International School Graduates

Foreign Credential Evaluations (in general)

Q：How should qualifications awarded by international schools be evaluated?

A：Graduation from an international school (school for foreign nationals) located in Japan is recognized as a qualification for admission to universities if the school is designated as being equivalent to upper secondary schools of the relevant foreign country by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. If the completed curriculum is less than 12 years, the person must also complete a designated college preparatory course.

Schools for foreign nationals designated in Japan as being equivalent to upper secondary schools of foreign countries (in Japanese)

The admission qualification is also recognized if, regardless of whether an international school is located in Japan or another country, the person has completed 12 years of education at an educational facility accredited by one of the international accreditation agencies (WASC, CIS, ACSI, NEASC).

1. If a school is accredited by WASC, CIS, ACSI, or NEASC, its graduates are qualified for admission to universities and Professional Training Colleges in Japan.

1. WASC: Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges
   Directory of Schools
2. CIS: Council of International Schools
   Membership Directory
3. ACSI: Association of Christian Schools International
   Find a School
4. NEASC: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
   School Directory

2. If a school is not accredited by any of the above agencies, it is recommended to check if the completed program has led to foreign university admission qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), the German Abitur, the French Baccalauréate, or General Certificate of Education (GCE) A Level. The person who has those qualifications could be qualified for Japanese university admission. For example, some international schools provide International Baccalaureate programs. Please refer to submitted certificates to make an assessment.

In some cases, a student may be eligible for admission based on an institution’s individual admission qualification assessment.

<Reference> MEXT website　Q&A regarding university admissions qualifications > Q5. I will be graduating from an international school (school for foreigners). Will I have the qualifications to enter a Japanese university?

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Q: Can a person who graduated an international school located outside Japan and is 17-year-old be admitted to a university in Japan?