Education in Japan

Schooling in Japan
• Elementary school: 6 years
• Middle school: 3 years
• High school: 3 years

Mandatory education in Japan is 9 years. However, most

students attend high school, which means the majority of
Japanese people enter school at the age of 6 and graduate when
they are 18.

• About 50.2% of high school graduates proceed to 4 year

universities, and 6.0% to 2 year junior colleges or vocational
schools (senmon gakko or tanki daigaku)
Elementary schools
School lunch
Sports day (undo-kai)
Middle school
High school
• Private schools v Public schools
Good high school → good university

• General v Vocational schools

• Juku, yobiko, private tutoring
• Hensachi (standard score)
• Examination hell?
Universities in Japan
• There are 779 public and private universities in Japan (2015)
Public (national): 86, local: 89, private: 604
• Bachelors: 4 years
• Master: 2 years
• PhD 3 years

• Most famous universities in Japan are the University of Tokyo,

Kyoto University, Hitotsubashi University, Nagoya University,
Osaka University, Tohoku University, Hokkaido University,
Waseda University, Keio University

• University entrance exam: 1) central exam, 2) university exam

The University of Tokyo
Kyoto University
Hitotsubashi University
Campus life
• Lessons, seminars
Although there are mandatory classes, in most cases students
can choose their own schedule.
• Laboratories (for science students)
• Arubaito (part-time job)
Majority of students work part-time as private tutors or in
service sector
• Extracurricular activities (bukatsu)
There is a wide range of sports and other clubs
• Nomikai (drinking parties)
• Library
• Dormitories
• School cafeterias
　 Bukatsu
Nomikai
International students in Japan
• “300000 foreign students plan”
• “Super global universities” project
• Scholarships to study in Japan: MEXT, private scholarships

• Privately financed students

Entry→ Japanese language schools (nihongo gakko, 6 months
course = Apr. 7000$)
University tuition fees (annual)→ public: apr. 5000$, private: apr.
10,000$
Housing → Tokyo: average 600$ (month)
Aruibaito → Convenience store: 1000 yen/hour, language
courses: 1000-2000 yen/hour