Careers after studying in Japan

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

Careers after studying in Japan

Assess the career evidence

Ask for the latest faculty-level graduate destinations, survey year, response rate and the denominator behind any employment percentage. Separate employment from further study, and ask for international-student outcomes where available. Compare internships, career-office support, alumni access and the jobs the course prepares you for.

Prepare for recruitment

Build internship and application deadlines into your study plan. Practise explaining projects in Japanese, writing entry sheets and interviewing. Some employers use SPI; confirm the assessment in the invitation. SPI is a recruitment aptitude assessment, separate from university entrance tests and JLPT.

For international graduates

Discuss your intended role, degree and post-study route with the university’s international and career offices. Follow current official residence-status guidance before working. An exchange semester or an English-taught degree does not itself promise a job or work permission.

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.

Careers after studying in Japan