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Japan

We welcome students from Japan

Birkbeck's campus in central London brings together people from all over the world. Our friendly and supportive community is made up of students and tutors from over 100 different countries.

Birkbeck is part of University of London and we know our international students take pride in joining this respected community. When you complete your studies with us, you will graduate with a world-renowned University of London degree.

If you are from Japan and thinking about moving to London to study with us, here’s our guide to help with your application and help you understand what life is like in London and at Birkbeck.

 

Entry Information for students from Japan

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

  • The English language requirements for our courses are provided on individual course pages as minimum IELTS scores, however we accept many other tests and qualifications.
  • Please visit our English language requirements page for more information. 

Foundation year students Entry Requirements

  • Japanese students applying directly from high school (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) will need to complete a foundation course before enrolling on a 3-year Bachelor's degree. Birkbeck has two options:
    • Applicants who have already achieved 6.5 in the IELTS test can apply for four-year integrated Bachelor’s Degree plus Foundation programmes, which offer a joint confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) for all four years of study.
    • Applicants who do not meet the English requirement should apply for a Foundation Year or international Year 1 degree at our partner provider OnCampus London, which offer guaranteed progression onto Birkbeck’s Bachelor programmes.

Undergraduate Entry Requirements

  • Applicants can be considered for direct entry onto an undergraduate course with the following:
    • associate degree (Jun-gakushi) with a final grade of at least B+/75% or equivalent
    • vocational degree (Senmon-shi) with a final grade of at least B+/75% or equivalent
    • one year of a Bachelor's degree (Gakushi) at a recognised university with an average grade of B+/75% or a GPA of 3.2/4.0
    • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or A-levels will be considered for direct admission onto undergraduate degree programmes. IB requirements range from 28 to 30, depending on the course.
  • Applicants from Japan who have completed the Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho (Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate) will normally require a Foundation course for entry onto undergraduate programmes at the College. These offer the opportunity for guaranteed progression onto Birkbeck’s Bachelor programmes.

Postgraduate Entry Requirements

  • To be considered for entry onto a Master's degree at Birkbeck, you would be expected to have a Gakushi from a recognised Japanese university. For programmes requiring a UK 2:2, a minimum GPA of 2.8/4.0 (65%) is required. For programmes requiring a UK 2:1, applicants will need a minimum final GPA of 3.0/4.0 (at least 70%). The minimum grade may vary depending on your university and from one subject to another. Relevant work experience may also be taken into account.
  • If you do not meet these criteria, you can apply for OnCampus' Master's Foundation programme, which is available for 2- or 3-term progression onto a wide range of Master’s degrees at Birkbeck.

Research degrees Entry Requirements

  • The usual entrance requirement for a research degree is a Master’s degree (Shushi) from a recognised university with a final grade of at least B+/75% or a GPA of 3.2/4.0. Please note that professional Master’s degrees do not usually include a thesis and applicants may not always be suitable for doctoral studies.
  • Applicants are strongly urged to contact potential supervisors within the department before submitting a research application.

Scholarships

We offer a number of scholarships specifically designed to help support international Birkbeck students during their time studying with us. View the scholarships for international students.


Life as an International Student

"I would really recommend Birkbeck to international students because I feel really supported by my professors and classmates." 

Watch student Yi Chen Huang share why she loves living in London and how she enjoys life at Birkbeck.



International partnerships

Ochanomizu University: Birkbeck has a bilateral undergraduate student exchange agreement with Ochanomizu University, Tokyo.


Contact us

Email the Birkbeck international team

If you are from Japan and you are interested in studying at Birkbeck, we would love to hear from you. 

  • , our International Officer for East Asia and South East Asia, if you have any questions. 

Contact us in Japan

Please get in touch with our in-country representatives if you have any queries.

SI-UK Education Council

BEO

  • BEO
  • Address: 5th floor, Davinchi Shinjuku Building,4-3-17 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0022
  • Phone: +81-3-5367-3315
  • Fax: +81(0)3-5367-3316
  • Check website for office in Osaka

SI-UK (London)

  • SI-UK
  • Address: Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street, London, W1B 5TB
  • Phone:  +44 (0)20 7287 7040
  • Fax: +44 (0)20 7287 7030

 

 

More Information

Contact the Birkbeck International Team

Financial support

  • As an international student, you will be expected to self-finance your studies, so before you apply to join a programme you should be aware of the fees that you will be required to pay and any discounts or bursaries that you may be eligible for.
  • Birkbeck is committed to providing advice and support to help you finance your studies.
  • We offer a number of scholarships specifically for international students. Some are offered directly by Birkbeck, others are offered in partnership with other organisations.
  • You may be eligible to apply for faculty and school funding linked to your programme of study.
  • Birkbeck offers flexible payment options that allow you to spread the costs of your fees across the year at no additional cost.

Online events

  • Our open events and taster sessions are a great chance to find out more about your chosen course and studying at Birkbeck, University of London.
    A taster session will provide you with a more in-depth view of the University and your chosen school.

Talk to a current student

Take a virtual campus tour

  • Explore the campus from the comfort of your home and visit our learning facilities, social spaces and amenities.