If you decide to go to a Japanese language school in Japan, you might be taken aback when your school asks you to fulfill a 150-hour study requirement of an official Japanese language course before you can be admitted. This suggests the school expects you to have basic Japanese language skills and may be one of the documents you need to submit for your student visa. It might sound counterintuitive; after all, you are going to Japan to study Japanese in the first place, right?
Does this mean that you can’t study Japanese in Japan as a complete beginner? The answer to this is that it depends. That’s because many factors can affect how easy or difficult it is to apply to a Japanese language school, including your nationality and the school itself.
How do you provide a certificate explaining you’ve done 150 hours of Japanese lessons? Should you prepare it either way? Don’t let this study requirement scare you from applying for a language school in Japan. We’ll explain this unique requirement in full detail.
What is The 150-Hour Japanese Study Requirement for Language Schools?
Under the Japanese Language Education Reference Framework, or Nihongo Kyouiku no Sanshouwaku (日本語教育の参照枠), the 150-hour Japanese study requirement is a rule set by the Japanese immigration authorities that requires incoming students of Japanese language schools to demonstrate at least 150 hours of an official Japanese language program. They require you to submit official documents (such as a certificate of course completion).
The 150-hour study requirement is just one of the available options to meet the eligibility criteria. You must demonstrate Japanese proficiency equivalent to the A1 level or pass an equivalent certification exam, such as the JLPT N5.
Why Does the 150-Hour Requirement Exist?
This 150-hour Japanese study requirement was created to help crack down on fraudulent visa applications and serves as a filter for some applicants, who will now have a greater burden of proof to demonstrate they intend to learn the language, not just come to Japan to work.
Who Needs to Proof 150-Hour of Japanese Study Requirement?
Many students from certain nationalities might be exempt from this, though the list is unclear. Generally, this requirement applies to certain groups, including individuals from specific nationalities, those who haven’t completed high school, older individuals, and those with a significant gap year in their history.
One thing that is explicitly mentioned by the Japanese immigration is that the 150-hour Japanese study requirement is not required if you have graduated from a foreign higher education institution (such as a university or graduate school) and have proof of it.
The next question is: If some countries are exempt from this requirement, why do some schools apply the 150-hour requirement for all of their students? This is because the government can still ask anyone for proof of Japanese study, especially if they closely scrutinize your application and want to determine your reason for studying and your ability to fund yourself.
This is why some schools do it anyway. So while it is frustrating, it’s usually in your best interest to comply with the school of your choice. Sometimes, the school will ask for this certificate for all individuals who apply to study Japanese in Japan. Sometimes, it depends on your home country. And sometimes, the school will not ask this at all.
Why 150 hours in particular?
If you research how many study hours it takes to pass the JLPT, it takes 350 hours to pass the JLPT N5, the lowest level. The 150 hours of Japanese study are an indicator of your willingness and ability to study in Japan. In other words, it demonstrates that you are truly serious and prepared to enroll in a Japanese language school.
At this level, you should be able to:
- Understand and use basic everyday expressions
- Introduce yourself and answer simple personal questions
- Interact in a simple way if the other person speaks slowly and clearly
This Japanese study requirement is case-by-case. Luckily, the team at Coto School Finder will help you sort this out and clarify whether or not you are required to present a 150-hour study certificate to the school you are applying to.
How Do I Meet My 150-Hour Japanese Study Requirement?
If you’ve studied Japanese for 3 hours a week, this will be 50 weeks of Japanese lessons. If you complete an intensive course for 3 hours a day, 4-5 days a week, you will reach this in 3 months.
Depending on the course format, intensive or part-time, completing 150 hours of Japanese language study will take 3 to 12 months.
Sometimes, the school can accept self-study as long as you specify your study materials (like using apps or self-study online courses like this), but most of the time, you will have to give an official certificate.
One option is to take part-time online group courses at Coto Academy for a few months.
Our courses are perfect for beginners who are new to the Japanese language. At the end of your course, you can request a certificate of course completion to verify the hours of Japanese studies. You can contact our coordinator, who will discuss the best course of action for you.
Alternatives to the 150-Hour Japanese Study Requirement
Yes, there are alternatives to the 150-hour Japanese study requirement. Fortunately, Japanese immigration authorities have begun aligning their standards with recognized Japanese language proficiency tests.
