal statement or response essay to a certain prompt.

Apart from that, most universities also require applicants to submit English proficiency test scores, such as IELTS or TOEFL. It is best to prepare this earlier on, as these tests are usually conducted only once or twice per year.

You should also be ready to do online interviews or even a written test (such as for Tohoku University’s engineering program), if you happen to pass the initial screening.

Scholarships and Financial Considerations

One major advantage of attending Japanese universities is that the tuition fees are relatively low (especially compared to Western countries). Living costs, however, can be quite expensive, especially in bigger cities such as Tokyo.

The Japanese government offers several different scholarships for undergraduate students, though most applications are accepted pre-enrollment. The most common ones include the MEXT scholarship (covers tuition and living expenses), and the JASSO scholarship (providing a monthly stipend). It is important to note, though, that these scholarships target students with strong academic backgrounds and high scores.

Apart from that, most universities also offer post-enrollment scholarships targeting international students, such as Waseda University’s Partial Tuition Waiver or Okuma Memorial Scholarship. With a wide range of options available, international students can easily focus on their academics without having to worry a lot about expenses.

Conclusion

All in all, it is true that applying to top Japanese universities as an international student can seem complex at first. However, with careful planning and thorough research, the process becomes much more manageable.