Study in Japan 2027: The International Student Guide
Cutting-edge technology, rich cultural traditions and generous MEXT scholarships. Your complete guide to studying in Japan — cities, costs, housing and student life, with the official 2026 figures.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Why study in Japan?
Japan mixes cutting-edge technology with deep cultural traditions, and it pays some of the most generous government scholarships in the world through MEXT. Academic fees are far lower than in the United States or the United Kingdom, and many Japanese schools run their own scholarships and tuition exemption or reduction schemes for international students.
It is also a fast-growing destination. According to JASSO's International Student Survey, Japan hosted 408,069 international students on 1 May 2025, up from 336,708 a year earlier and well above the previous peak of 312,214 in 2019. There are 812 universities to choose from: 85 national, 103 public and 624 private (MEXT School Basic Survey, 2025).
Japan at a glance: money
Here is what studying in Japan costs, in round numbers. The official figures come from JASSO's Study in Japan site; city-level budgets elsewhere in this guide are our own estimates.
| Item | Typical amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly living cost (excluding study costs) | ¥105,000 | JASSO 2023 lifestyle survey |
| Average monthly rent | ¥41,000 nationally, ¥57,000 in Tokyo | JASSO 2023 lifestyle survey |
| Monthly living cost, range across cities and lifestyles | ¥65,000–¥195,000 | Our estimate |
| First-year admission + tuition, national university | approx. ¥820,000 | JASSO |
| First-year admission + tuition, private university (non-medical) | approx. ¥1,100,000–¥1,300,000 | JASSO |
| Student visa fee (applications from 1 July 2026) | approx. ¥15,000 single-entry (¥30,000 multiple) | MOFA |
| MEXT research student stipend | ¥143,000–¥145,000 a month | MEXT |
A MEXT research stipend of ¥143,000–¥145,000 a month roughly matches a moderate Tokyo budget and is comfortable in Osaka, Sendai or Fukuoka. See the MEXT scholarship amount page for every category.
The essentials before you go
These rules come from Japan's Immigration Services Agency and JASSO. Your school will walk you through most of them.
- Student status of residence. Degree, language-school and vocational students enter on the “Student” status, granted for up to 4 years and 3 months at a time.
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE) first, visa second. Your accepting school normally applies for the COE on your behalf at a regional immigration bureau. Once it is issued, you take it to the Japanese embassy or consulate at home to get your visa. You may be asked to prove you can pay your expenses (bank balance, income certificate, sponsor documents).
- The visa fee went up on 1 July 2026. Japan’s embassies now charge about ¥15,000 for a single-entry visa and about ¥30,000 for a multiple-entry visa, paid in local currency (it was about ¥3,000 before). Depending on your nationality and purpose, the fee may be waived or different, and you pay nothing if the visa is refused. Source: MOFA, Visa Fees.
- Part-time work needs permission. With comprehensive permission you can work up to 28 hours a week, or up to 8 hours a day during your school's long vacations. First-time arrivals staying over three months can apply at the airport.
- National Health Insurance is compulsory. Anyone staying three months or more must join NHI at the municipal office after registering their address. It covers 70% of medical bills; you pay 30%.
- Residence card and My Number. You receive a residence card on arrival and an Individual Number after registering your address.
Requirements change. Confirm the details with your school and the official immigration guide.
Explore the Japan guide
Compare Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka and more student cities.
Budget calculator and cost breakdowns for Japanese cities.
University dorms, share houses and apartment hunting tips in Japan.
Culture, part-time work rules, transport and daily life as a student in Japan.
Scholarships for Japan
The MEXT Scholarship is the Japanese Government scholarship for international students. It covers tuition, a monthly living allowance and round-trip flights.
Eligibility, embassy and university tracks, deadlines and the application step by step.
What life on the MEXT stipend looks like after you arrive.