What are the entrance exams like and how do I apply for a school?

[kaminix]

Okay, so I'm in the second grade of High School here in Sweden, studying at the Natural Science Programme. I've been thinking a lot of what program to choose when entering University and stuff. Then it hit me, I can study in Japan!

I've already done an exchange for 10 months with YFU in Hokkaido , so I already speak and write a little Japanese. I can watch most dramas and stuff like that without any major problems.

So I was thinking of how to do this and how I prepear. At the moment my plan looks something like this:
* First priority is my Swedish school subjects, I'm a little behind at the moment due to various reasons, so I need to catch up.
* Then I need to get my japanese studying speeded up, especially the kanji practice.
* Get in to an individual program at university and study things relevant to the entrance examinations.
* Then I think I need to take JLPT level 1 and the 窶愿ｺ窶怒窶板ｯﾅ?wﾅｽﾅｽﾅ陳ｱ (Nihon Ryuugaku Shiken).
* ThenI need a visa.
* Then I need to take University specific tests depening on what school I choose.
* Finally I can apply to various scholar ships.

Also, does anyone know where I can get books about the Ryuugaku Shiken? I kind of want to know what kind of questions they use.

Also I'd like an example on what the University exams would be like. Of course I'm aiming for 窶愬停?佚･ (Tokyo Univeristy), allthough I know it's very high and might be out of my reach (a man can dream, can't he?).

When I've graduated I plan on living in Japan, that's the no 1 reason why I want to study there.


Well, what do you say?
All replies are appreciated.

 

[Karamuucho]

A few schools will accept you without an entrance exams (mainly teaching you in English, and teaching you Japanese at the same time), some of which are the International Christian University, Sophia University and Temple university. Temple though, is an American university, with a campus in Japan. I don't know if they will teach you any Japanese at all (unless that's your chosen subject).

It seems you are looking for ryuugaku entrance, which mainly is the same as kikokushijo entrances, which aren't rare, but usually have a limit of maybe a year or two after you graduate highschool, once that time limit has passed you won't be able to apply so don't be sloppy with your application.

Although the exams are easier, there are much fewer spaces available for ryuugaku/kikokushijo entries so competition is high. Although I beleive JLPT isn't a requirement (or atleast not for all the schools), the entrance exams themselves are based on native Japanese entrance exams, you just have to take less test subjects, but you will be scored thoroughly on your Japanese skills, written and reading.

I must say, however, that you shouldn't aim to get into a Japanese university "at all costs". Meaning don't go to a crap university if it will let you in, most companies will look at a graduate from a low-rated uni and laugh in their face (ok I'm exaggerating) but if you don't have a famous uni to your name, it might be better to have a foreign one. Worldwide, Japanese universities aren't too highly ranked either, or so I've heard. I can't say what sort of difference, if at all, studying in Japan as opposed to a foreign country will do for your jobs prospects, but I doubt it will be a huge factor, except learning the language (which you can do outside the country!).

What would I know though, lol, unviersities here won't even take me seriously, hahaha...

 

[kaminix]

A few schools will accept you without an entrance exams (mainly teaching you in English, and teaching you Japanese at the same time), some of which are the International Christian University, Sophia University and Temple university. Temple though, is an American university, with a campus in Japan. I don't know if they will teach you any Japanese at all (unless that's your chosen subject).
It seems you are looking for ryuugaku entrance, which mainly is the same as kikokushijo entrances, which aren't rare, but usually have a limit of maybe a year or two after you graduate highschool, once that time limit has passed you won't be able to apply so don't be sloppy with your application.
Although the exams are easier, there are much fewer spaces available for ryuugaku/kikokushijo entries so competition is high. Although I beleive JLPT isn't a requirement (or atleast not for all the schools), the entrance exams themselves are based on native Japanese entrance exams, you just have to take less test subjects, but you will be scored thoroughly on your Japanese skills, written and reading.
I must say, however, that you shouldn't aim to get into a Japanese university "at all costs". Meaning don't go to a crap university if it will let you in, most companies will look at a graduate from a low-rated uni and laugh in their face (ok I'm exaggerating) but if you don't have a famous uni to your name, it might be better to have a foreign one. Worldwide, Japanese universities aren't too highly ranked either, or so I've heard. I can't say what sort of difference, if at all, studying in Japan as opposed to a foreign country will do for your jobs prospects, but I doubt it will be a huge factor, except learning the language (which you can do outside the country!).
What would I know though, lol, unviersities here won't even take me seriously, hahaha...

