University Study Guide
Understand the three types of university selection and their timing, the schedule, application and subjects of the Common Test, and how to request testing accommodations, so that you can see which admissions you can take and what you need to do by when.
University admissions in Japan are divided into three main types: general selection (ippan senbatsu), comprehensive selection (sōgō-gata senbatsu) and school-recommendation selection (gakkō suisen-gata senbatsu). Each year the Ministry of Education (MEXT) publishes the Guidelines for University Admissions (Daigaku Nyūgakusha Senbatsu Jisshi Yōkō), which set out the idea behind each type and when applications and results may take place. General selection is decided mainly by academic tests and essays, combined with the high school transcript, interviews and so on. Comprehensive selection evaluates ability, aptitude and motivation as a whole, through detailed document screening and careful, unhurried interviews. School-recommendation selection is based on a recommendation from the principal of your high school, with the transcript as the main material. Some universities also give subject tests in comprehensive and school-recommendation selection, and these may be held before February 1.
| Type | Main way of evaluating | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| General selection | Academic tests, essays, etc., plus transcript, interviews, etc. | Exams held between February 1 and March 25 |
| Comprehensive selection | Detailed document screening and careful interviews, etc. | Applications from September 1; results from November 1 |
| School-recommendation selection | Based on the high school principal's recommendation; transcript is the main material | Applications from November 1; results from December 1 |
Many universities use a shared exam: the Common Test for University Admissions (Daigaku Nyūgaku Kyōtsū Test), run by the National Center for University Entrance Examinations (Daigaku Nyūshi Center). For the 2027 (Reiwa 9) admissions (entry in April 2027), the main test is on Saturday January 16 and Sunday January 17, 2027. A make-up test for people who could not sit the main test for unavoidable reasons such as illness or injury is on January 23 and 24. The test covers 21 subjects in 7 subject areas: Japanese language, geography/history and civics, mathematics, science, foreign languages (English, German, French, Chinese and Korean) and information (Information I). Which subjects you need is decided by each university and faculty, so check their application guidelines. For the 2026 test, 496,237 people applied and 813 universities used the results. Scores for the 2027 test are provided to universities from February 2, 2027, and test takers who asked to see their scores can view them on their My Page from April 1 to 30, 2027.
Since the 2026 (Reiwa 8) test, every applicant applies individually online for the Common Test. For the 2027 test, registering your application and paying the fee took place from September 15 to October 2, 2026, and checking and correcting your application from October 9 to 16; admission tickets are issued by early December. There is no paper application by post for people without internet access; people who could not apply online for unavoidable reasons had to contact the Center by September 11. For the following year's dates, check the Center's announcements.
People with disabilities or illnesses can apply for testing accommodations (juken-jō no hairyo). For the Common Test, accommodations are offered by category, such as visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical disability, chronic illness and developmental disability, and include extended time, large-print question booklets, braille answers, sign language interpreting, a separate room and use of a wheelchair. For the 2027 test, the application period is July 1 to October 2, 2026 (must arrive by the deadline; by post only), so you need to prepare before you even apply for the test. In the 2026 test, 4,381 people were granted accommodations. For exams that a university runs itself, you apply to each university separately from the Common Test. Waseda University, for example, asks applicants to apply before submitting their application.
Even if you did not graduate from high school, people who have passed the High School Equivalency Examination (Kōtōgakkō Sotsugyō Teido Nintei Shiken, or kōsotsu nintei) are qualified to enter university and can take university entrance exams (if you pass before turning 18, you count as a successful candidate from the day after your 18th birthday). Some universities also have separate admission categories for working adults, international students and others, and the university sets the exam dates and application periods for these. Some universities require people who want to enter as international students (undergraduate) to take the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) run by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). The EJU is held twice a year, in June and November, in Japan and overseas, and you take the subjects your chosen university specifies from Japanese, science, Japan and the World, and mathematics.
