Japanese universities hold admissions and entrance examinations twice a year. Since each university conducts its own independent entrance exam, students can apply to multiple universities simultaneously, which increases the success rate and reduces risk. Furthermore, the exceptionally high acceptance rate for prestigious universities is a key reason why many families choose to send their children to study abroad.
What are the methods for high school students to study abroad in Japan?
1. Direct application to English-taught programs via SGU:
SGU is a project promoted by the Japanese government to expand the intake of international students. After 10 years of development (including the G30 era), the project has become highly mature. Currently, over 60 top-ranked Japanese universities offer SGU English-taught courses. This method differs from traditional study abroad paths. Students can apply directly by submitting their English proficiency scores and college entrance examination (Gaokao) results, which significantly saves time on preparation and application.
2. Direct examination from within China: Preparing for the EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) and university-specific entrance exams:
Students take the EJU during their second or third year of high school and participate in Japanese university entrance exams after graduating from high school, leading to admission and enrollment in April of the following year. This method is relatively novel compared to traditional study abroad paths; simply put, it involves making the most of the time spent in high school in China to prepare thoroughly.
3. Transitioning through language schools/university preparatory courses + taking the EJU and university entrance exams in Japan:
First, apply for a transition program -> go to Japan to study at a language school -> study at a private cram school (juku) in your spare time -> take the EJU -> take the university entrance exam -> get admitted. This is currently the most mainstream way to study in Japan. However, because language school management is relatively loose and the number of spots in university preparatory courses is limited, parents need to be diligent in supervising their children's progress. In recent years, the number of students attending language schools to apply for Japanese universities has increased by about five times, while the number of admissions for university-based Japanese language programs has not seen a significant increase. Therefore, overall, the difficulty of getting into a university has increased significantly, leading to a competitive situation where even students with high EJU scores may not be able to enter a top university.
4. Admissions exams or interviews held by individual universities in China:
Examples include Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics, Okayama University of Science, and Nippon Institute of Technology. The number of schools using this method is relatively small, but it is suitable for students and parents who wish to enter a university as soon as possible. The admission process is relatively simple.
Having read this, parents and students should now have a general idea of their options. In general, if you do not yet know Japanese, you can choose to apply for SGU English programs or attend a language school to learn Japanese. If you already have a Japanese proficiency level of N2 or higher, you can prepare for the EJU directly in China or participate in entrance exams held by certain Japanese universities in mainland China.