Studying in Japan: universities, costs, scholarships and the visa explained
Sakuraflow
Studying in Japan sounds like an expensive dream to many. In reality it is one of the cheapest routes into an English taught or Japanese degree anywhere: 60 to 75 percent cheaper than the UK, the US or Australia. Add generous scholarships, permitted part time work and a bonus that hardly anyone knows about: a degree from a Japanese university later replaces the N2 requirement for the work visa. This article gives you the full picture of costs, scholarships, the visa and the job hunt afterwards.
What does a degree in Japan cost?
National universities charge a uniform ¥535,800 per year in tuition, roughly 3,300 euros. The remarkable part: the amount is the same for all nationalities, so international students pay exactly what Japanese students pay. Private universities charge ¥800,000 to 1,500,000 per year. On top comes a one time enrolment fee of ¥282,000. Compared with tuition in English speaking countries, that is a fraction of the price.
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| National university, tuition per year | ¥535,800 (approx. 3,300 euros) | Same amount for all nationalities |
| Private university, tuition per year | ¥800,000 to 1,500,000 | Depending on university and subject |
| Enrolment fee (one time) | ¥282,000 | Due at the start of your studies |
| Part time job (28h/week allowed) | ¥70,000 to 130,000 per month is realistic | Covers a large part of your living costs |
Scholarships: MEXT and fee waivers
Japan supports international students unusually generously. The best known programme is the Japanese government's MEXT scholarship: it covers full tuition, pays ¥143,000 to 148,000 per month and even covers your flights. Beyond that, many universities offer their own fee waivers of 25 to 100 percent of tuition depending on your situation. If you research and apply early, studying in Japan can in the best case cost you practically nothing.
Part time work and funding daily life
On a student visa you may work up to 28 hours per week. Realistically that earns you ¥70,000 to 130,000 per month, which in many cities covers your living costs almost entirely. Popular options are convenience stores, cafés and tutoring. A pleasant side effect: the part time job doubles as daily language training with real customers and colleagues.
After graduation: shukatsu and the job hunt
The Japanese job hunt, called shukatsu, follows its own calendar: it typically starts 12 to 18 months before graduation, with career fairs, application rounds and selection processes. If you have no offer by graduation, you do not have to leave: the Designated Activities visa allows you 6 to 12 more months of job hunting in Japan after finishing your degree.
- 112 to 18 months before graduation: shukatsu begins. Visit career fairs, prepare applications.
- 2Final year: selection processes and interviews, often over several rounds.
- 3After graduation without an offer: apply for the Designated Activities visa and keep searching for 6 to 12 months.
- 4With a job offer: switch to a work visa, with your Japanese degree replacing the language requirement.
Study in English, live in Japanese?
Yes, English taught degree programmes exist in Japan, and they are a legitimate way in. But do not count on English being enough. Daily life, part time work, shukatsu and most employers run in Japanese. The most successful international students are those who study Japanese consistently from the first semester and treat their four years in the country as an immersion programme. Do that and you leave university with two qualifications: the official degree and fluent Japanese.
Frequently asked questions
How expensive is studying in Japan compared with other countries?
Considerably cheaper: 60 to 75 percent below the cost in the UK, the US or Australia. National universities charge ¥535,800 per year, about 3,300 euros, the same for all nationalities. Private universities charge ¥800,000 to 1,500,000 per year.
What does the MEXT scholarship cover?
The Japanese government scholarship covers full tuition, pays ¥143,000 to 148,000 per month and additionally covers your flights. Many universities also offer their own fee waivers of 25 to 100 percent.
Can I stay in Japan after graduation to look for a job?
Yes. The Designated Activities visa allows you 6 to 12 months of job hunting in Japan after graduation. Ideally though, you start shukatsu, the traditional Japanese job hunt, 12 to 18 months before you graduate.
Do I even need Japanese for an English taught degree?
Often not for admission, but for everything else, yes: part time work, daily life, the job hunt and most employers run in Japanese. And while your Japanese degree later replaces the N2 proof for the visa, it does not replace actual language skills in a job interview.
Studying in Japan is more affordable, better funded and strategically smarter than most people think. If you use the four years to build the language alongside your subject, you graduate facing a job market that is wide open to international graduates. Best of all, do not wait for the lecture hall to start learning Japanese: with Sakuraflow you can lay the foundations before your first semester even begins.
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