Study in Japan for International Students: Everything You Need to Know

When you study in Japan, you enter a world of neon streets, quiet temples, high-speed trains, and new ways of thinking that can stretch your ambition far beyond the lecture hall.

You can study in Japan as an international student by choosing the right institution, meeting its academic and language requirements, securing your funding, and completing the student visa process.

In this guide, we’ll explore applications, the CoE (Certificate of Eligibility), student visas, fees, scholarships, master’s routes, part-time work, and cultural preparation for 2027, so you can plan with confidence.

Let’s start where every journey to Japan begins: with a clear route forward.

Your Journey to Japan in 2027

Japan is a powerful choice if you want your education to feel focused, challenging, and expansive. In 2027, your journey begins with three decisions: what you want to study, whether you’ll learn in English or Japanese, and which intake fits your timeline.

Japan’s main academic year starts in April, though many international and English-taught programmes also offer September or October entry. Start researching 12 to 18 months ahead, especially if you need the EJU, JLPT, IELTS, TOEFL, scholarships, or a graduate supervisor.

Compare universities by subject fit, language support, fees, city costs, and career goals. Tokyo offers energy and opportunity, while regional cities may offer lower rent and stronger focus. 

Our guide on why study in Tokyo explores how the city’s academic opportunities, culture, transport, and student experience can shape your time in Japan. 

How to Study in Japan: The Application Roadmap

The best way to study in Japan is to build your plan around the programme you want, the language you’ll study in, the entry requirements you need to meet, and the deadlines that shape your route.

Here’s how to move from early research to a strong application with fewer surprises along the way.

Finding the Right Programme and Supervisor

Start with the course page, not the university homepage, because Japan’s requirements often change by faculty, department, and language track.

To find English-taught programmes, search university pages for “English-taught degree”, “degree programmes in English”, or “Global 30”, then confirm the whole degree, not just some classes, is in English. If you’re still comparing routes, our guide to international university options in Japan can help you understand what to look for in a globally focused institution.

For Japanese-taught programmes, check JLPT, EJU, entrance exam, and interview requirements on the faculty admissions page.

For master’s or PhD study, search faculty profiles before applying and identify a shidou kyouin, or supervising professor, whose recent research fits your topic. Email with your research question, transcript, CV, and reason for choosing that professor, not just Japan. 

The EJU: Examination for Japanese University Admission

The EJU matters most if you’re applying for an undergraduate route in Japan, especially a Japanese-taught degree, because universities use it to check whether international applicants have the Japanese language skills and academic knowledge needed for higher education.

If you apply to a Japanese university as a non-Japanese student, the university often cannot use normal Japanese high-school exams to judge you, because you studied in another country. So instead, they use the EJU to see:

1. Can you function academically in Japanese?
2. Do you have the subject knowledge expected for university?

Here are the main EJU subjects your university may ask for:

• Japanese as a Foreign Language: tests academic Japanese through reading, listening, listening-reading, and writing.
• Science: covers physics, chemistry, and biology, depending on your chosen degree.
• Japan and the World: covers social studies topics such as politics, economics, geography, and history.
• Mathematics: includes Course 1 for many humanities and social science routes, and Course 2 for more advanced science, engineering, or mathematics-heavy routes.

You do not need to take every EJU subject; your target university decides which subjects are required for your programme, so always check the admissions page before choosing your exam subjects. For example, an engineering applicant may need Science and Mathematics Course 2, while a humanities or business applicant may need Japan and the World and Mathematics Course 1.

The exam is offered in June and November, and your scores are valid for two years, so choose a test date that fits your university deadline.

Language Proficiency Standards

Your language requirements depend on your track, so confirm whether the degree is Japanese-taught, English-taught, or mixed before booking tests. 

For Japanese-taught university programmes, Study in Japan gives JLPT N2 as a useful benchmark, though schools set their own requirements.

For English-taught degrees, non-native English speakers should check each university’s minimum score: Temple University Japan lists IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 79, or Duolingo 110, while International Christian University lists IELTS 6.5 and TOEFL iBT 79 for English Language Based Admissions.

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Navigating the Japanese Student Visa Process

Once you receive an offer from a Japanese institution, your next challenge is proving that you’re eligible to live and study in Japan legally, with the right documents, funding evidence, and school support in place.

