Japan Master's Application

Japanese graduate schools include degree programs and non-degree research-student status. Before applying, separate transition status from formal degree study.

Use this section as orientation; exact tracks and names vary by school.

The most common trap for Chinese students is reading a Japanese homograph as the same Chinese system. A research student (研究生 / けんきゅうせい) is usually non-regular: no degree, usually no credits — and an offer is not a master's admission.

Fake-research-student pitfalls: (1) finishing 研究生 ≠ master's graduation; (2) a 研究生 offer ≠ secured admission (an entrance exam still applies); (3) COE/visa cannot be assumed shared between 研究生 and regular students; (4) immigration's post-graduation job-hunting notes often exclude research students (“研究生等を除く”). Residence status and enrollment status are two different things. It varies greatly by graduate school; the latest admission guide of your target lab is the final authority you must check yourself. Full cross-cutting guide (how to read the application framework / selection typology / past papers / common misconceptions): the Admission System Guide at /tools/admission-system.