The Student Room Group

Studying in Japan.

Hello there.

I was wondering, how would a British student go about studying at a Japanese unviersity? How does the admissions process work in Japan compared to the UK?

I have tried searching the internet but cannot seem to find any relevant information or perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place?

Obviously I am aware that a sufficient level of japanese language skills are required but what else is required.

And how would a degree from Tokyo University be viewed in the UK/USA?

Apologies if any of my questions seem silly but any advice/information you could share with me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
First, I have to tell you that high-ranked japanese universities such as Kyoto university and Tokyo university are very hard to get in. Also I have to say that Japanese universities open only few quarters of their student body for foreiners.

Things you need for admissions for these top universities are EJU (entrance to japan university) test, toefl and your own country's national examination (for example SAT for American, and so on).

After reading resumes, adcom will shortlist the admission body. Students ,who passed first part of admission, need to take test which comprises of Math and Science (physics, biology etc). To pass this test, you should at least studied AP calculus BC for math and AP Physics B, AP biology for passing science part.
Reply 2
Where can I read more information about this?
Tokyo university is considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in Asia region, especially in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand. I don't know how UK/USA people view Tokyo university
Reply 5
Fin_engineer
Tokyo university is considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in Asia region, especially in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand. I don't know how UK/USA people view Tokyo university


Yeah I was always aware that Todai was the best in Asia and I think it appears in the top 20 rankings internationally.

you seem to know a lot about this. Are you applying for admission to Japan or are you already studying there?
No, but many of my friends are applying to Japan universities such as Kyodai, Waseda, Keio, etc. Japanese universities still have big influences over Korea =p
Reply 7
Fin_engineer
Tokyo university is considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in Asia region, especially in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand. I don't know how UK/USA people view Tokyo university


Keio and Waseda are the most prestigious in Japan. Nearly all the top ministers and former Prime Ministers have been there. Although Abe went to Seikei, so I'm clearly talking out of my arse.

But basically it is the Oxbridge of Japan.

Tokyo and Kyoto are ranked higher because they are primarily research institutions. As such they are ranked academically higher in regional and worldwide rankings.

Japanese university standards are not exactly brilliant next to their European and American counterparts. This is especially true of the publicly funded institutions that have continually come under attack in recent years.
Reply 8
Warrior King
Hello there.

I was wondering, how would a British student go about studying at a Japanese unviersity? How does the admissions process work in Japan compared to the UK?

I have tried searching the internet but cannot seem to find any relevant information or perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place?


http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/
http://www.jasso.go.jp/index_e.html
Reply 9
you need to speak/write brilliant japanese. as far as i know most, if not all, japanese unis teach in japanese.
Reply 10
bryan
you need to speak/write brilliant japanese. as far as i know most, if not all, japanese unis teach in japanese.


No, not all. If you acquire a scholarship such as the monbukagakusho, in which case you may not have to know Japanese before you apply. Waseda for example run specialist courses taught in English. If you wish to enter a Japanese university as part of a degree course, you will have to undertake 1-2 years of pre-study in Japan, where you get your Japanese up to native standard and then sit the uni entrance exams.

The OP studies medicine iirc, so its quite possible he can gain some sort of medical scholarship via the MEXT. It is very, very competitive though.
!! Two of my friends got into Waseda in bba =_= They are so happy right now =p
gaijin
No, not all. If you acquire a scholarship such as the monbukagakusho, in which case you may not have to know Japanese before you apply. Waseda for example run specialist courses taught in English. If you wish to enter a Japanese university as part of a degree course, you will have to undertake 1-2 years of pre-study in Japan, where you get your Japanese up to native standard and then sit the uni entrance exams.

The OP studies medicine iirc, so its quite possible he can gain some sort of medical scholarship via the MEXT. It is very, very competitive though.


Do you have a link or anymore information on this? I'll try googling it aswell.
Reply 13
Warrior King
Do you have a link or anymore information on this? I'll try googling it aswell.


Listen, I'm not a member of the Japanese government and I don't have all the information on all of the programmes offered by Japanese universities and the funds available.

I do know that you need to recommended by a university or embassy in order to apply.

I would look through the links I posted for you and then contact them personally.

http://www.jasso.go.jp/study_j/info_e.html

I would also try and speak to anyone at your university who could assist with this or would know how to assist with this.
I'm supprised that nobody's mentioned Sophia University:
http://www.sophia.ac.jp/e/e_toppage.nsf
It's a university in Tokyo that teaches in English. It's considered prestigious in Japana and because of it's traditional libralism and cosmopolitanism, it's more creative in it's educational approach than many other top Japanese universities.
That said, it's private + in Tokyo = expensive.
And you need to do the SAT to be considered for application.
And it's a pretty dreery campus.
But that's urban Japan for you~
^^^ I've heard about that uni, does it consider A levels and does it have connections with any London uni's (i hope to do a year abroad in Japan)
It does consider A levels, you only need two! but those are considered alongside the SAT.
SOAS has links with Sophia, it's one of universities you can go to in the year abroad, but I think Waseda and Tokyo Institute of Foriegn Studies are more popular.