Costs
Tuition
National universities: ¥535,800/year (≈€3,300). Private universities: ¥800,000–1,500,000/year. Many offer 30–100% tuition reduction for international students.
Living Costs
Tokyo: ¥100,000–150,000/month. Other cities: ¥70,000–100,000/month. Student dormitories: ¥20,000–50,000/month.
Total Annual Cost
€10,000–15,000/year (national university with dormitory).
Part-Time Work
28 hours/week during term, 40 hours during breaks. Average earnings: ¥80,000–120,000/month. Minimum wage: ¥1,000–1,200/hour depending on prefecture.
Post-Study & Immigration
Post-Study Work Visa
Designated Activities visa for job search (6 months, extendable). Find a job → Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa. Highly Skilled Professional visa available for qualifying roles.
Path to Permanent Residency
Highly Skilled Professional visa → PR in 1–3 years (fastest in developed world for qualifying roles). Standard: 10 years → PR.
Language Requirements
Many English-taught programmes at master's level (SGU universities). Undergraduate mostly in Japanese. JLPT N2+ for Japanese-taught programmes. No English test required for some English programmes.
Visa Processing
2–4 weeks after receiving Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from university. University applies for COE → you apply for visa at embassy.
Top Universities
| University | QS 2025 | Tuition (Int'l) | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tokyo | #32 | ¥535,800 | Engineering, Sciences, Economics, Law |
| Kyoto University | #50 | ¥535,800 | Sciences, Engineering, Medicine |
| Tokyo Institute of Technology | #68 | ¥535,800 | Engineering, Computing, Sciences |
| Osaka University | #80 | ¥535,800 | Engineering, Sciences, Medicine |
| Tohoku University | #81 | ¥535,800 | Materials Science, Engineering, Medicine |
Scholarships
MEXT (Monbukagakusho)
Award: Full tuition + ¥143,000–145,000/month + flights
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Apr–May
Japan's flagship. 8,000+ awards. Includes 6-month Japanese language training. Embassy and university tracks.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Apr–May
Japan's flagship. 8,000+ awards. Includes 6-month Japanese language training. Embassy and university tracks.
JASSO
Award: ¥48,000/month
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
Merit-based monthly stipend for privately funded students.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
Merit-based monthly stipend for privately funded students.
JICA ABE Initiative
Award: Full funding + internship
Eligibility: African students · Deadline: Varies
Master's + Japanese company internship. For African professionals.
Eligibility: African students · Deadline: Varies
Master's + Japanese company internship. For African professionals.
University tuition waivers
Award: 30–100% tuition reduction
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per university
Most national universities offer income-based tuition reductions. Apply through university.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per university
Most national universities offer income-based tuition reductions. Apply through university.
Rotary Yoneyama
Award: ¥100,000–140,000/month
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
Private scholarship. Master's and PhD.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
Private scholarship. Master's and PhD.
2026 Policy Updates
What changed: Japan is actively expanding English-taught programmes through the SGU (Super Global University) initiative. Digital nomad visa introduced but separate from student visa. Highly Skilled Professional visa points system makes post-study PR faster for qualifying graduates.
Best For
STEM and engineering students. Students interested in robotics, AI, and materials science. Those wanting generous government scholarships. Culture enthusiasts willing to learn Japanese. Students targeting fast-track PR through Highly Skilled Professional visa.
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