About 180,000 international students from 170 countries and regions of the world currently study at institutions in Japan. Not only will studying in Japan expose you to a new languge, it will also help broaden our view about the diverse cultures of the world! Studying abroad is an extremely beneficial experience but advanced planning is a must.
Check out our Study Abroad Guide for an indepth overview of studying in Japan.
Study Abroad GuideBefore starting your journey, it is important for you to decide what type of study abroad experience you would like to have in Japan. Would you like to enroll full-time in a regular Japanese college? Would you like to visit Japan on a short term exchange program to work only on the Japanese language? Would you like to pursue your major but still attend college in Japan? All options are available but it is important that you consider what you would like to do in order to find the program or option best for you. You need to consider the length and type of program, as well as your eligibility for programs you may be interested in.
These programs are typically paired with a homestay where students are able to live with a Japanese family in order to gain a better understanding of life in Japan.
Through Sister Cities International , there are over 400 sister cities between the US and Japan, some of which offer exchange programs for their citizens.
Program lengths range from summer and semester to academic year and may have credit and tuition exchange, especially if done through the students home university.
You can use College Board to search for U.S. universities with study abroad opportunities and majors in Japanese Language and other Japan-related fields.
The institutes are specifically designed to improve a student's Japanese language proficiency through either a short-term or long-term program.
U.S. students may apply directly to Japanese undergraduate universities and colleges. The majority of universities are offering bilingual Japanese-English programs and programs in English.
Many universities offer one- or two-year graduate and post-graduate programs in various disciplines. You must obtain a Master's degree before applying for a Doctoral program.
If you are a high school student looking to study abroad, please check with the Association of Teachers of Japanese or the CULCON Institute for ideas and programs.
If you are currently enrolled in a university, or are looking to study abroad in Japan through a university program, StudyJapan, provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has a pretty comprehensive guide. It also covers how to attend college in Japan for the full four years. The Japan Student Services Organization, affiliated with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, also has a great guide.
We are delighted that you are interested in applying for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship offered by the Government of Japan! Beginning with the 2016 MEXT cycle, the Embassy of Japan will offer two types of MEXT scholarships: Scholarship for Undergraduate Study and the Research Scholarship for Graduate/Post-Graduate Study. Please check here for eligibility criteria, application guidelines, and instructions.
You will be submitting your application to your local Embassy or the Consulate General of Japan which is responsible for your jurisdiction. Please not that all application materials must be sent to the Consulate General responsible for your jurisdiction. The Embassy of Japan ONLY accepts applications from residents of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Please refer to our Consulate Guide to see which Consulate General serves your area.