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Undergraduate admission

What Is the EJU? Subjects, Scoring and Which Universities Use It (2026)

The Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) is a test run by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) to measure whether international applicants have the Japanese language ability and basic academic skills needed for undergraduate study in Japan. You do not take every subject: you pick the ones your target university specifies. As of September 2026, JASSO reports that 507 universities use EJU scores in their admissions.

Why the EJU exists

The EJU started in 2002. It replaced two earlier requirements that many Japanese universities had relied on: the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test and a separate unified exam for privately financed international students, which ended in 2001. JASSO runs the EJU with the cooperation of Japan's Ministry of Education (MEXT), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and universities. It is held twice a year, in June and November, both in Japan and overseas. According to Study in Japan, there is no limit on your age or on how many times you can sit the exam.

The four subjects

Japanese (125 minutes)

This section measures "academic Japanese": the language you need to follow university classes, not everyday conversation. It has three parts, taken in this order:

  • Writing: 30 minutes, scored 0–50 against published criteria
  • Reading comprehension: 40 minutes, scored 0–200
  • Listening-reading and listening comprehension: about 55 minutes in total, scored 0–200

Reading and listening are reported together on a 0–400 scale, with writing reported separately on its 0–50 scale.

Science (80 minutes, 0–200)

Covers physics, chemistry and biology at the level needed for science and engineering faculties. You choose two of the three on the test day, following your university's instructions. If you answer only one, your science section will not be scored.

Japan and the World (80 minutes, 0–200)

A humanities-oriented subject that tests thinking and logical reasoning. Study in Japan describes it as a mix of civics (politics and economics), geography and history at Japanese high school level. It is unique to the EJU.

Mathematics (80 minutes, 0–200)

There are two courses. Course 1 is for humanities faculties and science faculties that need relatively little mathematics. Course 2 is for faculties that need advanced mathematics. You choose one on the test day, again following your university's instructions.

Important rule: you cannot take Science and Japan and the World at the same time. In practice, humanities applicants usually combine Japanese, Japan and the World, and Mathematics Course 1, while science applicants combine Japanese, Science and Mathematics. Always follow the exact combination your university lists.

Language and answer format

Science, Japan and the World, and Mathematics can be taken in Japanese or English. You choose the question language when you apply, based on what your university requires. The Japanese subject is offered in Japanese only. Answers are multiple choice on a mark sheet, except the Japanese writing task.

How scoring works

The EJU uses different question papers across sessions and time zones, so raw marks would not be comparable. JASSO therefore converts results to scaled scores using a method based on item response theory, so that a score in one session means the same as that score in another. The Japanese writing task is the exception: it is scored against published criteria rather than scaled.

Because the scale is shared, your EJU results can be used for two years. If you sit the exam more than once, you can generally apply with your best session, within the range of sessions your university accepts. Some universities accept only certain sessions, so check the guidelines before you rely on an older score.

There is no pass or fail. Each university decides how to weigh your EJU scores alongside documents, interviews and its own exams.

Which schools use the EJU

JASSO's count as of September 2026:

  • Universities: 507 in total (77 national, 60 public, 370 private)
  • Junior colleges: 87
  • Graduate schools: 83
  • Colleges of technology: 51
  • Specialized training colleges: 214
  • All institution types combined: 950

JASSO's lists for each type of school also show the subjects and question language each school specifies. Some universities go further and offer pre-arrival admission, deciding on applicants mainly from EJU scores and school records so that students can be accepted without travelling to Japan.

A scholarship linked to the EJU

When you register, you can opt in to the Reservation Program for the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students. Applicants with excellent scores who then enter a Japanese university (undergraduate), junior college, college of technology (third year or above) or specialized training college as regular students can receive 48,000 yen a month, an amount JASSO notes can change by year. Graduate school entrants are not covered.

Things to know before you register

  • 2026 fees in Japan: 12,000 yen for one subject, 23,000 yen for two or more (tax included); overseas fees are set in local currency
  • Syllabus update: revised syllabuses for Science, Japan and the World, and Mathematics apply from the first 2026 session, so older prep materials may not match exactly
  • No changes after submission: your subject choices and question language cannot be edited once you apply
  • Practice: JASSO publishes sample questions, and past papers are sold as official books

If you are planning to take the EJU in Japan, for example while at a Japanese language school, look for housing that allows easy access to your exam site, since test venues are assigned by prefecture.

Sources

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.