Yen
Currency
Japan is the 11th most populous country in the world and has a population of nearly 126 million. Tokyo is the most populous metropolitan area – home to more than 37 million residents.
It comprises about 6,852 islands. The main 5 being Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Okinawa and Kyushu.
Nearly 73 percent of Japan is mountainous and thus unsuitable for agricultural or residential purposes. Due to this, the coastal areas have very high population densities. The usual winter temperature is around 5°C, and the average summer temperature is around 25°C.
It has the second longest life expectancy at birth in the world, which is 84.67 years, for people born in 2020–2022. The population in Japan is rapidly aging due to the decrease in birth rates.
More than 99 percent of the population in Japan speaks Japanese as their first language. The Japanese cuisine is known worldwide for its seasonality of food, great quality of ingredients and unique presentation, with a lot of traditional recipes and ingredients.
It is recommended that students aspiring to study abroad take a deep dive into the entire journey, from the preparation, the courses and the admission process, to the paperwork and the visas.
| Courses in Japan | Avg. Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| Business Management | 2,500,000 |
| Architecture | 500,000-1,500,000 |
| IT | 550,000- 1,250,000 |
| Accounting and Finance | 500000- 1,350,000 |
| Engineering | 540,000- 1,400,000 |
| Health Management | 6,00,00- 1,00,000 |
Japan is the third largest economy in the world and has massive opportunities for people from across the world. It is interesting to note that Japanese is a lingua franca for Asia and it is really useful outside Japan and Asia as well.
There are numerous universities, colleges and language schools that have courses which are specifically designed for English speakers who have no background in Japanese. One can easily get a English teaching job in Japan and study Japanese on the side.
It is normal to work in Japan without speaking Japanese, but there are chances that you are missing out on a lot of opportunities that would require you to have knowledge of Japanese language. If you are working, the lack of understanding of the language might be the reason to not get promotions. In some cases it can even affect the job offers. Being in Japan and learning the Japanese language can help out a lot, but if you cannot for some reason, obviously it is not the only way out.
According to the 2015 Survey on Career and Retention for International Students by METI, the Japanese language skill is one of the most important traits considered when hiring foreigners in Japan.
The Japanese culture highly values excellence and education, which is the reason why they have some of the best educational institutions in the world. The cultural values make studying here an even more interesting experience for the students.
The best way to study in Japan for free is to receive scholarships from the Japanese universities. It is recommended to apply to as many as possible, for a greater chance of studying at a reduced cost. Some scholarships usually cover the full tuition fees and accommodation. Some of the other ways would include bagging local scholarships and having a part-time job as per your schedule. In this way, you will work and be able to pay for your personal expenses.
Also, the local governments are involved in offering financial aid to the international students. Therefore, it will be a good idea to choose the city in which you want to study as per the scholarship opportunities present. There are nearly 20 available options across the country for international students.
In addition to this, there are private scholarships available to students too. To name some, these scholarships are The Bridging Project, the Boren Scholarships, Fulbright Japan scholarship.
Japan is considered to be a great destination for higher education because it is one of the most advanced countries across the globe with cutting-edge technology and ongoing innovation.Having a permanent residency (PR) visa lets you stay in Japan indefinitely. This visa is not dependent on your job or spouse and you do not have to worry about renewing it every time. It will also be easier to qualify for the loans from Japanese banks.
To qualify for a permanent residency, you need to have lived in the country for 10 years or more, with 5 or more of those years on a work visa or any other resident visa, out of which working holiday or student visas do not really count.
You will also need to prove that you can support yourself without any public assistance, are a regular tax payer and have no history of any issues with the law like non payment of taxes or visa overstays.
In some cases, you can qualify for a permanent residency in less than 10 years e.g. If your spouse is a Japanese national, permanent resident or special permanent resident and you have been married for 3 years or more, you can apply for the PR after living in Japan for 1 year or more.
You can also apply for the PR if you have lived in Japan for 5 years or more with long term resident or refugee status. You can also qualify for a PR after 5 years if the Japanese government decides that you have made substantial economic, social, cultural or diplomatic contributions to Japan.
1. Choosing a school
You will want to find a school that fits your style since every school has its own environment and course structure.2. Understand the application process
It usually takes 2 to 3 months for Immigration to approve a visa application and then issue the COE (Confirmation of Enrolment), so patience is required. Once the COE is received, take it along with the visa application form, photos and a valid passport to the Japanese embassy or consulate in your city. The Embassy will issue the student visa, which can take 3 – 7 days.3. Preparation of all the documents required for the COE
4. After receiving the COE
After receiving the COE, make an appointment at the nearest Japanese embassy in the city to apply for the actual visa. If you are changing your current visa to a student visa, your school should be able to assist you. If you currently have a tourist visa, you will be required to go back home and apply at the embassy. Following will be the required documents:Around 75% of international students in Japan are working part-time. While engaging in part-time work, it is important to abide by the conditions that are stated below. Failure to do so may result in punishment and even deportation from the country.
Is it interesting to note that every year, international students are forced to leave Japan since they are not able to extend their period of authorized stay due to their low school attendance which is due to working part-time and mostly neglecting their studies. A student has to be very careful not to let this happen.
It is imperative to not get distracted from the purpose of studying or working too hard that it results in damaging your health. Hence, while working part-time, it will be beneficial to keep certain questions in mind, like :
You can ask the school you are enrolled in, to provide you with some information on good potential part-time jobs that will be suitable for you.
