Studying in Japan in English: a guide for Indian families

When families think "study abroad", they think of the US, the UK, Canada or Australia. Japan rarely comes up — usually because people assume you must speak Japanese. For a growing number of bachelor's degrees, you don't. Some of Japan's top universities teach full degrees in English, at fees far below the usual choices.

The catch is timing. Japan's English-taught degrees mostly start in October, but applications close 8 to 11 months earlier. Many families find the right course just after its deadline has passed.

Japan at a glance

Top universities, Indian-sized fees

₹3.2 lakha year in tuition at a national university (¥535,800)

4 yearsfor most bachelor's degrees

28 hrsa week of part-time work allowed, with permission

12MEXT bachelor's scholarships for India each year (Embassy route)

Do you really not need Japanese?

For an English-taught programme, no Japanese test is needed to apply. Classes, exams and the degree are in English. Most programmes still teach some Japanese as part of the course, and learning it matters if your child wants to work in Japan afterwards.

Be careful with names, though. A university may offer only a few English programmes among many Japanese ones. Kyushu University, for example, has 12 undergraduate schools but only a handful of English-taught programmes. Kyoto University's iUP starts in English and then moves to Japanese for the final two years. Always check the language of the exact course, not the university.

Where to find them:

• The Japanese government's Study in Japan website has an official list of English-taught degree programmes.
• The J-MENA project at Kyushu University keeps a useful list of 86 English-taught bachelor's programmes at 38 universities, with fees, test scores and links to each official guideline. It is run for students from the Middle East and Africa, but the list works for anyone.
• On EasyApply, you can see every university in Japan and the next application deadlines.

Most English-taught bachelor's are in engineering and science, business and economics, international studies and liberal arts. Medicine and law are much rarer in English.

What it costs, in rupees

Japan's national universities charge almost the same fee everywhere. Kyushu University's 2027 guideline, for example:

Fee	Yen	About, in rupees
Admission fee (once)	¥282,000	₹1.7 lakh
Tuition, per year	¥535,800	₹3.2 lakh
Application fee	¥10,000	₹6,000

Rupee figures at ₹0.60 per yen (RBI reference rate, 16 Oct 2026). Rounded.

Some universities cut the first year's fees for students applying from abroad — Kyushu halves the first year's tuition for them. Private universities (Waseda, Keio, Sophia, Ritsumeikan, APU and others) usually charge more, and each sets its own fee.

Living costs depend on the city. Tokyo is the most expensive; regional cities are much cheaper. Our cost calculator puts the whole course together in rupees, and what studying abroad really costs compares Japan with eight other countries. Two things families often miss: renting a flat in Japan can need 3 to 4 months' rent upfront, though many universities offer a dormitory room for the first year (Kyushu guarantees one).

Part-time work: students may work up to 28 hours a week in term, and up to 8 hours a day in long holidays, but only after getting permission. It helps with daily costs; it won't pay the fees.

What Indian students need to apply

Every programme sets its own rules, but most ask for:

• 12 years of school. Indian Class 12 usually meets this. Some guidelines list CBSE by name; if your board isn't named, email the admissions office before you apply.
• A standardised test — often on top of your board marks. This surprises many Indian families. Kyushu's engineering programmes, for example, need one of SAT Maths (710–740 depending on the course), ACT, A-levels, AP, IB or Japan's own EJU. Board marks alone are not enough there. Other programmes don't ask for any test. Check early, because the SAT needs months of preparation.
• English: TOEFL or IELTS. The government's guideline for undergraduates is TOEFL iBT 71–80 or IELTS 5.5–6; competitive programmes ask for more (Kyushu: IELTS 6.5). Some exempt students who studied in English for four years or more of secondary school — ask for the school's letter.
• A motivation letter, transcripts and often a recommendation letter. Shortlisted students usually have an interview, often online.

Still in Class 12? You can usually apply with a letter from your school saying when you will finish, and send the final marksheet later. Kyushu, for example, needs the final certificate by 30 September 2027 for an October 2027 start.

