In Japan, its higher education starts upon the completion of 12 years of education : elementary education (6 years of elementary school) and secondary education (3 years of lower secondary school and 3 years of upper secondary school). There are 5 types of higher educational institutions where international students can be admitted to,
① Colleges of technology,
② Specialized training colleges (postsecondary course) ＝ professional training colleges,
③ Junior colleges,
④ Universities and
⑤ Graduate schools.
These higher educational institutions are largely categorized as either national, local public or private. Japanese Language Institutions Normally, lectures in Japanese higher educational institutions are conducted in Japanese and your Japanese language ability is expected to be at a Level N1 or a Level N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in order to keep up.
These levels are equivalent to 600 ～ 900 or more hours of Japanese language study. If studied overseas, though it varies with each person, it may take long time to achieve these levels of proficiency. On the other side, if intensive study in Japan, it would take about 1-2 years while being exposed to Japanese culture. *(Admission into Japanese higher educational institutions requires 12 years of elementary and secondary education to be completed).
※Students who have completed at least 11 years of school curriculum for colleges of technology or at least 16 years of school curriculum for graduate schools. Students from India, Phillippines, Malaysia, Myanmar and other countries who have completed only 10 or 11 years of education have to either
① study for another 1 or 2 years in a higher educational institution such as a university in their home country or
② study in a specific course called the “university preparatory courses” for 1 year ～ 2 years before being eligible to apply for admission into Japanese higher educational institutions.
Documents for submission
①Application form
② Curriculum vitae
③ School transcript
④ Graduation certificate
⑤ Proofs of financial means (including the documents on a guarantor providing means to support the applicant)
⑥ Screening fee (about JPY 20,000 to JPY 30,000)
⑦ (Certificate of Japanese language proficiency)
⑧ (Medical certificate)
*(Different schools may require different sets of documents for submission. It is best that you inquire directly to the school you have chosen on the documents to be submitted. Entrance exam Most of the time, the selection process is based on screening of documents. However, some schools may conduct overseas exams and/or interviews with the exam applicant, guarantor or contact person. If the applicant has passed the selection screening test, the school will proceed with the Certificate of Eligibility for a Status of Residence application on behalf of the applicant.)
