How to Study in Tokyo for International Students

As a high school student, you are probably thinking what to do next, what to study and how to improve your chances of getting into the university of your choice. In this article, we explain everything you need to know about studying in Tokyo as an international student. 

Why Choose Tokyo as an International Student? 

When you start thinking about different places to spend a summer, semester or year, you should definitely consider Tokyo. Its status as a global economic hub and centre of innovation means there are many opportunities to gain industry experience. 

Doing research, enrolling in learning programmes and completing passion projects are all great ideas. But combining them with spending some time abroad is great if your eventual goal is to live or study abroad. You can experience a new culture, language and people. It’s the perfect opportunity to become independent, understand your strengths and weaknesses, deepen your knowledge of subjects that interest you and increase your chances of securing a place at the university of your choice and future employability. By spending time in the city, you can immerse yourself in its dynamic business environment. Additionally, you can gain insights into diverse industries such as technology, finance, manufacturing and entertainment.

As if that weren’t enough, living in Tokyo gives you the opportunity to experience a completely different culture, language and way of life.

Visa Requirements 

You will need a visa to study in Tokyo. There are several steps to applying for a visa. 

The first is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for a Status of Residence (COE), which does not guarantee you a visa, but it does make the process easier. Once you have been admitted to the school or university, you can apply for your COE at a regional immigration office in Japan, and most schools will help you with this process. Remember that you will need a passport photo and proof of financial stability (savings account balance, income certificate, tax certificate).

Once they have approved your COE, you can submit your visa application through the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country. You will need your passport, visa application form, photographs, COE, proof of admission to a Japanese educational institution and any additional requirements. In some cases, a follow-up visa interview will be conducted; if this is the case, you’ll be notified.

Once approved, you can travel to Japan. Note that this visa can be valid for up to 4 years and 3 months. The length is at the discretion of the Japanese Minister of Justice. On arrival, a Landing Permission stamp will be affixed to your passport and a residence card will be issued. You must carry this card with you at all times, especially if you are staying for more than 3 months.

Admissions Process

For example, most will require a hard copy and a wet signature from your headteacher, which means you will need to ask the headteacher to physically sign your documents and send them to your new school or university. The vast majority allow you to start the application process online and may require supporting documents (sent in an envelope, stamped and signed) such as:

• Academic transcripts and certificates
• Predicted grades
• Standardised tests
• Proof of English language skills
• Essays
• Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of passport
• etc.

For example, the University of Tokyo requires prospective students to submit their applications between November and December. During the month of January they will review them and those selected will be invited for an interview. This interview will take place between February and March 2025. By the end of the month they will offer places to the accepted students.

Scholarships for International Students

As an international student wishing to study in Japan, there are a number of scholarships available. Here are some of the more popular ones, and we strongly encourage you to check if the university you are interested in has scholarships for international students.

Immerse Essay Competition Scholarship

At Immerse Education, we run an essay competition for high school students who want to improve their skills and win scholarships for their future studies, including summer school in Tokyo. 

Students between the ages of 13 and 18 are invited to submit an essay answering a question of their choice on a topic that interests them – there are over twenty questions to choose from, which can be found in our full Essay Competition Guide. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship to study at a world-leading university of their choice. Outstanding runners-up will also receive partial scholarships.

Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship

While most scholarships are for Japanese students, there is an option for international students who plan to attend a Japanese university or graduate school. The Overseas Scholarship provides both financial and personal support (through mentoring by Rotary club members) to Yoneyama scholars upon their arrival in Japan. To apply, you must meet the following criteria

• Be enrolled in a Japanese university or graduate school under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology in April, September, or October 2025,
• Be a citizen of a country other than Japan at the time of entry.
• Hold a “student” visa status.
• Be in good physical and mental health.
• Ability to understand basic Japanese is expected.
• Applicants must be born after 2 April 1980.

Get more details from the Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship guide.

Young Leaders Programme

The Young Leaders’ Program (YLP) is one of the scholarship programs of the Japanese government (MEXT) and aims to cultivate future national leaders in Asia and other countries, to contribute to the establishment of friendly relations among various countries, and to improve policy planning activities by forming a network among national leaders through deepening their understanding of Japan. 

They have scholarships for various fields including government, health administration, business administration, law and others. Applicants must have excellent grades, be physically and mentally healthy, have a verifiable identity, a rich international cultural understanding, be enrolled in a Japanese university and have a student visa status.

To learn more about the programme, check out the official MEXT website.

Course Fees 

For international students, the cost of studying in Japan can vary depending on the type of programme, institution and other factors. Here are some general figures to give you a better idea of how much it can cost to study in Tokyo as an international student: 

Tuition Fees

The first figure you need to research is tuition fees. For undergraduate programmes in Japan, tuition fees typically range from £2,600 to £5,200 per year. However, from March 2024, the government will allow universities to charge international students up to 20% more than the average tuition fee. 

Cost of living

If you are enrolling at a public university in Japan, we strongly recommend that you budget for at least £6,800 to cover your tuition fees and living costs for one semester. If you are studying through a programme provider, you may need a budget of around £15,225 or more. 

Getting around

You will also need to budget a sum of money to help you get around the city and make the most of your time there. Remember that public transport in Japan is efficient and modern, but can be expensive. We recommend that you buy a JR Rail Pass, which is available for 7, 14 or 21 days and gives you unlimited travel on all JR national trains. It costs between £258 and £517.

Learning Japanese

While you are there, you should definitely consider learning Japanese. This will make it easier for you to immerse yourself in the culture, meet new people and understand your surroundings better. You’ll pick up a lot of Japanese in person, but we want to encourage you to look for either a one-to-one online teacher or an online platform. It will be cheaper than in-person classes and can help you get started quickly.

Takeaway: Why You Should Study in Tokyo

Spending some time in Tokyo as an international student is definitely a smart idea. You can experience living in the world’s largest city (by population) and immerse yourself in its culture. Moreover, you can meet new people, learn a new language and deepen your knowledge in certain areas. 

At Immerse Education we have summer schools for high school students where you can learn about business management, engineering, global society and sustainability, and film and animation. This is the perfect opportunity for 15-18 year olds who want to take part in further language study, cultural immersion or academic research.