Here’s the step-by-step route from acceptance to your Residence Card.

Step 1: The Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

If your programme in Japan lasts longer than three months, the student visa process usually begins after you receive an offer from a recognised school, university, or language institution.

Your institution normally acts as your proxy in Japan and submits your CoE (Certificate of Eligibility) application to a regional immigration services bureau.

This makes the CoE one of the most important documents in the process: it shows that immigration has reviewed your study purpose, school details, and ability to support yourself before you apply for the visa itself.

To support the CoE application, your school may ask for your passport details, admission documents, academic records, and financial evidence, such as a bank statement, scholarship confirmation, or sponsor documents.

Once the CoE is issued, you take it to the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country and use it as part of your student visa application. The CoE is valid for three months, so complete your visa application and enter Japan before it expires.

The CoE is not the visa itself. Instead, it acts as pre-screening by Japanese immigration and supports your later visa application at the embassy or consulate in your home country.

Step 2: Applying at the Embassy or Consulate

Once your CoE reaches you through your school or sponsor in Japan, you can apply for your student visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for your country or region.

For a standard student visa application, prepare:

• Passport
• Visa application form
• One photograph
• Certificate of Eligibility, either as the original, a copy, or an electronic CoE shown at the counter or printed for submission

Check your local embassy page before booking or submitting anything, because requirements can vary by nationality and location. Some applicants may need extra documents, such as residence proof, graduation records, financial supporter documents, or additional identity evidence.

Do not wait until the final week, as the embassy may need time to check documents and issue your visa.

After submitting your documents, the embassy or consulate reviews your application and, if approved, places the student visa in your passport.

Step 3: Landing and the Residence Card

When you arrive in Japan with student status for more than three months, you’ll receive a Residence Card, or Zairyu Card, at major airports such as Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka.

If you enter through another airport or port, immigration stamps your passport, and your Residence Card is usually mailed later.

Once you know where you’ll live, take these steps:

• Register your address at your local municipal or ward office within 14 days.
• Bring your passport and Residence Card, or your passport with the later-issuance stamp if your card was not issued at the airport.
• Carry your Residence Card with you in Japan, as it is your key ID document.
• Keep your address updated if you move during your studies.

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Financial Planning: How Much Will It Cost to Study in Japan?

Studying abroad is expensive, and Japan is no exception, but planning early can help you understand your tuition, living costs, accommodation, scholarships, and one-off arrival expenses before they become stressful.

Here are the main costs you can expect when planning to study in Japan in 2027.

Tuition Fee Breakdown by Institution Type

Tuition in Japan varies by institution type, with extra costs often added for admission, entrance exams, materials, and practical training.

Here are the typical tuition and admission fees listed by Study in Japan for first-year international students.

Do not compare tuition alone, because first-year admission costs can make studying in Japan more expensive than later years.

Before you apply, open each university’s fee page and check:

• admission fee, paid when you enrol
• annual tuition, usually paid in instalments or by term
• examination fee, paid when you apply
• facility, lab, or practical training fees
• scholarship or tuition reduction options
• refund rules, especially if you are waiting on another offer

Monthly Living Expenses and Budgeting

Your monthly living expense in Japan depends on where you live, with regional areas usually costing less than Tokyo and the wider Kanto area.

Study in Japan lists the national average monthly cost of living for privately financed international students at ¥105,000, excluding study and research costs. At the lower end, Shikoku averages ¥80,000 per month, while Tokyo is the most expensive at ¥130,000 per month.

For a typical monthly budget, expect around 39% to go on housing, 30% on food, 8% on utilities, 8% on hobbies and entertainment, 4% on transport for school, 3% on insurance and medical costs, and 8% on other expenses.

With $1,000 at about ¥158 to $1, you get roughly ¥158,000, above Japan’s listed national and Tokyo monthly averages.

That makes $1,000 a workable monthly living budget on paper, but it does not cover tuition, study and research costs, flights, visa costs, first-month arrival expenses, or emergency savings.

Funding Your Education: How to Get a Scholarship to Study in Japan

Japan can be expensive, even with careful planning, so scholarships are a valuable way to reduce tuition, living costs, and the financial pressure of studying abroad.

