The modern education system in Japan was established in 1872 and has a long history of over 100 years. The system went through a major reform in 1947, and the present structure was created. It is normally called a 6-3-3-4 system--6 years in elementary school, 3 years in lower secondary school, 3 years in upper secondary school, and 4 years in college or university. The first nine years of elementary and lower secondary school are compulsory. Even though the compulsory education is only up to lower secondary school, over 95 percent of the graduated students go on to upper secondary schools. These days higher education is also popular among young people. More than 45 percent of those students are enrolled in colleges, junior colleges and 4-year universities.

Higher education

There are three types of institutions of higher education in Japan--university, junior college and colleges of technology. Those who apply to junior colleges and universities must have completed their 12 years of formal school. This rule is also used for applicants from abroad. It is necessary to have graduated from a Japanese high school or to have completed equivalent of schooling in your home country.

Universities

1) Undergraduate course
Japanese universities are classified into three categories depending on their administration. National, local public and private. Currently, the total number of universities is about 600. National universities are placed throughout the country, one or more in each prefecture. Local public and private universities are also located all over the country. A university usually consists of many faculties with many departments, and within each department there are courses offered for specific fields of study.

The academic year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31 of the following year. Though vacations are slightly different between universities, summer vacation is usually from the middle of July to the start of September, winter vacation is from the end of December to the first week of January, and spring vacation is from the end of February to the start of April.

Most universities use a two-semester system. A credit system is used except for courses of medical science and dentistry. At the end of the course, you have to pass the final test and get enough attendance to receive credits.

To graduate from a university , one is required to be in the university for at least 4 years (and 6 years for medical science, dentistry or veterinary medicine course students) and to obtain at least the required course credits in compliance with the regulations of the university.

Graduated students are entitled to receive the Bachelor's Degree. It is classified according to the subject that one majors in. The university will publish a diploma and a certificate of graduation.



2) Graduate schools
Graduate schools offer a master's course that requires at least two years of study, and a doctorate course that requires atleast three years of study. In the case of medical science, dentistry or veterinary medicine, however, there is only a doctorate course lasting four years.

As a rule, for entrance into a graduate program one must have finish 16 years of school education (university graduation), or 15 years of standard school education in a foreign country and have been recognized as an outstanding scholar by the graduate school.

Graduate schools use the credit system like undergraduate programs, though students are also required to pass the examination on their master's thesis. Those who have finished the master's course will recieve an MA (master's degree) and those who have finished the doctoral course are given a ph.D (doctorate degree).


Junior colleges

At a junior college students learn various specialized subjects , related to their future careers or useful in their practical lives. Requirement for admission to a junior college is the completion of the upper secondary school or its equivalent --same as that for a university. Junior colleges offer a two-year or three-year course in various fields.