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Choose your admissions route

Choose your route, compare the course, then check the current application guide.

Choose your admissions route

Domestic applicants

Compare general selection (一般選抜), school recommendation (学校推薦型選抜) and comprehensive selection (総合型選抜). Check each faculty’s subjects, Common Test requirements, essays, interviews and eligibility. Common Test registration and a university application are separate steps. Residence in Japan alone does not determine your admissions category.

International degree applicants

Check educational eligibility first: a 12-year school education or an accepted equivalent is a common route. Japanese-taught courses may require EJU, JLPT, English scores and a university examination in different combinations. Each faculty decides the subjects, accepted sittings and score thresholds; N2 or N1 alone does not secure admission. English-taught degrees have their own requirements.

Exchange and visiting students

Start with your home university’s partner list and nomination process. An exchange place is usually non-degree study; direct visiting programmes can have different fees and credit rules. Confirm the teaching language, course restrictions, semester dates, accommodation and credit transfer before accepting.

Find a school

MEXT register: 1 May 2026, provisional; retrieved 26 October 2026. All 825 university, 292 junior-college and 58 KOSEN records without a closure marker are included, plus 2,957 specialised training-school records. Universities include graduate-only schools. Training-school course levels vary. Names and addresses follow the register; current programmes and admissions must be checked with each institution.

Official school names are Japanese. English search aliases are available for selected universities; use a prefecture filter or the official programme finder for other English names.

Official programme finder

Questions

When does university start in Japan?

The academic year usually starts in April. Some universities also admit in September or October; exchange calendars and application deadlines are programme-specific.

Do I need JLPT N2 or N1 to study in Japan?

The requirement depends on the programme. Japanese-taught degrees may use JLPT and/or EJU with other tests; English-taught degrees and exchange programmes set separate language rules. Check the current faculty guidance.

Is SPI a university admission test?

SPI is used in recruitment. Prepare for the university’s specified entrance assessments when applying, and use SPI practice for relevant internship or job selection later.

How do I choose a university in Japan?

Shortlist courses you can enter, compare their language, total cost and graduate destinations, then check campus support. For exchange, confirm partner eligibility and credit transfer first.

Sources