🇯🇵 Japan · Study Abroad

How to study in Japan as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.

International students apply directly to Japanese universities; programmes are offered in Japanese or, increasingly, in English. Many applicants take the Examination for Japanese University Admission (EJU) and/or a Japanese-language test. After admission, the school usually sponsors a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE), which you use to obtain a "Student" status-of-residence visa. The official Study in Japan portal (run with JASSO/MEXT) is the central guide.

  • Apply directly to each university; many programmes use the EJU and/or a Japanese-language proficiency test, though English-taught degrees are growing.
  • After admission the school typically applies for your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE), which speeds the "Student" visa application at a Japanese embassy.
  • The MEXT Scholarship and JASSO honours scholarships can fund study; many universities and local governments add their own awards.
  • Students may work part-time up to a weekly limit with permission to engage in activities other than that permitted — check current rules.

Official authorities

Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.

Government portals

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