Study in Japan in 2025: A Guide to International Students

Choosing to study in Japan, the country of the rising sun is one of the best decisions as it is a country well-known for its high standard of education and cutting-edge technology. Whether you're interested in pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or even doctoral degree program in Japan, you'll discover a wide range of options available.

Japan universities for international students welcome more than 250,000 of them from all over the world each year! So, let us help you be one among them by explaining in this blog about all the amazing benefits of choosing to study in Japan.

Why Study in Japan?

If you have always dreamt of living in a bustling economy filled with vibrant lifestyles and working opportunities, studying in Japan could be your best option! With an impressively low unemployment rate of merely 2.6% by the year 2024, along with being ranked as the helping one to create a successful career!

Japan’s Need for Skilled Workers in 2024

As of 2024, Japan is in the process of hunting for specialized skilled workers because of two reasons: an ageing population and a low fertility rate. Hence, the country is facing a real shortage of young workers, and this opens gaps in their labour market. Because of this, to increase its economic growth, Japan is ready to hire 8,00,000 foreign workers in the days to come with specialized skills beginning with fiscal 2024.

Now, the universities in Japan for international students offer excellent programs related to certain industries, encouraging academic and professional development. Hence, considering work opportunities in Japan in these industries listed below, specializing in them can land them in amazing careers shortly.

The Japanese industries students can prefer specializing in are:

• Aviation
• Automobile Repair & Maintenance
• Agriculture
• Fishery and Aquaculture
• Healthcare and life sciences
• Robotics
• Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery
• Machine Parts and Tooling

Intakes of Japan Universities for International Students

There are 2 main kinds of university intake periods in Japan for the international students to enrol in. They are:

• Universities that take 2 intakes
• Universities that take 3 intakes

Documents Required to Study in Japan

While planning to study in Japan as an international student, try to gather all the following mentioned documents before you get set to apply.

• Valid passport
• Bachelor’s program: 12th grade/diploma
• Master’s program: Bachelor’s degree
• Completed application form
• Receipt of the application fee
• Photographs
• Personal Statement of Purpose
• 2 Letters of recommendation
• IELTS/TOEFL/GRE/SAT/ACT scores (whatever is required)

Best Universities in Japan for International Students

Getting into one of the top Japanese universities is a dream for international students and hence, we have curated a list of the best Japan universities for international students that offer popular programs in English-language in the table below.

Living Expenses and Cost of Study in Japan for Indian Students in 2024

The average monthly cost of living in Japan for India students ranges from Rs. 60,000 to 75,000 in 2024. These expenses cover essential needs such as accommodation, food, transportation, and other key utilities, forming the basic living expenses in Japan.

Look at the following tables to learn more precise details about the living expenses and cost of study in Japan especially for Indian students.

Living Expenses in Japan for Indian Students

Before we talk about the study cost in Japan for international students, did you know Japan is often cheaper than other G7* countries?

These countries, as we know are a group of leading economies, boast top universities and big job opportunities; but they also come with higher costs unlike Japan, which is also one among them.

Let us now see the study cost in Japan which is an affordable alternative for studying in a G7 country!

Cost of Study in Japan for Indian Students

G7* The G7 countries include advanced economies like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Students often choose these countries as they have the best universities and vast research facilities.

Study with Japan Government Scholarships in 2024

Japan offers many scholarships from over 140 private organizations, universities, and local governments that are ready to provide funding opportunities to deserving students.

These scholarships cover various needs, from living expenses to full tuition and additional benefits like round-trip airfare as well. Out of the 140, we have explained to you about the two major scholarships below.

Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho MEXT) Scholarship

Note: This scholarship is available to international students already in Japan under specific conditions.

Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO) Scholarship

Note: Known as the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship, JASSO helps privately financed international students facing financial difficulties with excellent academic performance.

Now that you know all the ins and outs of everything related to pursuing your study in Japan, it is equally important to plan your budget and the perfect field of study for a successful career in the country, so get set to it accordingly. Cheers!