What is Required to Enroll in a Japanese Language School, including 150 hours of Study History and Many Other Prerequisites?

2023/11/18

In this article, we will answer some of the questions that people who are considering enrolling in a Japanese language school in Japan may have.

Can someone who has never studied Japanese before enroll in a Japanese language school?

At the very least, you will need to have mastered basic everyday greetings, self-introductions, and simple Japanese language skills such as reading and writing hiragana and katakana. This is because at least 150 hours of study history is required as a criterion for those who obtain a student visa. A certificate of 150 hours of study may be required when applying to a Japanese language school. For your information, we can issue a certificate by taking 150 hours of online Japanese language lessons.

In fact, a 150-hours Japanese language study requirement is imposed by the Japanese Immigration Bureau. You will be required to submit official documentation (such as a certificate of course completion) proving that you have previously studied Japanese for at least 150 hours in an official Japanese language program.

This prerequisite helps to crack down on fraudulent visa applications and serves to prove that you want to learn the language, not just come to Japan to work.

Why is the Japanese language study requirement set at “150 hours”?

Many of you may have wondered why the “150 hours” study requirement in the first place. The reason for this is clear: if you look at how much study time it takes to take the JLPT, it takes roughly 150 hours on average to pass the JLPT N5, the lowest level. 150 hours of Japanese language study is a measure of your willingness and ability to study in Japan. In other words, it shows that you are truly serious about your commitment to enrolling in a Japanese language school.

※She is one of our students, to prove that she needed to follow a 150-hour program of learning Japanese in order to go study in Japan. https://nihongo-career.com/tips/2024/06/08/galane-david-san-france-6-month-with-150-hours-course/

What can replace the 150 hours of Japanese language study requirement?

If you decide to attend a Japanese language school in Japan, you will need to fulfill the study requirement of 150 hours of Japanese language lessons with a few exceptions.

Here are the few exceptions we speak of. First, you must obtain a certificate of passing the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) from N5 to N4. You may also present other certificates that the Japanese Immigration Bureau deems equivalent to JLPT N5 or higher. The following are some examples.

BJT (Business Japanese Proficiency Test) with a score of 300 or above

・ JPT with a score of 315 or above

・Certification of Japanese NAT-TEST Level 5 or above

・Acquired STBJ (Standard Test of Business Japanese) 350 points or above

Why Japanese online lessons are the best way to fulfill the 150 hours of Japanese language study requirement?

While there are ways to take Japanese language classes within your home country prior to studying in Japan, online Japanese lessons are the best option considering the time and location constraints. In addition, since many Japanese language schools require students to submit a certificate of attendance to prove that they have completed 150 hours of Japanese language study in order to enroll in the school, it is best to choose a provider that offers a service that will issue a certificate of attendance to prove that you have completed 150 hours of Japanese language study. For reference, our online Japanese language school provides the following certificate for 150 hours of online Japanese language lessons.

He is one of our students completed 15 hours of studying Japanese. https://aayush.io/posts/studying-japanese/

Can I enroll in a Japanese language school even if I did not graduate from high school in my home country?

In most cases, if you are staying in Japan for the sole purpose of studying Japanese, you can enroll in a Japanese language school. However, if you wish to enter a university or vocational school in Japan, you must have graduated from high school (completed 12 years of education) to apply.

However, if you enroll in (or transfer to) a high school in Japan and graduate from that high school, you will of course be eligible for higher education.

Can junior high school and elementary school students enroll?

In principle, most schools require students to be at least 17 years old to enroll in a Japanese language school. However, exceptions may be made if the student is 14 years of age or older, lives with his/her parent or guardian, has no problems with personal security on or off campus, and the Japanese language school conducts an interview in person and determines that there are no problems. However, even in such cases, there are often conditions, such as the applicant must plan to continue his/her studies at a Japanese school after studying Japanese.

What is a Certificate of Eligibility?

If you wish to study in Japan, you must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. This certificate is issued by the Ministry of Justice (Tokyo Immigration Bureau). Since the applicant cannot apply directly, a Japanese language school or other institution will apply to the Immigration Bureau on your behalf. With the certificate, you can apply for a student visa at the nearest embassy. The student visa will be issued in about 4 days, depending on your nationality.