Guide for Studying in Japan

When a foreigner wishes to stays in Japan, a status of residence suitable for the activity is required. If you come to Japan study, your status of residence will be "Student".
*In addition, you can study abroad in Japan with a short-term stay (Tourist VISA: up to 3 months) or a working holiday visa.

In addition to long-term study abroad, TCJ also accepts students who take Japanese language courses in the form of short-term study abroad and working holidays.

Short-term study abroad(Tourist VISA)

• Those in the designated 68 countries and regions can stay in Japan for 90 days as a traveler without applying for a visa (The period of residence permit varies depending on the country / region.).
• You are not allowed to work part-time.
• After staying for a short stay, you cannot change your visa directly to "student". You will need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility separately.

*The list of 68 Countries and Regions for Visa Exemptions

*We do not support to apply for visas for short term stay other than exempt countries.

Working Holiday

• This system has been introduced between Japan and 26 countries / regions.
• Those under the age of 30 can apply at the embassies and consulates of each region.
• You are allowed to work.
• It is possible to change to a student visa after a working holiday

*The list of target country

Please check with the Japanese embassy in each country for details regarding the application.

Requirements for graduate school

• Completed 16 years of curriculum in home country (acquired bachelor's degree)
  *As a general rule, a graduation qualification from a 4-year university is required, but even if you graduate from a 3-year university, there is a chance to apply after the preliminary examination.
• Research field expertise
  *It is possible to change the specialty of the bachelor's program, but the difficulty will increase.
• Japanese ability (approx.) : About JLPT N1 level



*Other additional requirements by universities and graduate schools

• English ability (approx.) : TOEIC 720~, TOEFL ibt 90~, IELTS 6.5~, Test in Practical English Proficiency (EIKEN) Grade1
• EJU (approx.) : Japanese subject 260 points、Writing above 30 points

Entrance examination contents

• Submission of research plan / Statement of purpose / Interview with the professor / Written exam, essay, Oral Exam

Estimated tuition fee for 1 year

• National and public universities :about 800,000~950,000 JPY
• Private university liberal arts (Literature, law, economy, etc.) : about 800,000 ~ 1,000,000 JPY
• Private university science (Engineering, science, etc.) : about 1,000,000 ~ 1,800,000 JPY

＜Points＞

1. You are required to have the ability to explain the research content of your specialized field in Japanese. Therefore, it is necessary to study the ability to output (communication skills such as writing and speaking) at a Japanese language school.

2. Some graduate schools allow you to enroll only in English, but Japanese proficiency is required for living in Japan. Also, if you wish to work in Japan after completing the course, you will need to have a high level of Japanese proficiency.

3. Every year, many students from TCJ go on to leading national and private graduate schools.Please check here for the results of going on to higher education.

Requirements for university

• Completed a 12-year curriculum in your home country and have a high school diploma.
  *If the education system in your home country is less than 12 years, you must have completed the course designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. For details, please check the application guidelines of each university.
• Japanese ability (approx.) : above JLPT N2 level
• EJU (approx.) : Japanese subject above 200 (full point 400)
  *The subjects and required scores differ depending on the university and faculty.
  
• Some departments require you to take General Subject, Mathematics I and II, and Science (Physics, Science, and Biology.).



*Other additional requirements by universities or faculty

• English ability (approx.) : TOEIC450~, TOEFL ibt 40~, IELTS 4.0~, Test in Practical English Proficiency (EIKEN) Grade2~

Entrance examination contents

• Written exam (Japanese, English), Statement of purpose, Essay, interview (communication skills)
  *For international students, EJU results, attendance rate at Japanese language school, high school grades, etc. will be added to the selection.

Estimated tuition fee for 1 year

• National and public universities : About 600,000 JPY
• Private university liberal arts (Literature, law, economy, etc.) : 800,000 ~ 1,500,000JPY
• Private university science (Engineering, science, etc.) 1,000,000 ~ 1,800,000JPY

＜Points＞

1. For university entrance exams, you are required to have a high level of Japanese ability to handle the written exam, as well as the ability to speak and write in essays, statement of purpose, and interviews. Consequently, it is necessary to study firmly at a Japanese language school.

2. Application requirements differ depending on the university or faculty, so it is recommended that you research the university in your area of ​​interest in advance. While attending a Japanese language school, you can participate in open campuses and tour the university campus.

3. Every year, many students from TCJ go on to leading national and private universities.Please check here for the results of going on to higher education.