Here are some scholarships you can explore before you study in Japan.

The MEXT Scholarship

The MEXT Scholarship, or Monbukagakusho Scholarship, is Japan’s best-known “full ride” for international students, because it can cover tuition, return flights, and monthly stipends of about ¥117,000 to ¥148,000, depending on your category and study level.

You can apply through:

• Embassy recommendation: apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country, usually before you enrol in Japan.
• University recommendation: apply through, or be nominated by, a Japanese university after following its admissions or scholarship process.

Start early, because MEXT timelines can open many months before your intake, and documents may include transcripts, recommendation letters, health forms, research plans, written exams, or interviews, depending on your route and scholarship category.

JASSO Honors Scholarships

The JASSO Honors Scholarship supports privately financed international students already enrolled in Japan or entering through eligible reservation routes. 

Most university, graduate, junior college, college of technology, specialised training, and preparatory students receive ¥48,000 per month, while Japanese language institution students receive ¥30,000. 

Apply through your school or reservation route, but remember this supports living costs, not tuition, flights, or arrival expenses.

University-Specific Waivers

University-specific tuition waivers can reduce costs by 30%, 50%, or 100%, but check each scholarship page before applying.

Some universities award reductions with your admission result, while others require a separate scholarship or tuition reduction form after enrolment. For example, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University lists tuition reductions of 30%, 50%, 65%, 80%, or 100%, while Tokyo International University says its E-Track scholarships can reduce tuition by 30% to 100%.

To apply, start by checking whether the waiver is available to international students on your programme, then confirm the deadline, required documents, GPA conditions, renewal rules, and whether the award covers tuition only or also includes admission fees.

How to Study Masters in Japan: Research-Focused Guide

For master’s study in Japan, start six to 12 months ahead by identifying graduate schools, checking supervisor requirements, and preparing your Kenkyuu Keikakusho, or research plan. 

This may be around 2,000 to 4,000 words, depending on the university, and should explain your research question, academic background, method, sources, and professor fit. 

Contact potential supervisors with a concise email, CV, transcript, and proposal summary before following the formal admissions process.

Cultural Integration: Success Tips for Students

Settling into Japan means learning daily habits around punctuality, respect, preparation, and communication that shape how confidently you study and live.

Here’s how you can make the most of student life in Japan, both inside and outside the university environment.

Understanding the “5-Minute Rule” in Japan

In Japan, punctuality often means being ready before the scheduled start, not arriving as the class or meeting begins. Treat the “5-minute rule” as a practical habit: reach the room early, organise your notes, silence your phone, and prepare questions. 

For seminars, supervisor meetings, part-time work, and group projects, arriving early shows respect and helps you feel prepared.

The 25/5 Rule for Academic Focus

Use this Japanese-inspired Pomodoro technique to manage demanding study blocks: focus for 25 minutes, then take a five-minute break.

It works well for Japanese vocabulary, research reading, essay planning, and exam revision because it keeps tasks small and measurable. After four rounds, take a longer break, review what you finished, and reset your next goal clearly.

Part-Time Work (Arubaito)

International students need permission before taking part-time work, known as arubaito, because a student visa is for study first. Apply for “Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted” through immigration, often at arrival or later. 

You can usually work up to 28 hours per week, but avoid jobs that disrupt classes, attendance, or scholarship conditions.

FAQs

How Long Does The CoE Take To Process?

The CoE usually takes 1-3 months to obtain, so submit complete documents early and follow your school’s timeline closely.

Can International Students Stay In Japan After Graduation?

Yes. You may be able to change to a work-related status or Designated Activities, depending on your next step and eligibility.

Is There An Age Limit For Japanese Scholarships?

Yes, for some scholarships. MEXT rules vary by category, including undergraduate, research, teacher training, and Japanese studies routes.

Prepare For Japan With Immerse Education

Choosing to study abroad is a big decision, and Japan rewards students who prepare with curiosity, patience, and clear goals

From university requirements and CoE steps to scholarships, living costs, and cultural expectations, everything becomes easier when you start early.

If you want to study in Japan, give yourself time to compare programmes, build language confidence, and prepare the documents you need.

To experience Japan before university, explore our immersive two-week Tokyo Summer School and start building academic confidence, independence, and global perspective.