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Japanese Educational System

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In Japan, higher education starts upon the completion of 12

years of education: elementary education (6 years of elementary
school) and secondary education (3 years of lower secondary
school and 3 years of upper secondary school).There are 5 types
of higher education institutions that international students can
be admitted to, which are 1) colleges of technology, 2)
vocational schools (postsecondary course of specialized training
colleges), 3) junior colleges, 4) universities (undergraduate) and
5) graduate schools. Depending on the founding bodies, these
higher education institutions are categorized into three types:
national, local public and private.

Educational System
 Research & Study Practical Skills & Experience

fo sraeY
yduts
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27
9 Graduate School
8 (PhD)
[Doctoral Degree]
7
6 noitacudE rehgiH Graduate School
(Master's)
5 [Master's Degree]
4 Specialized
Advanced Course
University [Bachelor's Degree]
3 (Undergraduate) Training College
Junior College [Specialized
2 [Bachelor's Degree] [Associate Degree] Training College]

18 1

Colleges of
Technology
(KOSEN)
[Associate Degree]
18
12
11 High School
noitacudE yradnoceS / yratnemelE

10
15
9
8 Junior High School
12 7
6
Elementary School
1
6
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fo sraeY

Note : Years of study for each educational institution vary by department and course.
Degree or title is displayed in brackets [ ].

Individuals completing their majors at a junior college or college

of technology certified by the National Institution for Academic
Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-
QE) may obtain bachelor's degrees by applying to the NIAD-QE
and passing an examination. Confirm further details at the
school to which the application will be made.
Degrees and titles you can obtain
and the required study periods

Degree/ Required Number of

Program Title Study Earned
Period Credits
30 credits
or more
Doctoral Doctoral (including
Program*1 degree 5 years*2 credits
earned in
Master's
Program)
Master's Master's 2 years*2 30 credits
Program degree or more
Graduate Master's
School degree 30 credits
(professional 2 years or more
degree)
Juris
Professional Doctor
Degree (professional 3 years 93 credits
Program degree) or more

Master of
Education 2 years 45 credits
(professional or more
degree)
 General
faculties
and 124 credits
faculty of 4 years or more
pharmacy
(4-year
program)
Medicine
University Faculties Bachelor's and
(Undergraduate) of degree dentistry:
medicine, 188 credits
dentistry, or more
veterinary 6 years Veterinary:
and 182 credits
pharmacy or more
(6-year Pharmacy:
program) 186 credits
or more
Professional Bachelor's
and degree 4 years 124 credits
Vocational (professional) or more
University
2-year
program:
62 credits
Junior Associate 2 years or or more
College degree 3 years 3-year
program:
93 credits
or more
 2-year
program:
Professional 62 credits
and Associate 2 years or or more
Vocational degree
Junior (professional) 3 years 3-year
program:
College
93 credits
or more
5 years or
College of Associate 5 and a
Technology degree half
years*3
Specialized Advanced
training Diploma 4 years
Vocational colleges
School post-
secondary Diploma 2 to 3
course years

*1 Graduate school doctoral programs are sometimes divided

into the first phase (two years) and second phase (three years).
The required period of undergraduate study in medicine,
dentistry and veterinary and certain pharmaceutical programs is
six years, and the duration of their graduate (doctoral) program
is four years.
*2 Master's and doctoral programs list the standard number of
years.
*3 The required period of study at a college of technology is
normally five years, yet international students are accepted from
the third year.
Most higher educational institutions in Japan set their academic
year from April to March of the following year. Many institutions
use the semester system. The long holiday seasons are usually in
the summer (late July to early September), winter (late
December to early January) and spring (February to March). In
Japan, most schools admit students in April, but some schools
have an autumn admission system.
Number of higher education institutions
Source: School Basic Survey 2022 (Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Local Private
National public Total
Graduate schools 86 89 482 657
Universities 86 101 620 807
(Undergraduate)
Junior colleges 0 14 295 309
Colleges of technology 51 3 3 57
Professional training 8 180 2,533 2,721
colleges
Related links

About the Japanese education system (National

Information Center for Academic Recognition Japan
(NIC-Japan) website)
Basic Information on Higher Education and Quality
Assurance in Japan (National Institution for Academic
Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher
Education)
Outline of the National Universities(MEXT)
Promotion of the Private Universities（MEXT)
Outline of the Public Universities（MEXT)
Outline of the Junior Colleges（MEXT)
Promotion of the Specialized Training Colleges and
Miscellaneous School（MEXT)
Outline of the Colleges of Technology（MEXT)
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