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Study in Japan

Japan's national universities cost about ¥820,000 in the first year, including the one-off admission fee, while private universities average about ¥1,300,000 outside medicine. There is no fixed visa savings figure: you show bank statements and who is paying. With permission, you can work up to 28 hours a week.

Browse 17 scholarships Read the guide

Facts checked on official websites on October 31, 2026

First-year fees, national university
About ¥820,000 JASSO's average for admission plus tuition in the first year of an undergraduate degree. Local public universities average about ¥910,000, private about ¥1,300,000. Source: Study in Japan (JASSO)
Proof of funds for the visa
No fixed amount You may be asked to prove you can cover your costs, for example with a savings balance certificate, an income certificate for the past year and proof of where the money comes from. Source: Study in Japan (JASSO)
Work while studying
28 hours a week Only with permission from immigration to work outside your status. Up to eight hours a day during long school holidays. Adult entertainment jobs are banned. Source: Study in Japan (JASSO)
Job hunting after graduation
Up to 1 year Graduates can switch from Student to Designated Activities status: six months, with one further six-month extension as a general rule. Source: Study in Japan (JASSO)

Why international students choose Japan

Japan combines relatively low fees at national universities with a clear route from study into work, and the national study agency, JASSO, runs much of the support for international students through its Study in Japan service. Part-time work is allowed with permission, and graduates can stay on to look for a job.

What it costs

JASSO gives these averages for admission plus tuition in the first year of an undergraduate degree (Study in Japan):

  • National universities: about ¥820,000
  • Local public universities: about ¥910,000
  • Private universities (excluding medicine, dentistry and pharmacy): about ¥1,300,000
  • Private medical, dental and pharmaceutical programmes: about ¥3,800,000

For graduate schools, the averages are about ¥820,000 (national), ¥900,000 (local public), ¥1,100,000 (private) and ¥870,000 (private medical, dental and pharmaceutical). The page does not say which year these figures refer to, and it notes that fees vary by school and that teaching materials or practical training may cost extra.

The student visa and proof of funds

The process starts in Japan: your school, or someone acting for you, applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at a regional immigration services bureau. Once it is issued, you apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate (Study in Japan). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists your passport, a visa application form, a photograph, the COE, your graduation certificate and the employment certificate of your financial supporter, and warns that a COE does not guarantee a visa (MOFA).

There is no fixed savings figure on the official pages. You may be asked to prove that you can cover your expenses, with documents such as a savings balance certificate, an income certificate covering the past year and evidence of your sources of funds (Study in Japan).

Working while you study

Student status does not allow work by itself. You must first get permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted, from a regional immigration bureau or, if you will stay longer than three months, at your port of entry. You can then work up to 28 hours a week, and up to eight hours a day during long school holidays. Work in adult entertainment businesses is prohibited by law (Study in Japan; University of Tokyo).

After you graduate

Graduates of Japanese universities, junior colleges and graduate schools can change from Student to Designated Activities status to keep job hunting. The period of stay is six months, and as a general rule one further six-month extension is allowed, so you get up to a year. Research students, auditors and Japanese language preparatory students are excluded (Study in Japan).

Scholarships for Japan

  • Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship: tuition is exempted and round-trip airfare is provided. You apply either through a Japanese embassy or through a university (Study in Japan). For the 2027 research student intake, the Embassy of Japan in India lists monthly stipends of ¥143,000 for research students in preparatory education, ¥144,000 for master’s students and ¥145,000 for doctoral students (Embassy of Japan in India). Check the embassy in your own country for its dates.
  • Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students: run by JASSO, it pays ¥48,000 a month at university and graduate level. It is for students with Student status who are strong academically but face financial difficulty, and is usually paid for a year from April to March (Study in Japan).

Scholarships in Japan 17

See all 17 scholarships
Nov15 Fully funded OIST Graduate University PhD Program Japan · PhD Nov19 Fully funded Nagoya University G30 Undergraduate Scholarship Japan · Undergraduate Nov20 Partly funded Hokkaido University Integrated Science Program (ISP) Fee Waivers Japan · Undergraduate Dec1 Partly funded Japan Foundation Training Programs for Teachers of the Japanese Language (Urawa), FY2027 Japan · Teacher · Other languages Dec3 Partly funded Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program (Kyoto iUP) Scholarships Japan · Undergraduate Dec11 Partly funded Sophia University New Student Scholarship Japan · Undergraduate, Master’s Dec11 Partly funded Sophia University Benefactors’ (Adachi) Scholarship Japan · Undergraduate, Master’s Dec17 Partly funded Kyushu University International Undergraduate Program (Engineering) Scholarships Japan · Undergraduate Jan8 Partly funded Okayama University Global Discovery Program Tuition Reduction Japan · Undergraduate

Fellowships, internships and other opportunities 7

Jan8 Fully funded JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (Short-term) Japan · PhD, Postdoc Jan20 Fully funded Vulcanus in Japan 2027 to 2028 Japan · Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD Mar12 Free International Poster Triennial in Toyama 2027 (U30 and Student Category) Japan · Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD, Young professional Apr15 Fully funded OIST Research Internship Program Japan · Undergraduate, Master’s Apr23 Paid JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard) Japan · Postdoc NextTBA Paid JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Japan · Graduate, Young professional, Teacher · English NextTBA Partly funded University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP) Japan · Undergraduate

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Common questions about studying in Japan

Short answers, based on the official sources linked above.

How much does it cost to study in Japan?

JASSO puts average first-year admission and tuition fees for undergraduate degrees at about ¥820,000 at national universities, about ¥910,000 at local public universities and about ¥1,300,000 at private universities outside medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. Private medical, dental and pharmaceutical programmes average about ¥3,800,000. Fees vary by school.

How much money do I need for a Japanese student visa?

Official guidance does not set a fixed sum. Study in Japan says you may be asked to prove you can cover your expenses, for example with a savings balance certificate, an income certificate covering the past year and documents showing your sources of funds. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also lists the employment certificate of your financial supporter.

Can international students work in Japan?

Yes, but only after getting permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under your status of residence. You can then work up to 28 hours a week, and up to eight hours a day during long school holidays. Jobs in adult entertainment businesses are prohibited.

Can I stay in Japan to look for work after graduating?

Graduates of Japanese universities, junior colleges and graduate schools can change their status from Student to Designated Activities to keep job hunting. The period is six months, and as a general rule one further six-month extension is allowed, giving up to a year. Research students and Japanese language preparatory students are not eligible.