Foreign nationals intensify the demand for the Japanese language school in Japan. The common question is – “How much does it cost to study in Japan?”
Numerous language schools in Japan, particularly in Tokyo, offer reasonable rates depending on the length of course. However, there are other expenses you should consider besides the course fee when studying abroad. Let’s see some of them.
Visa Application Cost
First and foremost planning to study abroad must consider how much you will pay for the visa application. The fees vary depending on the purpose of your visit, from 3,000 JPY to 6,000 JPY. But watch out if your passport will expire soon as it is one of the main requirements for the visa application. If ever, it would be another cost, the passport renewal.
Aside from your passport, you will be required to submit a COE or certificate of eligibility for the processing of your student visa. To obtain a COE, you will need to pay the 1-year tuition fee.
On the other hand, if you will choose to take a short-term Japanese course, then a student visa application is not necessary anymore however you must need to apply for another type of visa such as a visit visa. If you already have a visit visa or you are already in Japan, you can enroll directly to the school without further requirements.
However, if you don’t have a visa yet, then you need to pay the tuition fee to receive a Letter of Admission from the school. Having the Letter of Admission from your chosen school is very important during your visit visa application. And once you obtain a visa then you will need to purchase your plane tickets, indeed an additional cost on your plan to study abroad.
Tuition Cost
The course cost is the primary factor in determining a Japanese language school, aside from its features. To know the exact amount of the tuition fee it is better to contact the schools or agency not just relying on what you have checked on the website unless it’s updated. Usually, the course fee will depend on the type of the school and its location, and also the length of the course.
Let’s take the two (2) Japanese language schools in Japan and compare the tuition fees.
ISI Japanese Language School
Prices in JPY
| LOCATION | SCHOOL FEES |
ISI Tokyo |
without student visa
|
|
with a student visa
|
|
ISI Nagano |
without student visa
|
|
with a student visa
|
|
ISI Kyoto |
without student visa
|
|
with a student visa
|
- The data above depends on what location of the campus you will going to choose and prices are subject to change.
Japan Tokyo International School
Prices in JPY
| School Fees | |
| First Year | 722,800 JPY |
| Second Year | 626,400 JPY |
| Short term | |
| Per week | 9,000 – 25,000 JPY |
|
Business Japanese (90-minute lesson) |
4,500 JPY |
- Data above depends much on other fees aside from the tuition fee.
Fees may include books or study materials, student insurance, and others. To understand more fully about the tuition fees of these schools, please contact us for assistance. The provided data of fees may serve you as a guide on how much other schools may cost, and you can now at least think how much you will spend every month or year when you study in Japan.
Once you have chosen a Japanese language school, then there is another thing you should consider, the accommodation.
Accommodation
There are several types of accommodation to choose from that are designed for international students. However, if you are in the metropolitan, like Tokyo, so it is expected to be more expensive compared to those accommodations not close to the city.
You must consider getting an accommodation that is not too distant from the school you were enrolled to avoid spending enormously on the transportation fees.
You can check a private room or share houses online, or you can also check from the school as many of them offer dormitories for international students. Take note, they will usually ask for a reservation fee of 20,000 JPY, and the cancellation is not refundable.
Other Expenses
Other additional expenses include food, transportation, mobile phone, health insurance, study material, personal spending and more. These should be included in your monthly budget plan to keep your expenses within your finances while studying abroad.
Considering the living expenses requires you to look for a perfect location that fits within your budget or your lifestyle. The example below will show you an overview of the monthly living expenses in studying abroad in Japan, in three different locations.
Prices in JPY
| TOKYO | |
|
Monthly rent (utilities and internet are included) Food Mobile phone Other expenses |
36,000-80,000 25,000-50,000 4,000-10,000 5,000-30,000 |
| Total living expenses per month |
70,000-170,000 |
| KYOTO | |
|
Monthly rent (utilities and internet are included) Food Mobile phone Other expenses |
30,000-60,000 22,000-40,000 4,000-10,000 5,000-30,000 |
| Total living expenses per month |
61,000-140,000 |
| NAGANO | |
|
Monthly rent (utilities and internet are included) Food Mobile phone Other expenses |
25,000-50,000 20,000-40,000 4,000-10,000 5,000-30,000 |
|
Total living expenses per month |
54,000-130,000 |
Tips To Help You Stay Within Your Budget
There are ways to keep yourself within your budget. Let’s start by choosing the school locations like Sapporo, Nagano, Kyoto, and Fukuoka will help you lessen the cost of your study. It would help you best if the school you have chosen settled in a less expensive place in Japan.
Another way to cut back your expenses is by choosing an accommodation that suits your budget. Instead of renting a private room or apartment unit, then you can alternatively select shared dormitories that offered from schools. Some language schools do offer accommodation, so you better check for it.
Cooking your food rather than eating out in a restaurant can also save you up. You may use your savings for other personal expenditures such as groceries, personal care, health care, and more. Besides, you may also try purchasing packed food at the market, which is more affordable and very convenient.
On the other hand, you can take a part-time job to cover your daily expenses. However, only students who have valid visas are allowed to work like a student visa or working holiday visa and other valid visas. Remember, a visit visa or tourist visa is not permitted to work part-time.
If you have one of those visas that allowed to work in Japan, then get a work permit at the immigration office before working as a part-timer. You should take into consideration not to take jobs that forbidden to students. Also, you should not work more than the permitted hours per week for students, which is 28 hours and 40 hours during an extended vacation.
How to apply for part-time jobs in Japan? Check this article: “Getting Part-time Jobs in Japan How to”
Though Japan is considered to be expensive, you can wisely manage your finances by avoiding unnecessary expenditures like going out to the mall, shopping, buying not too important staff, etc. And if you want to visit some tourist spots make sure you have some extra funds or you can join in the cultural activities at your school which is more cheaper.
It is typical for students who want to study Japanese in Japan to initially determine the cost of the study. Therefore, considering first the school location would be a great help as this could be the basis for all other possible expenses. Make sure you do some thorough research before jumping to conclusions.
However, if you still cannot afford, then try to look for scholarships. Some institutions in Japan offer a scholarship program to learn the Japanese language, but you will be qualified only if you meet the requirements.
So if you would like to inquire about the total estimation of study expenses in Japan, then we at FAIR Study in Japan offer free counseling. Please use the form below.
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