Recognized Higher Education Institution

Q&A

Japanese Education System

Q: I would like to know whether a particular higher education institution is a recognized Japanese higher education institution and, if so, when it was recognized.

A: The list of higher education institutions on this website includes all recognized Japanese higher education institutions* in existence as of the time stated in the Institution List Policy. The list also includes some, but not all, abolished institutions. If you cannot find the institution you are looking for on this list, please first refer to the “Tips for Searching” on the Institution List Policy page. If this does not help you find it, please contact us here.

Many Japanese institutions of higher education have English or alphabetical names, but only the Japanese names of such institutions are checked from the viewpoint of legal compliance when their establishment is approved. This means it is more accurate to use the Japanese name for your search when confirming whether a higher education institution is recognized.

To identify when a university, junior college, or College of Technology (KOSEN) was approved, please see the “History” section for the relevant institution in the "National Directory of Universities”, “National Directory of Junior Colleges” and “National Directory of Colleges of Technology (KOSEN)”. If you have any questions about how to find relevant information, please contact us here.
NIC-Japan does not collect information on the date that Professional Training Colleges were approved for establishment. If necessary, please inquire with the prefectural government or its board of education responsible for the school in question providing the Japanese name of the school and the program (course). If the contact information for the relevant prefectural government or its board of education cannot be found, please contact us here.

(*) Here, “Higher education institutions" refers to universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, Colleges of Technology (KOSEN), and Professional Training Colleges (excluding prefectural colleges of agriculture), as well as the National College of Nursing Japan, the Polytechnic University, and the National Fisheries University (which are educational institutions operated by government ministries and agencies), as based upon the guideline published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (Tokyo Convention) (MEXT, 2019).