Lori Meadows
Japan's higher education system has been influenced by various Western countries, including the United States, Great Britain, and Germany. The country's higher education system is facing significant changes, with declining enrollment rates and universities struggling to fill seats. In 2023, the enrollment rate in universities and junior colleges reached 61.6% for male students and 60.6% for female students. The overall direct enrollment rate after high school graduation was about 61%. Japan's economy demands a workforce with higher education, particularly in science and engineering. The percentage of 18-year-olds pursuing higher education is 80.6%, with 52.6% enrolling in universities, making it the most common route for higher education in the country.
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What You'll Learn
University entrance exams
There are three main types of entrance exams: the Ippan Nyushi (General Entrance Exam), School Recommendation, and the Sougou Gata Senbatsu (Comprehensive Selection Exam, formerly AO). The General Entrance Exam involves taking the National Centre Test for University Admissions, followed by a second exam. The National Centre Test is a standardised exam, held over two days in mid-January, and is taken by over 500,000 students. There are 29 separate tests across 6 subjects, with students taking the tests required by their chosen university. The score from this exam is used either as a first-round screening process or in conjunction with another test to make a final decision.
The School Recommendation option involves students being selected through designated schools or open recruitment. The Comprehensive Selection Exam focuses on multiple elements, with a shift in focus from academic ability to evaluating a student's diverse skills and personality. This type of exam has been criticised for advantaging wealthy students and undermining meritocracy. However, supporters of this exam type argue that it evaluates abilities that students may struggle to demonstrate on a general exam.
In addition to these three main types, there are other procedures for specific situations. For example, students continuing from an undergraduate program to graduate school at the same university can take a recommendation-based entrance exam, which exempts them from part of the selection process. Non-Japanese applicants may undergo special selection procedures, with some universities using EJU scores as a reference.
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Higher education for women
Higher education in Japan has been adapted from Western education systems, integrated with traditional Shinto, Buddhist, and Confucianist pedagogical philosophies. The country's higher education system has contributed significantly to its economic growth, with the labor market demanding people with scientific and technological expertise.
While the percentage of Japanese students pursuing higher education at any institution is 80.6%, with 52.6% enrolled in universities, the gender breakdown is not equal. In 2023, the enrollment rate at universities and junior colleges was 61.6% for male students and 60.6% for female students. This represents a significant increase in women's participation in higher education over the past six decades. In 1960, there were approximately 89 females for every 100 males enrolled in post-secondary education, and this ratio is slowly becoming more balanced.
Despite this progress, gender inequality persists in Japan's higher education system. At the elite Tokyo University ("Todai"), less than one-fifth of undergraduates are women. This imbalance is influenced by societal expectations and stereotypes, with women still not expected to achieve as much academically as men. Historically, women's choices of majors have followed traditional patterns, with a focus on education, social sciences, or humanities. While these trends are changing, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promoting female empowerment, there is still a need for dedicated women's universities to address the issue of male-dominated power structures in academia and wider society.
The establishment of women's universities, such as Tsuda College in 1948 and Kobe Women's University, has played a crucial role in promoting higher education for women in Japan. Kobe Women's University, for example, offers a comprehensive range of graduate and undergraduate programs, including specialized and junior college departments. These institutions provide opportunities for women to pursue higher education in a country where gender inequality is still prevalent.
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University preparation
Japanese students are streamed according to their academic ability and career interests. Students intending to go to university attend academic high schools, while those who do not intend to go to university attend commercial or industrial high schools. Students are admitted to high school based on entrance exam performance, and high school rank is a major factor in university admissions. Students who attend high-ranked schools have a better chance of gaining a university place. This has resulted in a booming industry for cram schools, or 'juku', which many students attend after school to improve their exam performance.
University entrance exams are notoriously difficult, and the competition is fierce. In 1991, the average proportion of applicants accepted was six in ten, but today, more than nine in ten applicants are accepted. This is partly due to the declining birth rate, which has resulted in a decrease in the number of students overall. The quality of universities and higher education in Japan is internationally recognised, with 50 Japanese universities listed in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.
The Japanese higher education system has been influenced by Western models, particularly the Prussian model in the late 19th century, and more recently by the United States. The modern system includes elements of Western education integrated with traditional Shinto, Buddhist, and Confucianist pedagogical philosophies.
