Study in Japan Without Japanese: English-Taught Degrees Guide

You can do a full bachelor's in Japan in English. The universities and programs to look at, the scholarships beyond MEXT, what you need to apply, the real costs, and what comes after.

Many students think you can only study in Japan after learning Japanese. Then they see how hard Japanese looks and give up on Japan completely.

That's not true. Japanese universities offer full degrees taught in English. Some of my own friends did their undergraduate degree in Japan in English and then went to another country for their master's.

So if you want to study in Japan but can't (or don't want to) learn Japanese first, or you don't plan to build a long-term career in Japan, this is your blueprint. I spent days researching guidelines and official sites for it. Grab a notebook.

Three types of universities 🏛️

Type	Run by	Example	Cost
National	Japan's national government	University of Tokyo	Lowest
Public	Local governments (prefectures, cities)	University of Aizu	Low to moderate
Private	Private institutions	Waseda University	Highest

Official averages for the first year (admission plus tuition) are about ¥820,000 at national universities, ¥910,000 at local public universities, and ¥1,300,000 at private universities (excluding medicine, dentistry and pharmacy). If cost matters to you, national universities should be your first target.

And honestly? Opportunity doesn't depend on the university. I've seen students at top private universities waste great chances, and students at less famous ones work hard, stack their skills, and land great jobs or master's abroad. It depends on how you approach it.

Which university for your subject? 🎓

These are English-taught options worth researching, by field. Check each university's current programs, as they change.

You want to study	Look at
Computer science, IT, AI, data science	Waseda University (computer science and communications engineering), University of Aizu (computer science and IT)
Mechanical engineering	Waseda University, Tohoku University
Automotive and electrical engineering	Nagoya University
Aerospace engineering	Tohoku University
Civil engineering, mathematics	Waseda University
Physics, chemistry, biology, biotechnology	Nagoya University (G30), Hokkaido University (Integrated Science Program)
Business, management, economics	APU (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University), Nagoya University (G30 social sciences), Waseda University
Liberal arts, international relations, global studies	Hiroshima University (IGS), Waseda, APU, Nagoya

A few programs in more detail

Nagoya University G30 (Aichi, national). "G30" stands for Global 30, its English-taught programs, covering sciences, engineering, economics and business. It has scholarships before and after arrival, including MEXT university-recommendation places. Competition is high, but Indian students do get in.
Waseda University (Tokyo, private). A big, well-known university with English programs from economics and social sciences to computer science and engineering, so good for both commerce and PCM students.
Tohoku University (Sendai, national). Competitive. Known for English programs in mechanical and aerospace engineering, molecular chemistry and marine biology.
APU (Beppu, private). Strong in international management and business. It runs a tuition reduction system with several levels, up to 100%.
Hokkaido University (Sapporo, national). Its Integrated Science Program (ISP) is well known, with scholarship options.
Hiroshima University IGS (national). A four-year English-taught program on global issues: culture, tourism, peace, environment, society.
Kyoto University iUP (International Undergraduate Program). Worth researching for its fee waivers and allowances.

"Is there an AI degree in Japan?"

Students often search for a degree literally called "AI" or "robotics". In most universities, these are skills inside computer science, IT or engineering degrees. Open the curriculum of a CS program and you'll find AI, machine learning, data science, robotics and programming inside it.

What about medicine?

Medicine in Japan is a six-year degree, and clinical medicine is taught in Japanese, with almost nothing in English. To practise medicine in Japan you'll need very high Japanese, around N2 to N1. So English-taught medicine isn't really an option.

Scholarships beyond MEXT 💴

There isn't one big scholarship that everyone competes for. There are many kinds, from universities, the government, companies and local governments:

University admission scholarships: support at the time of admission.
Tuition waivers: the university reduces your tuition by part or all of it.
University fellowships: may cover tuition and enrollment fees, and sometimes a stipend for living costs.
JASSO's Honors Scholarship for privately financed students: a monthly payment, ¥48,000 a month for undergraduates on JASSO's site, for students your school nominates. Schools have their own criteria, like attendance, grades or the EJU.
MEXT university-recommendation track: the same MEXT scholarship (fees waived plus a monthly allowance), but applied for through an eligible university program instead of the embassy. You apply on the university's portal, the university shortlists, and MEXT approves. Hiroshima's IGS and Nagoya's G30 are examples. Each university runs its own process: some only screen documents and interview, others add a written exam.
Program-specific scholarships: APU's tuition reduction, Nagoya G30's waivers and stipends, Hokkaido ISP's fee waivers, Kyoto iUP's support.
Private and company scholarships: foundations and companies such as Mitsui, Rotary Yoneyama, Kyoritsu, Sumitomo, Rakuten and Toyota have programs, each with its own rules. The Study in Japan site also lists scholarships from local governments.