大学（だいがく）の 入試（にゅうし）には 3つの 種類（しゅるい）が あります。一般選抜（いっぱんせんばつ）は 2月1日から 3月25日の 間に 試験（しけん）が あります。総合型選抜（そうごうがたせんばつ）は 9月1日から 出願（しゅつがん）が できます。学校推薦型選抜（がっこうすいせんがたせんばつ）は 高校（こうこう）の 校長（こうちょう）の 推薦（すいせん）が 必要（ひつよう）で、11月1日から 出願が できます。
大学入学共通テスト（だいがくにゅうがくきょうつうテスト）は、たくさんの 大学が 使う 試験です。2027年（令和9年）は 1月16日と 17日に あります。7教科（きょうか）21科目（かもく）が あります。どの 科目が 必要か は、大学が 決めます。
共通テストの 出願は、自分で インターネット（Web）で します。郵便（ゆうびん）では できません。2027年の 試験の 出願は、2026年 9月15日から 10月2日まででした。次の 年の 日程（にってい）は、大学入試センター（だいがくにゅうしセンター）の お知らせを 見て ください。
障がい（しょうがい）や 病気（びょうき）が ある 人は、受験上の配慮（じゅけんじょうのはいりょ）を お願い できます。たとえば、時間を 長く する、大きい 字の 問題、別の 部屋（へや）で 受ける などです。2027年の 試験は、2026年 7月1日から 10月2日までに 郵便で 申請（しんせい）しました。出願より 前に 準備（じゅんび）しましょう。
高卒認定（こうそつにんてい）に 合格（ごうかく）した 人も、大学を 受験（じゅけん）できます。社会人（しゃかいじん）や 外国人（がいこくじん）の 留学生（りゅうがくせい）の ための 入試が ある 大学も あります。留学生に、6月と 11月に ある 日本留学試験（にほんりゅうがくしけん・EJU）を 受ける ことを 求める 大学も あります。
From when can you apply for comprehensive selection? (Guidelines for the 2027 / Reiwa 9 admissions)
Applications for comprehensive selection open on September 1, and results are announced from November 1. School-recommendation selection opens for applications on November 1.
Which statement about school-recommendation selection is correct?
School-recommendation selection is based on a recommendation from the principal of your high school, with the transcript as the main material. Each university decides who passes.
What period do the Guidelines set for general selection exams?
General selection exams are held between February 1 and March 25. Subject tests for comprehensive and school-recommendation selection may be held before February 1.
When is the main Common Test for the 2027 (Reiwa 9) admissions?
The main test for the 2027 admissions is on Saturday January 16 and Sunday January 17, 2027. The make-up test is on January 23 and 24.
How do you apply for the 2027 Common Test?
Since the 2026 test, every applicant applies individually online. For the 2027 test, there is no application by post.
How many subject areas and subjects does the 2027 Common Test cover?
The test covers 21 subjects in 7 subject areas, including Information I. Each university and faculty decides which subjects you need.
When and how do you apply for testing accommodations for the 2027 Common Test?
For the 2027 test, accommodation requests must arrive between July 1 and October 2, 2026, and are accepted by post only. You need to start preparing even before you apply for the test.
Which is true about people who passed the High School Equivalency Examination?
People who passed the High School Equivalency Examination are qualified to enter university. If you pass before turning 18, you count as a successful candidate from the day after your 18th birthday.
Who decides the exam dates and application periods for admission categories for working adults, international students and others?
According to the Guidelines, each university can set the exam dates, application periods and result dates for categories such as working adults and self-funded international students.
Which is true about the EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students)?
The EJU is run by JASSO twice a year, in June and November, in Japan and overseas. It assesses the Japanese ability and basic academic ability of people who want to enter a Japanese university (undergraduate) or similar as international students.
Q. I missed the Common Test application period. Can I still apply to a university this year?
A. Some admissions do not use the Common Test. General selection decided only by a university's own exam, comprehensive and school-recommendation selection, and categories for working adults each have application periods set by the university. Check the application guidelines of the universities you are interested in.
Q. If I am granted accommodations for the Common Test, will I get the same ones in a university's own exam?
A. Not automatically. You apply to each university for accommodations in the exams it runs. Some universities ask for a copy of your Common Test accommodation notice. The deadline may be before the application period, so contact the university's admissions office early.
Q. Can people who graduated from a high school abroad take entrance exams for Japanese universities?
A. People who have completed 12 years of school education abroad, among others, are qualified to enter university (if it was less than 12 years, you also need to complete a designated preparatory course or similar). For details, see MEXT's page on university entrance qualifications and the application guidelines of the universities you are interested in.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
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