How to Study in Japan without IELTS

If you have made up your mind to study in Japan, then get ready to experience loads of possibilities. If you didn’t know, Japan has some of the best low tuition university programs in the world. By immersing yourself in a culture that pushes for excellence in every human endeavor, you will find yourself constantly motivated to do your best every day.

There are roughly 298,000 international students in Japan. Most of them are Japanese language students but undergraduate students are equally many. You may wonder do all of these undergraduate students understand Japanese to a level that allows them to pursue university studies? Not necessarily. Japanese universities run a wide range of programs that are taught entirely in English.

However, this has its own set of problems. Is an IELTS required when applying to an English-based program in a Japanese university? Not always. There are alternative ways that you can study in Japan without IELTS. In so doing, you will save cash and continue on the road towards studying in Japan.

How to Study in Japan without IELTS

1. Study in Japanese

If you have a keen interest in Japanese culture and have been taking a language program, you may have a level sufficient to pursue higher studies in the language. You will be required to prove your proficiency in Japanese but once you do, the language will not be an issue for you. The test to determine your Japanese level is called the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. This method is the simplest way to study in Japan without IELTS.

2. Attend a Japanese language school

You could become part of more than 90,000 students that are currently learning Japanese in Japan. If you’re determined to not only learn the language but also take on a new life in this country, this could be a fantastic option for you. Studying the language while being immersed in Japanese culture and practicing the language at the same time is a great way to speed up your learning process. On top of that, if you would like to pursue tertiary studies afterwards, you can wait until you have gotten to the necessary level. Then, you go on and apply to a program that’s taught in Japanese. By the time you complete your program, you will be fluent in the language and you’ll have improved chances of pursuing job opportunities in the country.

3. You won’t need IELTS if you’re a native speaker

If you can prove that you’re a native English speaker, then you won’t be expected to present the IELTS as proof of proficiency in the language. Rather, you’ll need to provide a copy of your passport and, in some cases, your birth certificate as well.

Your high school education was in English

Assuming you attended school in an English-speaking country, you will not be expected to sit for the IELTS. Graduation from such an institution is sufficient proof enough that you speak the language, even if you’re not a citizen of that country. Furthermore, if your school was not located in an English-speaking country but they taught the classes in English, you can study in Japan without IELTS. However, you need to provide sufficient evidence that your education was in English.

5. Submit other English tests

IELTS is not the only English sufficiency test accepted by Japanese universities as proof of proficiency in Japanese. Infact, you can submit your scores in tests such as TOEFL and Cambridge tests. Typically, the scores required for admission might vary between universities and between the programs on offer.

Universities in Japan without IELTS Requirements

Please find below some of the universities that offer English-based courses without the need to submit IELTS scores in Japan. Please be informed that this list is not exhaustive, implying that it doesn’t include all the universities in Japan that do not require IELTS score.

University of Tokyo

This university is one of the most coveted universities in the country, and is regarded as the best institution in Japan. For English-taught programs, students can submit TOEFL scores or Cambridge English Qualifications, which vary according to the program applied for. Also, you are able to study in Japan without IELTS if you received your high school education in English for at least four of the five first years of basic education and five of the secondary six years of education.

University of Tsukuba

The University of Tsukuba is equally located in Tokyo and it offers English taught programs as well. The requirements for admission to these courses include submitting TOEFL scores, which vary according to the program in question. For example, the scores’ requirements are usually higher for students seeking medical programs. .

Hiroshima University

This institution equally offers English-taught courses that require proof of English proficiency before you are admitted. They accept TOEFL scores unless you are a native speaker of the language in which case no proof is required. However if you’re not a native speaker but attended school in English, then a letter from your lecturer stating your proficiency is enough proof of your knowledge of the language.

Meiji University

Meiji University provides a variety of ways to prove your English proficiency. A minimum score of 80 if you submit your TOEFL results will be sufficient proof. In addition, you can submit your SAT scores or your ACT results to prove you’re good in the language.

These schools shown above are only some of the universities with English-based programs that accept proof of English sufficiency other than the IELTS. However, there are other ways to study in Japan without submitting IELTS. Although, there are not many of such options for undergraduate programs in English. Most of these universities offer two options, one in social sciences and the other in medical sciences.