This means that instead of completing 150 hours of study, you can meet the requirement by proving your Japanese ability through an approved exam.
1. Passed JLPT N5 or higher
In most cases, you can provide a certificate of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) of N5 to N4. You can even present any certificates that Japanese immigration treats as equivalent to JLPT N5 or higher. The downside of JLPT is that it is often held twice a year in many countries, so you will need to plan in advance!
2. Obtained 300 points or higher on BJT (Business Japanese Test)
The BJT (Business Japanese Proficiency Test) is administered by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation. Unlike the JLPT, the BJT does not have a pass-or-fail result. Instead, it provides a score within a range that indicates your proficiency level.
Another advantage of the BJT is its flexibility. You can take the test on various dates throughout the year and choose a time that is convenient for you! You can check out other alternatives to JLPT here.
3. F level or scored 250 points on the FG level test of the J.TEST
The J-Test is similar to the JLPT in terms of how it’s aimed to measure your competency in Japanese. But whereas there are five levels in JLPT (N1 to N5), the J-Test works similarly to the BJT: you get the same exam paper, and how much you can answer the test (meaning the overall score) determines your ‘level’ of Japanese proficiency.
4. Level 5 of the NAT-TEST
Level 5 of the NAT-TEST refers to the beginner level of the Japanese NAT-TEST, a Japanese language proficiency exam administered by Senmon Kyoiku Publishing Co., Ltd. It evaluates fundamental Japanese language skills, including basic vocabulary (around 800 words), simple grammar patterns, hiragana, katakana, and introductory-level kanji (approximately 100 characters).
5. Other Test Alternatives
The Japanese immigration authorities are gradually working to standardize how alternative Japanese language proficiency tests align with the official tests. So far, they have listed that they accept the following certificates:
- TOPJ Practical Japanese Proficiency Test: Received certification of Beginner A level or higher
- J-cert Living and Vocational Japanese Test: Received certification of Beginner level or higher
- JLCT Foreigners’ Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Received certification of JCT5 or higher
- Practical Japanese Communication Test: Received certification of C- or higher
- JPT Japanese Proficiency Test: Obtained 315 points or higher, or 68 points or higher
- Japanese Online Test: Received certification of JT5 or higher
- Japanese Language Proficiency Evaluation Test: Obtained 300 points or higher
Some of these tests may not be available in your home country. If you’re planning to study in Japan and aren’t sure which option is right for you, the Coto School Finder team can help you choose a suitable qualification and navigate the visa requirements. Get in touch with us today!
So, do you need to actually study 150 hours before you can apply to a Japanese language school? What happens when you decide to move to Japan a month before the application closes? Will this set you back?
Most of our partner schools have a beginner course and are experienced with teaching foreigners who have never studied Japanese before.
However, as general advice, it is good to start taking Japanese classes in your home country as soon as you’ve decided to study in Japan in the future. We recommend you have basic hiragana and katakana knowledge, either through self-study, a private class, or a group course. Knowing the basic Japanese writing system will help make your transition to moving and studying in Japan smoother. Besides that, you won’t have to waste time learning the very basics of Japanese at the start of the semester.
Read our article to learn more about applying for a student visa in Japan.
Conclusion
Some schools will impose the 150-hour study requirement before individuals can get their student visas, but it’s not the case for all schools.
If the school requires you to fulfill 150 hours of Japanese study requirements, Coto School Finder will help you find the best solution, such as suggesting the right courses. Keep in mind that this might still set you back another term.
Ready to study in Japan? Contact us for free support!
FAQ
What is the 150 study requirement for Japanese language schools?
150-hour Japanese study condition is imposed by Japanese immigration that requires you to submit documents (such as a certificate of course completion) proving that you’ve studied Japanese for at least 150 hours in an official Japanese language program in the past.
Does the 150-hour Japanese study requirement apply to everyone?
No. Most of the time, this is only required for some groups of people, like individuals over 30 years old, those who didn’t complete their high school education, and those who have been out of school for 5 years.
Does this mean I can’t go to a Japanese language school as a complete beginner?
Most schools are experienced in teaching Japanese to complete beginners, but it is better to have some basic Japanese writing and vocabulary knowledge.
How soon should I start learning Japanese before I go to Japan?
Taking a Japanese course 6-12 months before the start of your school term is an ideal timeline. The sooner you start, the better.
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