There is a gender imbalance in Japanese higher education, with more women than men now attending university. In 2023, the enrollment rate for male students was 61.6%, and for female students, it was 60.6%. This represents a significant increase in the number of women attending university, with more than two-thirds of women enrolling in education, social sciences, or humanities courses. However, women are still underrepresented in scientific and technical subjects, and they represent less than 3% of students in engineering.
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Rural universities
In 2023, there were approximately 2.95 million students enrolled in Japanese universities, up from 2.85 million in 2014. Of these, nearly 46% were female students. The Japanese higher education system has traditionally been influenced by Western models, particularly from Germany and the United States. The system now boasts elements incorporated from the US on top of its European origins.
University entrance is the traditional route for Japanese students seeking higher education, and it is the most prestigious form of tertiary education in the country. The percentage of Japanese students who go on to any higher education institution at the age of 18 is 80.6%, with 52.6% of students attending university, 4.7% attending junior college, 0.9% attending a college of technology, and 22.4% attending a correspondence school, the Open University of Japan, or a specialized training college.
Japanese universities hold entrance exams to select new students, and these exams are known for being notably difficult. Due to the declining birth rate in Japan, the overall number of students is expected to decrease over time, presenting financial challenges for the education business.
- University of Aizu in Aizu: Offers courses in English for computer science students, which is rare in Japan.
- Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu: Teaches Japanese culture.
- Akita International University: Recommended by a former student on Reddit.
- University of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture: Highly international, providing a high standard of education and sports. Not in a rural area, but the surrounding prefecture is.
- Institute of Science and Tech in Nara: Stronger in CS, especially in NLP.
- JAIST in Ishikawa: Located in the woods on the side of a mountain in rural Ishikawa.
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Employment after graduation
Japan's economy is largely scientific and technological, so its job market demands people with higher education, especially in science and engineering. The graduate employment rate in Japan is as high as 98.1%, but this is mostly for Japanese nationals. For international students, the employment rate is not so good. The job-hunting process during university is essential for finding a position after graduation. Not speaking Japanese also reduces the chances of getting a job.
The Japanese job market changed significantly after the Japanese asset price bubble burst in 1991, shifting toward US-style capitalism. Today, Japanese firms incorporate American practices, including performance-based pay increases and non-regular employment.
Japanese companies tend to hire batches of new college graduates who will stay with the company for a long time, developing broad, firm-specific skills as they work their way into senior positions with higher pay. This working culture encourages lifetime employment and long-term development.
In 2020, women made up 30.4 million of Japan's 68.7 million-strong labor force, with men accounting for 38.2 million. The female employment rate in Japan rose in 2021, up from 46.2% in 2012. However, more than half of female workers hold part-time, temporary, or seasonal positions, compared to just 22% of Japanese men. Women who attain some form of higher education are more likely to find employment than those who don't.
In 2023, the enrollment rate in universities and junior colleges was around 61.6% for male students and 60.6% for female students. The overall direct enrollment rate after high school graduation was about 61%. In 2023, there were approximately 2.95 million students enrolled at Japanese universities, up from about 2.85 million in 2014. Of the total, nearly 46% were female students.
Japan's education system is often specified to have a 6-3-3-4 system, meaning six years of elementary school, three years each of middle and high school, and four years in university. While social studies are the most popular major among undergraduates, engineering courses are the most common choice for students returning for a master's degree. However, it is more common in Japan to find employment straight after graduation from undergraduate programs.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2023, around 52.6% of Japanese students went to university, with 4.7% attending junior college, 0.9% attending a college of technology, and 22.4% attending a correspondence school, the Open University of Japan, or a specialized training college.
In 2023, there were approximately 2.95 million students enrolled in Japanese universities, up from 2.85 million in 2014.
In 2023, nearly 46% of Japanese university students were female, with around 60.6% of female high school graduates enrolling in higher education institutions. This is compared to around 61.6% of male high school graduates.
University is the most prestigious form of higher education in Japan, and the labor market demands people with higher education qualifications, particularly in science and engineering. Around 75-80% of Japanese students enroll in university preparation tracks.