Does that apply to all jobs? I'm not yet sure what I want to study, but probably something science-like. Do the same conditions apply when searching job with a scientific education?

What's the difference between kikokushijo and ryuugaku entrance? Are there any other entrance types?

The universities I was aiming at, allthough only preliminary decisions since I don't know a lot about them, are Tokyo Daigaku, Kyoto Daigaku, Osaka Daigaku and Hokkaido Daigaku. I know it's a bad idea to go to a low rank university though, I was thinking of taking one of the bigger "prefectural universities" so to say.

About the worldwide ranking of japanese universities, all I know is that atleast Tokyo Daigaku was ranked 19th in 2006's "The Times Higher Education Supplement" ranking, which is pretty good. The highest ranked university in my home country is 111th (and the one I'm currently aiming at is 147th).

 

[diceke]

What's the difference between kikokushijo and ryuugaku entrance? Are there any other entrance types?

Depends on your passport and resident status.

A Japanese national overseas, or someone with permanent resident status: Kikokushijo

Someone that carries a foreign passport without permanent resident status: Ryugakusei

 

[Karamuucho]

Whilst all are good universities, the ones you mention are all kokuritsu unis, and as they are cheaper they are therefor higher competition. This ofcourse might not be a problem to you, I don't know how good your education is and all and hell it might be a cakewalk.
For those who want more options might I suggest looking into shiritsu unis (privately owned) such as Waseda, Keioh, Jouchi(Sophia), ICU and the like, whilst more expensive they are by no means any worse.

Edit:
I found this site a while back when I was looking for places I can enter myself.

代々木ゼミナール（予備校） | ご案内

It's a full listing of university rankings in Japan, althought it might be a bit complicated at first I think you'll have no problem reading the important bits (especially if you plan on stufying uni-level here!) Separate listings for shiritsu and kokuritsu listed. Hope this helps!

 

[kaminix]

Depends on your passport and resident status.
A Japanese national overseas, or someone with permanent resident status: Kikokushijo
Someone that carries a foreign passport without permanent resident status: Ryugakusei

Meaning I can only go Ryuugakusei, even if I intend to take my exam on the same university?

Whilst all are good universities, the ones you mention are all kokuritsu unis, and as they are cheaper they are therefor higher competition. This ofcourse might not be a problem to you, I don't know how good your education is and all and hell it might be a cakewalk.
For those who want more options might I suggest looking into shiritsu unis (privately owned) such as Waseda, Keioh, Jouchi(Sophia), ICU and the like, whilst more expensive they are by no means any worse.

The thing is that I don't know what the tests are like, and therefore I don't know what to aim for either.

Also I've heard you're not allowed to use calculators on japanese tests, I don't know if that means we'll have easier problems on the tests or that I have to practice head count.

 

[Karamuucho]

The exams you have to take generally (for the private unis that I've looked at anyway) are different for every school, you'll have to work out what you want to take, what unis offer a good course, then look at what exams you'll have to take.

I wouldn't base a 4 year uni course on how easy the exams are. Aim for what you want/what will be of use.

 

[kaminix]

The exams you have to take generally (for the private unis that I've looked at anyway) are different for every school, you'll have to work out what you want to take, what unis offer a good course, then look at what exams you'll have to take.
I wouldn't base a 4 year uni course on how easy the exams are. Aim for what you want/what will be of use.

I know they're different, but I've also heard you can buy old exams to see sort of what you're in for.

I'm not judging the university after the exam, I just want to know how much I will need to study in order to pass them. I'm trying for the top kokuritsu universities.