Language School or Bekka → Doctoral Program

Study at a Japanese language school or bekka first to strengthen your Japanese and prepare for a doctoral application.

  • Who it suitsApplicants holding a master's degree or above who meet the eligibility of the target doctoral program. For some majors such as medicine, bachelor's degree holders may also apply.
  • DurationThe language school or bekka stage usually lasts one to two years, and the doctoral course usually three years, or four years for some majors such as medicine.

Route overview

Japanese study Research application and selection Enrollment

Who it suits

Applicants with relevant study and research experience who meet the eligibility of the target doctoral program and wish to pursue further research.

Preparation and documents

Eligibility documents, a research plan, existing research outputs and language materials. Contact the research team or supervisor and prepare for the selection as required by the program.

Good to know

The academic and research requirements of the doctoral program must be checked first. The language study stage cannot replace these conditions and does not mean one can skip levels into a doctorate.

Six-step roadmap

  1. Confirm Eligibility and Goals

    First check the eligibility, graduation timing and required preparation for doctoral programs, and clarify your research direction and target schools.

  2. Choose and Apply to a Language School or Bekka

    Choose the preparatory course based on your goals, learn about the support it offers, and prepare and submit the application documents.

  3. Complete Procedures and Depart for Japan

    Complete admission, certificate of eligibility and visa arrangements, and enter the chosen course according to the intake schedule.

  4. Language Study and Exam Preparation

    Strengthen your Japanese as needed and refine your research plan and the application documents required by the program.

  5. Apply and Take the Selection

    Separately apply to the doctoral program and take the written exam, interview or document screening as required.

  6. Enter the Target Program after Passing

    After passing the doctoral program selection, enroll and conduct research according to the training requirements.

EJU and preparation courses

EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission) assesses the Japanese ability and basic academic skills needed to apply to undergraduate courses in Japan. Confirm the subjects and score requirements of your target university first, then plan Japanese and subject preparation.

EJU foundation courses：EJU Japanese, EJU academic Japanese and EJU Japanese basics.

EJU subject courses：Liberal arts: comprehensive subject and mathematics. Sciences: mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. Choose the subject combination required by your target university.

EJU high-score courses：Intensive reading, listening, listening-reading and writing; plus comprehensive liberal arts, Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and science subjects.

You can learn about EJU and related courses; whether to study them depends on your own plan. Requirements for this stage are checked separately, and EJU is not a general admission condition.

Learn about EJU courses Free study-in-Japan consultation

Related links

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