FULL-TIME COURSE ADMISSIONS

As we offer classes at all levels, the only real requirement for classes at Yoshida is the equivalent of a high-school degree and the motivation to study in an academically rigorous environment. The school year is broken into four, three-month terms, each with 50 days of classes (see the school calendar for a more detailed schedule):

School Terms
Term Classes Start
Fall 2010 October 07, 2010
Winter 2011 January 11, 2011
Spring 2011 April 7, 2011
Summer 2011 July 1, 2011

For the most part, the admissions process depends upon what type of visa you will use to come to Japan. A normal tourist visa is sufficient to study for a single term but to study for a longer time, students typically obtain a college student visa.

Short-term study (1 term)

Nakade-sensei When studying for just one term, citizens of many countries can easily obtain tourist visas for travel to Japan. These are typically three-month visas but this differs depending on your nationality. For example, upon arrival in Japan, Americans are typically given a 90-day visa, most Europeans a three-month visa. Students in other areas may need to apply for a tourist visa before arrival so please contact the Japanese embassy or consulate nearest you to determine the exact requirements for travel to Japan.

Long-term study (2 or more terms)

Hon and Mihe Students studying for longer periods usually obtain a college student visa (Ryuugaku visa in Japanese). The procedure is somewhat time consuming so students need to apply well in advance of the date they hope to start classes. Students cannot obtain these visas on their own, they must first apply to Yoshida to begin the process. We will guide you through the process to try and make it as simple as possible.

You can study for up to two years on a student visa and during that time you can work at a part-time job for up to four hours a day. Many students use these jobs to help offset the cost of living in Japan. Students are also allowed to travel in and out of the country freely without having to reapply for a visa each time. A student visa can be extended for up to two years, assuming proper attendance is maintained.

Application Deadlines(a college student visa)
Term Beginning Application Period Results of Selection
October 2010 — admissions closed — Aug. 30, 2010
January 2011 July 01 to Sept. 15, 2010 Nov. 08, 2010
April 2011 Aug. 17 to Nov. 18, 2010 Feb. 25, 2011
July 2011 Jan. 11 to Mar. 15, 2011 May 18, 2011
Target (college student visa)

College Preparatory Course: Students who want to learn Japanese to study further at a university or technical college. The Japanese education sytem is different other countries. A school year begins in April and ends in March of the following year.
The attendance at school period is as follows.

          College Preparatory Course
January term one year and three months
April term one year or two years
July term one year and nine months
October term one year and six months

General Course: We make every effort to provide our students with what they need most for their study, along with any assistance they may need to live in Japan. Some people want to learn Japanese for the future, while other students study primarily for business purposes.
The attendance at school period is as follows.

           General Course
January term six months to two years
April term six months to two years
July term six months to two years
October term six months to two years

How to read and write the Kanji on our Kanji pages.