Japan Student Services Organisation’s (JASSO) latest survey of international students in Japan shows the country is approaching its long-standing target of 300,000 overseas students.

The survey covers international students who were studying at universities, junior colleges, vocational colleges, specialised training colleges, and Japanese language schools in Japan as of May 2018.

Key findings:

• The total number of international students was 298,980, an increase of 12% on the previous year. This was the sixth consecutive annual increase.

• 93% of students were from Asia with China (114,950), Vietnam (72,354), and Nepal (24,331) the top three sending countries.

• There was a 10% increase in the number of students from the UK (703 students against 640 in 2017). Short term courses (up to one academic year) at higher education institutions were most popular with 62% of students taking these programmes.

• Universities, junior colleges and vocational colleges together accounted for 46% of students. Japanese language schools and specialised training colleges accounted for 30% and 25% of students respectively. 

• Social Scicenes was the most popular discipline accounting for 35% of students, followed by Humanities (24%), and Engineering (17%).

The target of 300,000 international students by 2020 was set in 2008 by the then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.  At the time, there were around 123,000 overseas students in Japan, so it has been a remarkable decade of growth for the country.  This expansion has been driven by a series of internationalisation initiatives including the Global 30 Project (2008-2014), and Top Global Universities Project (2014-present) which have provided funding for universities to increase their foreign faculty count and introduce degree programmes taught entirely in English (as of March 2018, there were more than 850 degree programmes offered in English).  In a bid to attract foreign students, many universities have also increased their scholarships, introduced September admissions and summer programmes, and expanded provision of student accommodation.  Six successive years of growth in overseas students suggests these changes have had a significant impact and it’s reasonable to say that Japan is fast becoming a major player in the international student market.    

In terms of UK students studying in Japan, while the total number remains comparatively small, it has risen some 42% since 2015.   With a growing range of programmes delivered in English, comparatively low tuition fees, generous scholarship opportunities, and rich cultural experiences on offer, it’s easy to see why more UK students are choosing to study in Japan.  UK universities looking to boost outbound mobility are encouraged to introduce Japan as a potential study abroad destination to your students.  An excellent way for students to learn about study and research opportunities in Japan is to attend the Experience Japan Exhibition. This event, which is held annually in London in November, is organised by Keio University in partnership with the British Council and aims to showcase the growing range of study and research options available in Japan, as well as to provide an opportunity for students to discuss their study plans with Japanese university staff face-to-face. Details of this year’s exhibition will be released on the event website later this year.  Another resource that will be of use to students interested in Japan is the JASSO Gateway to Japan website, which provides information on study options, scholarships, student life and much more.