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Graduate school

How Graduate School Entrance Exams Work in Japan: Eligibility, Documents, Exams and Intakes

Japan has no single national entrance exam for graduate school. Each graduate school runs its own selection, usually a mix of document screening, a written academic test, an essay, an interview and an oral examination, so you need to follow each school's own admission guide. Most programs start in April, and many universities also offer fall entry in September or October.

This guide walks through the general process for master's and doctoral programs, based on official guidance from JASSO's Study in Japan website and MEXT.

Step 1: Check that you are eligible

Graduate schools set formal admission requirements. For a master's program or the first half of a doctoral program, you generally need one of the following:

  • A degree from a four-year university
  • 16 years of formal education
  • A foreign bachelor's degree from a program of at least three years
  • Age 22 or older plus approval through the school's individual eligibility screening

For the second half of a doctoral program, the usual route is a master's or professional degree, or a foreign equivalent. Other options include a bachelor's degree plus at least two years of research at a university or research institute with ability judged equal to a master's holder, or age 24 or older with individual screening. Medical, dental, veterinary and some pharmacy doctoral programs generally require 18 years of education.

Step 2: Understand program types and length

  • Master's programs: generally two years; some courses run between one and two years.
  • Doctoral programs: about five years in total at schools that split them into a two-year first half and a three-year second half.
  • Medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and six-year pharmacy: no master's stage; the doctoral program usually takes four years.
  • Professional graduate schools (law, teaching, accounting, business and technology management, public policy, public health): standard length is two years, while law schools run three-year courses.

Step 3: Prepare your application documents

Requirements differ by school, but Study in Japan lists the documents most programs ask for:

  • The graduate school's own application form
  • Your bachelor's diploma or a certificate of expected graduation (doctoral applicants also submit master's documents)
  • Transcripts from your last school
  • A letter of recommendation
  • Your thesis or graduation research, with an abstract
  • A research proposal

The research proposal is often decisive. Formats and length vary, but Study in Japan puts it at around 2,000 words, covering purpose, background, significance, methods and references. Screeners look for your motivation to do research, your ability to identify problems, your analytical and logical thinking, and your knowledge of the field.

Some schools also require a prospective supervisor's informal consent before you apply, which can add weeks or months to your preparation.

Step 4: Sit the selection

Study in Japan says graduate selection often combines several of the following:

  • Review of application documents
  • An academic skills test
  • An essay
  • An interview
  • An oral examination

MEXT's scholarship guidelines describe the usual content in similar terms: a check of foreign-language ability, understanding of your specialist subject, your plans for a thesis, and an interview.

Where the exam happens

Many schools test in Japan, but Study in Japan's FAQ notes that some decide on documents alone, interview online or examine applicants in their home countries. If you travel to Japan only to sit an exam, the FAQ explains that this is normally done on a Temporary Visitor visa (unless you are from a visa-exempt country), with periods of 15, 30 or 90 days, and that you generally return home afterwards to obtain student status. Confirm the current rules with the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country.

Step 5: Map out your timeline

Graduate schools publish their own dates, so check each admission guide. As a starting point, Study in Japan's general timeline for entering a Japanese university directly from abroad looks like this:

  • 11 to 12 months before: request information and application materials from several schools
  • By 10 months before: decide where to apply
  • 6 to 8 months before: submit your application
  • 2 to 5 months before: document screening and entrance examinations
  • About 3 months before: receive your admission letter and pay fees
  • Then: immigration procedures, finding a place to live, and travel

Intakes are April, or September or October for schools with fall admission. If your target school needs a supervisor's consent first, start your search earlier.

Language and costs

For degree programs taught entirely in English, Study in Japan gives a guideline of TOEFL iBT 75 to 80 or IELTS 6 for graduate schools. For Japanese-taught programs, requirements vary by school.

First-year costs, including the admission fee and tuition, are roughly 820,000 yen at national universities, 900,000 yen at public universities and 1,100,000 yen at private universities (excluding medical, dental and pharmaceutical programs), according to Study in Japan.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming one exam fits all. Each school, and sometimes each department, sets its own exam.
  • Leaving the research proposal to the end. It shapes both the document screening and the interview.
  • Missing the supervisor step. Where informal consent is required, an application without it may not be considered.
  • Forgetting life logistics. After you are admitted, you still need to handle immigration procedures and housing; some new students book a furnished monthly rental for their first weeks while they look for something long term.

The details change from year to year, so always work from the latest admission guide published by your target graduate school.

Sources

This article was created by OHAYO Stay based on the sources above (edited, reorganized and translated). It is not an official publication. Facts are summarized in our own words; see the linked pages for the official details.

Rules and dates can change. Always confirm with the official source before you apply.