Coming to study from Japan

If you want to take an undergraduate course with us but do not yet have the qualifications needed to apply, we may offer a foundation course that will enable you to qualify and secure a place. 

The Japanese equivalents for their entry requirements will depend on which of these one-year intensive introductions you apply for.  

Foundation year for engineering, maths or physics

The Foundation year for engineering, maths or physics prepares you to take up one of 19 undergraduate degrees in engineering, maths or physics.

To apply for it you need:

• an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate, Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho
• with overall grades of 3.5 out of 5, or 7 out of 10
• and with at least 4.0 out of 5, or 8 out of 10 in subjects relevant to the course you choose

Science Foundation Year

The Science Foundation Year prepares you to take many of our science undergraduate degrees (but not medicine).

To apply for it you need:

• an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate, Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho
• with overall grades of 3.5 out of 5, or 7 out of 10
• and with at least 4.0 out of 5, or 8 out of 10 in subjects relevant to the course you choose

OnCampus undergraduate foundation programmes

The OnCampus undergraduate foundation programmes prepare international students for degrees in:

• Art and design
• Business, economics, finance and management
• Humanities and social sciences
• Engineering and physical sciences
• Life sciences

They include English language study and will secure you a place on your chosen degree if you complete the foundation programme successfully.

To apply for one of these foundation programmes you need:

• an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate, Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho or Centre Test
• with overall grades of 3.5 out of 5, or 7 out of 10
• and with at least 3.5 in mathematics

Most of our undergraduate degrees take 3 years to complete full time and award a bachelor’s degree in the field you study.

To study with us at undergraduate level, you typically need one of the following, with a minimum grade dependent on the course you're applying for:

• an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate, plus successful completion of a recognised foundation programme
• UK A levels with grades from BBC to A*AA
• an International Baccalaureate (IB) score of between 28 and 38 points
• completion of the first year of an undergraduate course at a Japanese university
• an associate degree or junior college diploma with a minimum average grade of 70%

See your course page for the exact requirements you'll need to meet.

The OnCampus pre-master's programmes prepare international students for studying at the master’s degree level. They take place over 2 semesters and focus on improving English language, study and research skills.

If you have a UK 2:2 degree equivalent rather than a 2:1, successfully completing a programme will secure you a place on your chosen degree.

To apply for a pre-master's programme, you need:

• English language skills from 5.0 IELTS or equivalent (with no single element less than 5.0)

Our postgraduate taught degrees involve more advanced study and usually take 1 year, depending on the course. Degrees awarded include master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas and certificates.

To apply, you need all of the following:  

• a bachelor's degree (Gakushi)
• a subject credit certificate (Gakujyou Seiseki Shoumei-sho)

Depending on which course you apply for, your minimum grade requirement will be a:

• first class UK degree equivalent, with a grade of 90%, or 3.7 out of 4.0
• UK 2:1 degree equivalent, with a grade of 80%, or 3.0 out of 4.0
• UK 2:2 degree equivalent, with a grade of 70%, or 2.5 out of 4.0

See your course page for the exact requirement.

To study for a PhD or research degree with us, you need all of the following:

• a 2:1 undergraduate honours degree, or better
• a master's degree with at least a score of merit, which in Japan is either:
  • 80%, with half Bs and half Cs (A to F scale)
  • 80%, with half As and half Bs (S to F scale)
• a strong research proposal

Qualifying degrees must have been awarded by a recognised university.