Looking for some friendly advice on how I can study in Japan

[cityofsnow]

Hello! :]

I am hoping that someone might be able to help me with some advice on the best way to go about getting to Japan asap!
I am 18 years old, and have completed the compulsory British education system, acquiring 14 'GCSEs' ranging from grades A* to B. Normally I would be expected to start my 'A-Levels' at this time which would take two years, and then I would go to university and begin working towards a Bachelor's degree.
However, now I am out of school I am eager to take this opportunity to explore all the possible options that are open to me now in terms of going to Japan. My ultimate goal is to get a Bachelor's so that I can qualify for the working visa which would allow me to live and work (teaching English) in Japan.
From looking at Japanese university course requirements, I have found that they generally say you must be at least 18 years old and have completed the compulsory 12 year education of your home country.
-I was wondering, does this mean that I am able to study as an undergraduate now? Or, in other words, do I not need my 'A-Levels?'

I have also been looking into scholarships and from what I can gather, they are offered by universities to the most deserving students, and very few. This means I would need to be able to qualify for a scholarship from 'JASSO,' and it would have to be enough for me to live off in Japan as I have no savings or family to pay anything towards.
-Does anyone know how well this would be able to support an international student? Is it possible to even survive without having previous savings? Is it possible to get a part-time job whilst at university in Japan?

I have been sending out a ton of e-mails and one man working at a Japanese university told me that because I do not have my 'A-Levels,' the only way I can get into Japanese university is by first passing the 'EJU,' which I would have to work towards by going to Japanese language school for 18 months - 2 years. Looking into this I have found that the problem was that I could find any kind of scholarship or support for people simply studying the language, other than qualifying for a 'pre-college visa' and being able to work up to 4 hours a day. Therefore from what I concluded this seems impossible as I would need £20,000 to study and support myself for 2 years before starting at university. (I would have loved to do this!)

Therefore I was wondering if anyone could give me any additional ideas or help. I have been researching all of this endlessly and every time I think I have found something and get excited there's a problem. One thing I do know is that I don't want to stay in England much longer if I can avoid it! I am staying positive that there might just be a way still. :]

Thank you so much for any help!

 

[Mike Cash]

My advice would be to go to university where you are and acquire marketable job skills that you can use no matter what country you may find yourself living in. Don't be in a rush; Japan will still be here when you get ready.

Meanwhile, check to see if a working holiday visa might be for you. It may help you to see if the real Japan is appealing to you as your imagined Japan.

 

[Half-n-Half]

JASSO is very easy to get, and in most cases the university will apply on your behalf so you don't have to do anything. Last I checked, though, it's only about 65,000 yen per month for undergraduates. You can always apply for other scholarships once you arrive, too, although they usually have restrictions on nationality, area of study, location, etc. I would NOT suggest going over with no backup funding/savings. Initial costs can be very high and you probably won't receive your scholarship money until after a month.

Here's a website that lists a bunch of undergraduate courses taught in English:
Study in Japan(Japanese university) | Global30

Also, it is entirely possible to work part-time. If you do work for the university (which is unlikely as an undergrad) there are no limits on how much you work. Other than that, since you would be on a student visa you need to get a 資格外活動許可 (permission to work outside your qualifications) from the immigration office, and you are limited to 28 hours a week.

 

[Glenski]

WHV is a good idea to pursue, but what can you do? Is your Japanese fluency good enough for most jobs? WHV let's you work FT or PT, but you have to be able to communicate, usually in Japanese in most jobs, and being only 18 is a serious disadvantage in itself.

Do you want to study at a uni with courses in English or Japanese? Can you read a Japanese textbook?