OOHAYOMonthly Stay
← All articles
Graduate school

Research Student or Direct Master's Admission? Two Routes into Graduate School in Japan

In Japan, a research student (kenkyusei) is not a master's student. A research student studies or does research under a professor without working toward a degree, while a master's student has passed a graduate school's entrance selection and earns a degree on completion. Many international students use a research-student period as a stepping stone, but some graduate schools accept direct applications, so the right route depends on the school and on how ready you are.

What "research student" means

The Study in Japan official website, run by JASSO, treats research students as a non-regular (non-degree) category. In practice the label covers three situations:

  • People doing short-term research with no plan to obtain a degree, mostly at graduate level
  • Students on short-term exchanges under an agreement between universities
  • Graduates who spend a preparatory period at a university before entering a graduate program

The third group is what most international applicants mean when they say they will "become a kenkyusei first." Selection for research students is usually based on documents, and an interview may be added.

What direct master's admission means

A master's program is a regular degree course. Study in Japan describes master's programs as generally lasting two years, and MEXT's scholarship guidelines add that some courses are shorter than two years but longer than one.

To apply you must meet at least one graduate school admission requirement, such as:

  • Graduating from a four-year university
  • Completing 16 years of formal education
  • Completing a foreign bachelor's program of three years or more
  • Being 22 or older and passing the school's individual eligibility screening

Admission is then decided by the school's own selection, which often combines document review, written tests, essays, interviews and oral examinations.

The key differences at a glance

  • Degree: research students do not earn one; master's students do.
  • Way in: research students are mostly screened on documents; master's students go through a formal entrance examination.
  • Supervisor: on both routes you usually need a professor willing to guide you. Study in Japan says that in most cases you have to find your own advisor.
  • Scholarship treatment: under MEXT's 2027 guidelines for Research Students, preparatory and non-regular students receive 143,000 yen a month, against 144,000 yen for master's and professional-degree students. Non-regular students cannot extend the scholarship while they stay in a non-regular course.
  • Residence status: Study in Japan notes that research students who neither take classes nor receive pay for their research need a "Cultural Activities" status rather than "Student," and that auditing students need at least 10 hours of classes a week to qualify for "Student." Your own case is decided by the authorities, so check with your university and the Immigration Services Agency.

The two-step path: research student, then entrance exam

Study in Japan points out that some graduate schools let you apply directly to a regular program, while others prefer applicants who have experience as a research student. The two-step route usually looks like this:

  1. Find a professor whose work matches your interests and ask whether they would accept you as a research student.
  2. Apply to the university's research-student program, usually with a research plan and academic records.
  3. Use the period to sharpen your research proposal, improve your language skills and learn how the lab works.
  4. Sit the graduate school's regular entrance examination. Being a research student does not guarantee a pass.
  5. Enroll as a master's student if you are admitted.

MEXT's guidelines show the same logic for scholarship holders: a grantee can move from non-regular student to master's course and then to a doctoral course, but every step up requires passing a regular entrance examination.

The direct path

If your target school accepts direct applicants, you apply from your home country, sit the selection and start the master's program in April, or in September or October at schools with fall admission. Study in Japan's FAQ notes that while many schools hold exams in Japan, some decide on documents alone, interview online or hold exams in the applicant's country, which can make the direct route practical from abroad.

How to choose

  • Read each school's admission guide first. Check whether it takes direct applicants from overseas and whether you need a prospective supervisor's informal consent before applying.
  • Be honest about your readiness. If your research plan or language level is not there yet, a research-student period buys time, but it costs tuition and living expenses and does not count toward a degree.
  • Think about timing if you already study in Japan. The Immigration Services Agency allows certain graduates of Japanese universities to stay while waiting to start graduate school (generally entry within one year of graduation for those holding "Student" status). Former research students, auditing students and other non-degree students are excluded from that measure.
  • Plan your first months. Research students often arrive well before the entrance exam, so a flexible furnished monthly rental can bridge the gap until you know whether you will continue as a master's student.

Whichever route you take, the professor relationship and a solid research plan matter most. The rules differ widely between schools, so treat the school's latest admission guide as the final word.

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.