Don't forget post-arrival scholarships

Many students think: "If I don't get a scholarship before I go, I can't go." Wrong. Many scholarships are given after you arrive. Some universities say plainly in their guidelines that students in real financial need may get fee waivers or a stipend.

A friend of mine applied for MEXT and didn't get it. He went to Nagoya University anyway, got a post-arrival scholarship, finished his master's, and now works in Tokyo. Search for post-arrival scholarships at every university you shortlist.

What you'll need to apply 📋

Every university is different, so read its guidelines. Generally:

12 years of schooling. Competitive national universities value strong academics, but they also weigh tests, English and essays.
English proficiency: usually IELTS or TOEFL iBT. Many programs ask for roughly IELTS 5.5–6 or TOEFL 71–80, but check yours.
A standardised test for some programs: the SAT or ACT, the English-program equivalent of the EJU.
The application pack: class 10 and 12 marksheets, a Statement of Purpose, letters of recommendation, extracurricular certificates, financial documents (your sponsor's income proof, such as ITRs), photos, passport, and the application form.

How to stand out

A good English test score.
A real Statement of Purpose: why Japan, your background, what you want to do there.
Grades that are as strong as you can make them.
Proof of interest in your field. Want mechanical engineering? Show online courses, certificates and projects.

What does it really cost? 💰

Tuition is the first-year average above. Living costs depend heavily on the city: Tokyo is the most expensive. Our Study in Japan from India guide has the official figures.

Part-time work changes the maths

International students can work part-time, up to 28 hours a week with permission from immigration. Many self-funded students do. Friends of mine who work about four hours a day, four days a week, earn roughly ¥80,000–95,000 a month, which covers a big part of their monthly living costs.

Can you study and work four days a week after class? If yes, Japan becomes far more affordable.

After graduation: two pathways 🛤️

1. Work in Japan

What your degree can lead to:

Degree	Possible directions
Computer science	Software engineer, systems engineer, IT
Mechanical engineering	Manufacturing, automotive, product development
Electrical engineering	Industrial technology, electrical engineering
Business administration	Marketing, business development, finance
Economics	Financial analyst, consulting

These are directions, not guarantees. And how much Japanese you need depends on the employer:

Japanese companies (and some multinationals) usually need strong Japanese.
Multinationals, foreign companies in Japan and startups often hire on skills, with little or no Japanese.

People say Japan's work culture is terrible. It depends on the company and the person. I have a friend in an all-Japanese company who loves his team, goes for nomikai (work drinks) and has made Japanese friends.

If you're not yet strong enough for a multinational, start at a Japanese company, a foreign company or a startup, build skills and experience, and move up.

2. A master's, in Japan or abroad

You can do your master's in Japan, or use your English-taught degree to go to another country. I have friends doing exactly that, including one now doing a PhD in Germany. And if you want to come back to India after studying in Japan, that's completely your choice.

What to do right now ✅

Whether you're in class 10, 11, 12, on a gap year or in college, start now:

Research which of these universities fits your subject.
Check the requirements in each one's guidelines.
Learn the timeline. If applications open in April for an October start, your documents and SOP need to be ready before April.
Prepare. Start your SOP today, read examples, and ask people already in these programs on LinkedIn for feedback.

And never give up. I know people who applied three years in a row and got in on the fourth. If you can't reach something yet, it just means you need to become better. That part is in your control.

For full guidance on scholarships, including MEXT, university tracks and other options, FS – Future's Scholar is our mentorship program. And even for an English-taught degree, some Japanese makes daily life in Japan much easier. Start with our free course.