University Education: The Choice Of Japanese Students

Japan has the second-largest higher education system in the developed world, with almost three million students enrolled in over 700 universities and four-year colleges. In 2023, there were approximately 2.95 million students enrolled at Japanese universities, up from about 2.85 million in 2014. The country's higher education system differs from that of most other countries, with acceptance relying almost entirely on one or two tests rather than GPAs, percentages, or other methods of assessment. The intense competition means that many students cannot gain admission to their university of choice, and some choose to wait a year to retake the exam. In 2011, 110,211 ronin students – those who did not immediately continue their education after high school – took the uniform test, compared to 442,421 high school students.

University entrance exams in Japan

The two main types of exams are the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) and the National Center Test for University Admissions (Daigaku Nyūshi Sentā Shiken). The EJU is for international students and tests basic academic knowledge in the subjects of Science, Japan and the World, and Mathematics. It is held twice a year, and students can take it as many times as they like. The Center Test is for Japanese nationals and is used by national, public, and some private universities. It is only held once a year, and students typically do not know their scores before applying to universities.

Most universities, especially the most prestigious ones, will also set their own entrance examinations. The score from the Center Test is often used as a first-round screening process, after which successful applicants take the university-specific exam. Alternatively, the Center Test score may be used in conjunction with the university-specific exam to make a final decision.

The intense competition means that many students are unable to gain admission to their university of choice. These students, called ronin, will often spend another year studying and preparing to retake the entrance examinations. The pressure to perform well on the exams is immense, as attending a prestigious university can significantly impact an individual's socioeconomic status, marriage prospects, and career path.

The number of female Japanese university students

In 2023, there were approximately 1.3 million female students enrolled at Japanese universities, making up around 44-46% of the total student population. This marks a steady increase over the past decade, reflecting changing societal attitudes and educational opportunities for women in Japan. The female student population has been consistently increasing alongside the female employment rate, and women now make up more than half of Japan's total population.

Japanese female students are inclined to choose social studies as their undergraduate major, while they indicate a preference for engineering for postgraduate studies. Women with an undergraduate degree have the highest success rate of entering employment directly after graduation, closely followed by those who graduated from junior colleges.

The representation of women in Japanese higher education continues to grow, with female students comprising 44.6% of university enrolments in 2023. This is an increase from 2019, when women made up 45.5% of the student body—the highest share on record in Japan at the time. The number of women enrolled in four-year university programs has been rising since 1981, indicating that Japanese women are eager to compete for lucrative careers.

However, gender disparities still exist in higher education and the workplace. For instance, men dominate areas like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In science, male students comprise 72%, while females make up 28%. In engineering, the divide is even wider, with 84% male students. At the highly competitive University of Tokyo, women only comprise around 20% of the student body, despite changes made to encourage more women to apply, such as extending monthly housing subsidies for selected female students.

The proportion of Japanese students at private universities

In 2023, there were approximately 2.95 million students enrolled at Japanese universities, up from about 2.85 million in 2014. Of these, 46% were female.

Japan's higher education system includes universities, junior colleges, colleges of technology, and special training schools and community colleges. Only universities and junior colleges are considered post-secondary education providers.

In 2017, there were 780 universities in Japan, with more than 2.89 million students enrolled. 88.7% of Japanese universities are private, and private institutions accounted for nearly 80% of all university enrolments in 1991. However, public universities are generally regarded as more prestigious than private universities.

The percentage of Japanese students going on to university from the eighteen-year-old cohort was 52.6% in 2018, according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

The number of Japanese students enrolled in bachelor's programs

In 2023, there were over 2.6 million students enrolled in bachelor's programs at universities in Japan, a slight decrease from the 2.85 million students enrolled in 2014. This number is expected to continue to decrease due to the country's declining birth rate.

The Japanese higher education system differs significantly from that of most other countries. Acceptance into universities relies almost entirely on one or two tests rather than a holistic evaluation of the student's academic performance. As a result, there is immense pressure on high school students to perform well on these exams, and many attend cram schools or supplementary tutoring schools to prepare.

Despite the competitive nature of university admissions, Japan has the second-largest higher education system in the developed world, with almost three million students enrolled in over 700 universities and four-year colleges. The majority of students attend public universities, which are generally regarded as more prestigious than private universities. However, private institutions accounted for nearly 80% of all university enrolments in 1991.

The percentage of Japanese students pursuing higher education is high, with 52.6% of students going on to a university and 4.7% attending a junior college. The high enrolment rates can be attributed to the country's scientific and technological-based economy, which demands a highly educated workforce.

While the number of students enrolled in bachelor's programs in Japan is impressive, it is important to note that the quality of education may vary. Japanese universities are considered the weakest component of the nation's educational system, with professors demanding relatively little of their students. However, this trend appears to be changing, with universities offering more specialised programs to meet the demands of the job market.

The prestige of Japanese universities

Japan's higher education system differs from that of most other countries. University entrance examinations are the primary criterion for admission, and students only have one chance per year to take them. This results in a high level of pressure to perform well on these exams, with students often attending cram schools and supplementary tutoring to prepare. The examinations are notoriously difficult, and the competition for places is fierce.

The university entrance route is the most prestigious form of higher education in Japan, and the top universities are highly regarded. The public universities are generally considered more prestigious than private ones, especially the National Seven Universities: the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, Kyushu University, Hokkaido University, Osaka University, and Nagoya University. These institutions are elite research institutions, with strong academic reputations. They are also the oldest universities in Japan, having trained the country's leaders before the war, and they offer the best employment prospects, particularly with the government and large corporations.

Other prestigious universities in Japan include Keio University and Waseda University, which are private institutions, and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, which is a national university. These universities are also highly ranked and offer excellent employment opportunities.

The quality of Japanese universities is internationally recognised, with 50 institutions listed on the 2025 QS World University Rankings. The University of Tokyo is ranked 32nd, and Kyoto University is 50th.

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