Childbirth・Parenting・Education
Education
The Japanese education system consists of six years of elementary school, three years of junior high school, three years of senior high school, and four years of college (or two years of junior college). Before entering elementary school, children can go to kindergarten.
Elementary and junior high school
- Elementary school education (6～12 years old) and junior high school education (12～15 years old) are compulsory. The school year starts in April and ends in March of the following year.
- There are public and private schools. Public schools offer tuition fees and textbooks free of charge.
- Children of foreign nationalities are entitled to receive elementary and junior high school education equally just like Japanese children. If you want to enroll your child in public schools, please apply to the municipal office in your town.
- There are also special schools for physically/mentally-challenged children.
Senior high school
- Those who have graduated from junior high school can get enrolled in senior high school if they take the entrance exam and pass it.
- There are public and private senior high schools. Tuition fees and textbooks are not free.
- There are 12 schools in Ibaraki prefecture that offer “part-time courses.” Students can attend classes at night.
- Some schools offer “correspondence courses” where students study online.
Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education
Colleges and Universities・Junior Colleges・Professional Training Colleges
- Those who have graduated from high schools can get enrolled in higher educational institutions (e.g. universities or professional training colleges), if they take an entrance exam and pass it.
- If you studied abroad or at an international school, please check this website.
Admissions eligibility in Japan’s universities (Japanese・English)
Financial support for education
Financial support for elementary and junior high students
Expenses for school supplies (such as uniforms, school bags, and stationery), school trips, and school lunches will be covered. Elementary and junior high students whose parents have low income are eligible for this assistance.
For detail, please contact the board of education in your town.
High School Tuition Support Fund
- Tuition fees will be free for students who go to public senior high school, except for students whose parents have high income.
- Private senior high-school students can also receive financial aid to cover part of their tuition, except for students whose parents have high income.
- You can apply at your school.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- High School Tuition Support Fund (Japanese)
- Substantive Free Education at Private High Schools (English)
High School Supplemental Scholarship Fund
High-school students whose parents have low income can receive financial aid to cover expenses other than tuition fees, such as textbooks and school supplies.
If you want to get a loan/scholarship in Ibaraki prefecture, please see the following page.
Scholarship for university students
- Scholarships are provided by various organizations such as the Japanese government, local governments, universities, and private companies.
- National scholarships consist of two types:
①Grant type：you do not need to pay it back
②Student loan type：you have to pay it back little by little after graduation (some student-loan type scholarships have interest charges while others don’t) - Foreign nationals are also eligible for national scholarships if they have a permanent resident status or if they have a Japanese family member.
- There are also scholarships that foreign exchange students can receive.
See the following links for scholarship information for foreigners