After graduating high school
High school graduates are eligible for entrance examinations for universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools.
In Japan, about 70% of high school graduates go on to university, junior college, or vocational school.
Types of universities and junior colleges
There are national, public, and private schools.
Usually, students graduate from a university in four years.
It takes 6 years to graduate from medical universities to become a doctor, dentist, or pharmacist.
Usually, students graduate from a junior college in two years.
Medical junior colleges to become nurses or physical therapists have a three-year program.
Universities and junior colleges have faculties, departments, majors, and courses for each field of study.
Students can think about what they are interested in, what kind of job they want to do in the future, and choose a school that has a faculty, department, major, and course that suits their interests.
Types of vocational schools
Students acquire knowledge and skills that are directly linked to work, such as nurses, public health nurses, nutritionists, cooks, nursery teachers, care workers, designers, animators, etc. at vocational schools.
Many schools are two-year programs. There are some schools you can graduate in one year or four years as well.
High School Equivalency Diploma Examination
Those who pass the “Upper Secondary School Equivalency Examination” can be qualified to take entrance exams of university, junior college even if you have not graduated from a Japanese high school.
See the next page for more details.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: Upper Secondary School Equivalency Examination outline and pamphlet (Japanese and English)