Requirements for vocational school

• Completed a 12-year curriculum in your home country and have a high school diploma.
  *If the education system in your home country is less than 12 years, you need to study at a school with a college preparatory program.
• Japanese ability (approx.) : above JLPT N2 level
• Attendance rate 90% or more at Japanese language school

Entrance examination contents

• Written Exam (Japanese), statement of purpose, Essay, interview (communication skills)

Estimated tuition fee for 1 year

• 800,000 to 1,500,000 JPY (depending on the field)

＜Points＞

1. At vocational schools, many practical lessons are included, so high communication skills such as speaking and listening are required. Consequently, it is necessary to study firmly at a Japanese language school.

2. There are some occupations which is difficult to obtain a work visa in Japan, such as beautician, music, and entertainment, but it is also possible to utilize acquired skills in your home country.

3. Many schools offer open campuses and hands-on lessons, and you can participate while attending a Japanese language school.

4. Every year, many students from TCJ go on to vocational schools that have strengths in each field.Please check here for the results of going on to higher education.

Requirements for getting a job in Japan

• Obtained a bachelor's degree or higher in your home country
• Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2 or above
  *More than 80% of Japanese companies are required to have N2 level or higher. In addition to JLPT, you may also see the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test. Both can be obtained while attending a Japanese language school.

Job hunting exam content

• Written exam, application form, interview

Career and income in Japan

• Career paths and income vary depending on the size of the company, industry, and occupation, but in general, the starting salary for new graduates for both Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies starts at around 3-4 million.
• Dismissal regulations are strict in Japan, and employees are well taken care of. Many Japanese companies have extensive training for new employees and OJT, which makes for a more stable work environment than in other countries.

＜Points＞

1. Many Japanese companies value personality as well as skill and experience, so most of them seek face-to-face interviews. Consequently, it is important to have an interview after understanding the Japanese lifestyle and etiquette. Studying Japanese at a Japanese language school and becoming accustomed to life and manners in Japan will be a great advantage in your job search.

2. TCJ has a job hunting course, and offers classes to learn business Japanese for those who want to get a job in Japan, as well as specialized job hunting measures.

Purpose / Features

• JLPT is a 5-level Japanese Language Proficiency Test from N5 (Beginner) to N1 (Advanced).
• This is the most well-known exam conducted in 86 countries and regions in addition to Japan. This is a very important exam used by many Japanese educational institutions and Japanese companies to prove their Japanese proficiency.
• It is a is a computer-scored multiple-choice test that is divided into a "reading" test (letter, vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension) and a "listening" test.

Test Schedule

• Twice a year, July and December

Examination Fee (in Japan)

• 6,500 JPY (All levels)

Testing Organization

• The Japan Foundation Japan Educational Exchanges and Services

Estimated level and study hours

Purpose / Features

• This is a unified test to measure whether international students have sufficient Japanese proficiency and knowledge of basic subjects to study at Japanese universities and graduate schools.
• Depending on the university / faculty, the designated subject, the score of the application criteria, valid test sessions, etc. will differ.
• Apart from Japanese subjects, you can choose the test language from Japanese and English. However, some universities and faculties may not accept scores taken in English, so be sure to check the application conditions of your desired university in advance.
• By taking the three subjects and obtaining high scores, students will be qualified to receive a scholarship (study incentive) for some universities after admission.

Test Schedule

• Twice a year, June and November

Examination Fee (in Japan)

• 1 subject : 10,000 JPY
• 2 or 3 subjects : 18,000 JPY

Testing Organization

• Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)

Subjects and Score

Purpose / Features

• This test can measure skills such as business communication ability and information processing ability in Japanese, which cannot be measured by JLPT.
• Instead of "pass / fail", the evaluation is based on score of 0 to 800 points and 6 levels of J5 to J1 + according to the score.
• It is divided into three parts: listening comprehension, listening and reading comprehension, and reading comprehension.

Test Schedule

• Computer Based Test (CBT), can take at any time

Examination Fee (in Japan)

• 7,000 JPY

Testing Organization

• The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation

Estimated level

About Japanese Skills

• If you want to go on to a Japanese university, graduate school, vocational school, or want to get a job, high Japanese language ability is essential, and communication skills are especially required. It is very difficult to go on to higher education or get a job just by studying Japanese in your home country. For this reason, it is common for many students to first enroll in a Japanese language school, establish a living foundation, improve their linguistic knowledge and communication skills in Japanese, and take measures for going on to higher education and finding employment.High Japanese proficiency is the key to success after you go on to school or get a job.

About Japanese language school

• Depending on the time of enrollment, you can study at a Japanese language school for up to two years. Some schools enroll twice a year (April and October) and some schools enroll four times a year (April, July, October and January).
  *TCJ accepts students four times a year.
• The academic year in Japan is usually from April to March.
  *If you want to receive higher education in Japan, you will graduate from a Japanese language school in March and then go on to higher education in April, so the study period will vary depending on the time of admission to the Japanese language school (ex. : 1 year and 9 months for admission in July).
• While studying at a Japanese language school, some students (mainly Chinese-speaking) go to a separate cram school in preparation for going on to higher education, while others work part-time at the same time.
• Attendance rate at a Japanese language school is very important for maintaining your status of residence and going on to higher education. If the attendance rate is low, you may not be able to apply to your desired school, or you may have to return to your home country without being able to renew your visa (Many schools require an attendance rate of 90% or higher.).