When to apply: the timeline is the hard part

Japan's academic year starts in April, but most English-taught bachelor's start in September or October. Applications for an October 2027 start began opening in September and October 2026, and many close between November 2026 and January 2027. Private universities often run two or three rounds; national universities often run just one.

For an October 2027 start

Apply about a year ahead

1. Sep – Oct 2026Shortlist programmes. Read last year's guideline: rules rarely change much. Book SAT and IELTS or TOEFL if needed.
2. Nov 2026 – Jan 2027Apply. Most rounds close in this window. Many need an online step and then posted documents.
3. Feb – Mar 2027Shortlisted students are interviewed, often online.
4. Mar – Apr 2027Results and admission steps. Some scholarships are decided now.
5. Jul – Aug 2027Certificate of Eligibility, then the student visa from the Japanese consulate in India.
6. Sep – Oct 2027Arrive and start. Send the final Class 12 marksheet if it was pending.

A tip from university advisers: don't wait for this year's guideline to start preparing. Most universities keep last year's guideline online, and requirements rarely change much. Prepare documents from it, then download the new form when the round opens.

MEXT: Japan's government scholarship, two routes

The MEXT scholarship pays full tuition, a monthly allowance and a return air ticket. There are two separate ways to get it, and families often mix them up.

MEXT scholarship

Two routes, two different applications

Embassy route

• Apply to the Embassy of Japan in India, usually April–May
• Written test and interview in India
• Up to 12 bachelor's places for India
• Usually 5 years: a Japanese language year, then the degree
• Needs 80% in Class 12; born on or after 2 April 2002 (2027 round)

University route

• Apply only to the programme, by its own deadline
• Only some English-taught programmes are MEXT-supported
• The university picks its best applicants
• Usually 4 years, taught in English
• Very few places, so apply as a normal student too

The Embassy route for 2027 closed on 25 May 2026, and paid ¥117,000 a month (about ₹68,800). Expect the next round around April 2027. There is no application fee. The Embassy warns that anyone charging a fee for MEXT has nothing to do with the Japanese government.

Other help:

• University scholarships and fee cuts. Many universities cut fees or pay a monthly amount to good students. Kyushu, for example, offers up to 10 scholarships of ¥60,000 a month.
• JASSO's Honors Scholarship pays ¥48,000 a month to self-funded students, usually through the university after they join.

All of these are on our scholarship list.

Mistakes that cost students a place

Advisers who read these applications see the same mistakes every year:

Before you press submit

Avoid these six mistakes

• Submitting on the last day. Aim for a week early, so a missing document can still be fixed.
• Forgetting deadlines are in Japan time, 3½ hours ahead of India. A 5 pm deadline there is 1:30 pm here.
• An English test score that will have expired by the deadline.
• One motivation letter for every university. Say why this programme, at this university.
• Adding lines or changing the layout of the university's own form.
• Print the guideline's document list and tick off each item before you send.

The motivation letter matters more than families expect. English-taught programmes have few seats and applicants from many countries. A letter that could be sent to any university — "I love Japanese culture and technology" — doesn't stand out. Say what draws your child to this programme, this university and this city, and what they want to do with the degree.

After the degree

Graduates can stay in Japan for up to a year after graduating to look for a job, with the right visa. Universities run job fairs for international students, but most jobs in Japanese companies still expect good Japanese, so students who take the Japanese classes seriously have far more options. Many also continue to a master's in Japan, often in the same research lab as their final-year project.

A simple plan

1. Now: shortlist 4–6 English-taught programmes from the official and J-MENA lists. Check each one's language, test and English rules.
2. Book tests early: SAT (if needed) and IELTS or TOEFL, with scores valid on the deadline.
3. Diary every deadline in India time — our Japan key dates do this for you.
4. Write a separate motivation letter for each programme.
5. Apply a week early. Then plan money: the cost calculator and scholarships.