University Study Guide
Understand how admission, fees, lectures, exams and disability support work at the Open University of Japan, so that you can choose the student type and study style that suits you.
The Open University of Japan (Hōsō Daigaku, 放送大学) is a distance-learning university that teaches through TV, radio and the internet (Faculty of Liberal Arts). It has about 90,000 students across Japan. There is no academic entrance exam; admission is based on documents only. You can enter twice a year, in April and October.
Student types differ by whether you aim for a degree and how long you are enrolled. A full-time degree student (zenka rishūsei, 全科履修生) who studies for at least four years and earns 124 or more credits receives a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (gakushi (kyōyō), 学士（教養）); you can stay enrolled for up to 10 years. To become a degree student, you must be 18 or older and qualified for university entrance, for example by graduating from high school or passing the Certificate for Students Achieving the Proficiency Level of Upper Secondary School Graduates (kōsotsu nintei, 高卒認定). People without that qualification can still become degree students by earning at least 16 credits from designated courses as a non-degree student. Non-degree students (senka rishūsei, 選科履修生, and kamoku rishūsei, 科目履修生) can enroll if they are 15 or older and take only the courses they are interested in.
| Student type | Enrollment period | Admission fee |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time degree student | 4 years or more (up to 10) | 24,000 yen |
| Non-degree student (1 year) | 1 year (2 semesters) | 9,000 yen |
| Non-degree student (1 semester) | Half a year (1 semester) | 7,000 yen |
Tuition is 6,000 yen per credit for every student type. A broadcast course is usually 2 credits for 12,000 yen, which includes the textbook, the mid-term assignment and the credit exam. There are also online courses taken on a computer, live web classes held in real time on Zoom, and face-to-face classes (schooling) taught in person at study centers and other places (textbooks for face-to-face classes cost extra). If tuition is revised while you are enrolled, the new rate applies from that point. Broadcast lectures are aired on BS TV (channels 231 and 232) and BS radio (channel 531), free of charge. Students can also watch almost all broadcast courses (TV and radio) online at any time while the course is running. However, both broadcasting and online streaming are for viewers in Japan and cannot be watched from abroad.
To earn credits for a broadcast course, you first pass a mid-term assignment (tsūshin shidō, 通信指導), sent by post or online, which makes you eligible for the end-of-semester credit exam (tan'i nintei shiken, 単位認定試験). The exam is web-based in principle: during the exam period you can take it from home at any time of day (50 minutes per course, one attempt only). If you have no internet access or find computers hard to use, you can apply to take the exam at a study center. A grade of C (60 points) or higher is a pass.
There are study centers and satellite spaces in every prefecture, 57 in total. They are used for face-to-face classes, re-watching broadcast lectures, libraries, study counseling and student clubs. Students with disabilities can apply through their study center and, after consultation with the university, receive study accommodations. Examples include extended exam time (generally 1.5 times, for both web and on-site exams), braille or large-print exam papers (on-site exams), text data of printed textbooks, and subtitles on TV courses (some courses excluded). Accommodations are decided through consultation and not all are guaranteed, so contact the university early.
For people who find it hard to go out, the Open University of Japan makes it relatively easy to study from home, from admission to lectures and exams. There are also points to watch. Face-to-face classes require travel to a study center or other venue. To graduate, degree students need at least 20 credits from face-to-face or online classes combined, so check the application guide or ask a study center how far you can rely on online classes taken from home (including which courses are offered and how live web classes are treated). Watching BS broadcasts requires a BS tuner, and web exams and streaming require an internet connection. Before applying, always check fees, application periods and graduation requirements in the latest application guide from the university. See also Learning from home.
放送大学（ほうそうだいがく）は、テレビ・ラジオ・インターネットで 勉強する 大学です。入学の 試験（しけん）は ありません。4月と 10月に 入学できます。
大学を 卒業（そつぎょう）したい 人は「全科履修生（ぜんかりしゅうせい）」です。18歳以上で、高校卒業か 高卒認定（こうそつにんてい）の 合格が 必要です。入学料（にゅうがくりょう）は 24,000円です。好きな 科目だけ 勉強したい 人は「選科履修生（せんかりしゅうせい）」か「科目履修生（かもくりしゅうせい）」です。15歳以上なら だれでも 入学できます。
授業料（じゅぎょうりょう）は 1単位（たんい）6,000円です。授業は BSテレビや インターネットで 見られます。試験は ふつう 家で パソコンや スマートフォンを 使って 受けます。
障がい（しょうがい）が ある 人は、試験の 時間を 長くする などの 配慮（はいりょ）を 相談できます。早めに 学習センターに 相談しましょう。
教室に 行く 授業（面接授業（めんせつじゅぎょう））も あります。BSを 見る 機械や インターネットも 必要です。入学する 前に、放送大学の 最新（さいしん）の 案内を 確認（かくにん）しましょう。
Is there an academic entrance exam for the Open University of Japan (Faculty of Liberal Arts)?
The Faculty of Liberal Arts has no academic entrance exam; admission is based on documents only.
When can you enter the Open University of Japan?
You can enter twice a year, in April and October.
Which student type can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts?
Only full-time degree students can earn the degree, by studying for at least four years and earning 124 or more credits.
Who can enroll as a non-degree student?
Anyone aged 15 or older can enroll as a non-degree student; a high school diploma is not required.
How much is tuition per credit? (amount confirmed in October 2026)
Tuition is 6,000 yen per credit. A 2-credit broadcast course costs 12,000 yen, including the textbook.
What is the admission fee for a full-time degree student? (amount confirmed in October 2026)
The admission fee is 24,000 yen for degree students, 9,000 yen for one-year non-degree students and 7,000 yen for one-semester non-degree students.
Which statement about watching broadcast courses online is correct for students?
Students can watch almost all broadcast courses online at any time during the course period, but not from abroad.
How do you become eligible for the credit exam?
Passing the mid-term assignment, submitted by post or online, makes you eligible for the end-of-semester credit exam.
Which statement about taking the credit exam is correct?
The exam is web-based in principle and can be taken from home at any time during the exam period; those without internet access can apply to take it at a study center.
Which statement about support for students with disabilities is correct?
Students apply through their study center and decide accommodations with the university; extended exam time is generally 1.5 times for both web and on-site exams.
Q. Can I graduate without ever leaving home?
A. You can watch broadcast courses and take the web-based credit exams at home. However, degree students need at least 20 credits from face-to-face or online classes combined to graduate. Face-to-face classes are held at study centers and other venues, while online classes can be taken at home on a computer. Whether you can cover those credits with online classes depends on the courses offered, so check the application guide or ask a study center before applying.
Q. Can I become a degree student if I passed the kōsotsu nintei exam?
A. Yes. Passing the Certificate for Students Achieving the Proficiency Level of Upper Secondary School Graduates is one of the university entrance qualifications, so you can apply if you are 18 or older. Even without that qualification, you can become a degree student by earning at least 16 credits from designated courses as a non-degree student.
Q. Can I take exams if I am not good with computers?
A. The web exam only requires basic mouse and keyboard skills. Smartphones and tablets can also be used, but try the demo version on your device first. If computers are difficult for you or you have no internet access, you can apply to take the exam at a study center.
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Systems, schedules and amounts change from year to year. Before applying, always check the latest guidance from each organization.
Content checked: 2026-10-16
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. This translation was made with AI and may contain errors. Report a translation error View the Japanese original