Accommodation

• You can enter the Student Dormitory, which is affiliated with and owned by the school. You can also search for rental properties yourself and rent guest houses, share houses, condominiums, etc.

Required cost

• Studying in Japan requires other expenses in addition to tuition. Expense supporters (yourself or relatives) are required to submit a certificate of bank balance to prove their ability to pay. If you cannot prove the deposit amount of at least 1.2 to 1.5 million JPY that you can pay for the first year of study abroad, you may not be issued a certificate of eligibility. It is necessary to prepare funds in advance.


• Travel expenses to Japan (airline tickets, visas) : 50,000 to 100,000 JPY
  *Depends on region and distance
• Japanese language school tuition: 800,000-850,000 JPY for the first year, 750,000-800,000 JPY for the second year
• Living expenses : 1 million to 1.2 million JPY per year
  *Meals, accommodation, utilities, transportation, entertainment, etc.

Part-time Job

• With permission for engaging in part-time work, you are allowed to work part-time for up to 28 hours a week. However, if you exceed 28 hours a week even once, you will be forced to return to Japan without being able to renew your visa, so be sure to follow the time restrictions.
  *Estimated income from part-time job : 100,000 per month x 12 months = 1.2 million yen per year
  *It is possible to cover living expenses while studying abroad from a part-time job.
  *Part-time jobs such as restaurants (waiters, cooking), convenience stores, supermarkets, office work, language teachers, cleaning staff, etc. are options.

Flow until the start of study abroad

Please fill out the inquiry form and send it to us.

You will be interviewed in person or online (Zoom, Skype, QQ, etc.) with a TCJ Student Affairs staff member. Tell us as specific a goal as possible about your desired career path.

Complete and submit all necessary documents to TCJ and transfer the application fee to the school.

TCJ will apply for a "Certificate of Eligibility" on behalf of the applicant to the Immigration Bureau.

After examination by the Immigration Bureau, TCJ will receive the applicant’s Certificate of Eligibility.

We will issue an invoice for tuition fees.

After confirming the payment, TCJ will send the applicant a Certificate of Entrance and a Certificate of Eligibility.

Applicants are required to apply for and obtain a student visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in their home country.

Before coming to Japan, you will prepare for your life and proceed with the booking of your airplane ticket.

Your study abroad life has begun!

Application schedule by admission period

The Immigration Bureau of Japan requires different documents to be submitted for each nationality.

First, please check if your nationality is included in the list below.

The school will prepare an application for status of residence based on the submitted documents and apply to the Immigration Bureau of Japan. Whether you are a nationality listed or not, you may be required to submit additional documents by the Immigration Bureau, so we may ask you to prepare in advance.

If your nationality is on the list above

• Personal Records (Designated form）
• Copy of passport (Pages with Japanese immigration stamps, if you have entered Japan previously)
  *It doesn't matter if you don't have a passport when you apply for COE.
• Original graduation certificate (The original diploma will be confirmed by the Immigration Bureau. We will definitely return it after the screening.)
• Japanese proficiency certificates(ex. : JLPT N5 or learning certificate more than150 hours)★ See bellow
• Original academic transcript
• Letter of Paying Expenses (designated form)
• Documents certifying the relationship with the applicant and sponsor
  
  • China : Notarial deed
  • Other countries : Birth Certificates, notarial deed, Affidavit, etc.
• Deposit balance certificate
• Documents that prove income (previous year)
• 6 pieces of photographs (taken within 3 months)

If your nationality is not on the list above, the following documents are also required.

• List of Sponsor’s Family Members (Designated form）
• Demonstration materials for the funding process of the last three years (copy of account book, account activities statements, Monthly transaction reports, etc.)
• Documents to prove the sponsor’s occupation (Certificate of employment, Business registration, certificate of full registry records, etc.)
• Documents that prove income for the past three years (Income certificate, tax payment certificate, pay slip, etc.)

• *For those who have been more than 5 years after the graduation, explanation letter (A4 sheet 1 page or more) is required including the reason for studying Japanese and the plan after the graduation from Japanese language school.
• *All documents must be issued within three months of the date of application.
• *All non-Japanese documents must have a Japanese or English translation.

All TCJ staff and faculty members are committed to providing you with the best possible support, from preparation for study abroad to day-to-day life in Japan, so that you can build a successful career through your studies in Japan.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.