University Higher education in Japan

1 university

1.1 entrance
1.2 universities
1.3 postgraduate education

university
entrance

university entrance traditional route taken japanese students enter gateway of higher education far prestigious form of higher education in japan. unlike usage of grade point averages , test scores used in western countries yardstick eligibility, entrance universities based largely on scores students achieved in entrance examinations (nyūgaku shiken (入学試験)). private institutions accounted 80% of university enrollments in 1991, few exceptions such waseda university , keio university, public national universities more highly regarded. especially, national 7 universities prestigious. distinction had origins in historical factors—the long years of dominance of select imperial universities, such tokyo , kyoto universities, trained japan s leaders before war—and in differences in quality, particularly in facilities , faculty ratios.

in addition, prestigious employers, notably government , selected large corporations (e.g. listed in nikkei 225), continue restrict hiring of new employees graduates of esteemed universities. there close link between university background , employment opportunity. because japanese society places such store in academic credentials, competition enter prestigious universities keen. common custom practiced japanese employers simultaneous recruiting of new graduates.

students applying national or other public universities take 2 entrance examinations, first nationally administered uniform achievement test (senta shiken (センター試験)) , examination administered university student hopes enter (niji shiken (二次試験)). applicants private universities need take university s examination.

such intense competition means many students can not compete admission college of choice. unsuccessful student can either accept admission elsewhere, forgo college education, or wait until following spring take national examinations again. large number of students choose last option. these students, called ronin, meaning masterless samurai, spend entire year, , longer, studying attempt @ entrance examinations. in 2011, number of ronin took uniform test 110,211, while number of high school students took test 442,421.

yobikou private schools that, many juku, students prepare entrance examinations. while yobikou have many programs upper-secondary school students, best known specially designed full-time, year-long classes ronin. number of applicants four-year universities totaled 560,000 in 1988. ronin accounted 40% of new entrants four-year colleges in 1988. ronin men, 14% women. ronin experience common in japan japanese education structure said have ronin year built it.

yobikou sponsor variety of programs, both full-time , part-time, , employ extremely sophisticated battery of tests, student counseling sessions, , examination analysis supplement classroom instruction. cost of yobikou education high, comparable first-year university expenses, , specialized courses @ yobikou more expensive. yobikou publish modified commercial versions of proprietary texts use in classrooms through publishing affiliates or other means, , these popular among general population preparing college entrance exams. yobikou administer practice examinations throughout year, open students fee.

in late 1980s, examination , entrance process subjects of renewed debate. in 1987 schedule of joint first stage achievement test changed, , content of examination revised 1990. schedule changes first time provided flexibility students wishing apply more 1 national university. new joint first stage achievement test prepared , administered national center university entrance examinations , designed accomplish better assessment of academic achievement.

the ministry of education hoped many private schools adopt or adapt new national test own admissions requirements , thereby reduce or eliminate university tests. but, time new test administered in 1990, few schools had displayed inclination so. ministry urged universities increase number of students admitted through alternate selection methods, including admission of students returning japan long overseas stays, admission recommendation, , admission of students had graduated upper-secondary schools more few years before. although number of schools had programs in place or reserved spaces returning students, 5% of university students admitted under these alternate arrangements in late 1980s.

other college entrance issues include proper guidance college placement @ upper-secondary level , better dissemination of information university programs. ministry provides information through national center university entrance examination s on-line information access system , encourages universities, faculties, , departments prepare brochures , video presentations programs.

universities

in 2010 more 2.8 million students enrolled in japan s 778 universities. @ top of higher education structure, these institutions provide four-year training leading bachelor s degree, , offer six-year programs leading professional degree. there 2 types of public four-year colleges: 86 national universities (including open university) , 95 local public universities, founded prefectures , municipalities. 597 remaining four-year colleges in 2010 private.

the overwhelming majority of college students attend full-time day programs. in 2005 popular courses, enrolling 38% of undergraduate students, in social sciences, including business, law, , accounting. other popular subjects engineering (17.3%), humanities (16%), , education (5.7%).

truancy among japanese university students, @ expensive private institutions, extremely high. roll calls perfunctory or avoided.

the average costs (tuition, fees, , living expenses) year of higher education in 1986 1.4 million yen(us$10,000), of parents paid little less 80%, or 20% of average family s income in 1986. defray expenses, students work part-time or borrow money through government-supported japan scholarship association. assistance offered local governments, nonprofit corporations, , other institutions.

in 2005 there approximately 89 females every 100 males enrolled in post-secondary education in japan, , numbers still increasing. women s choices of majors , programs of study still tend follow traditional patterns, more two-thirds of women enroll in education, social sciences, or humanities courses. 15% studied scientific , technical subjects, , women represented less 3% of students in engineering, popular subject men in 1991.

the quality of universities , higher education in japan internationally recognized. there 11 japanese universities in 2006 thes - qs world university rankings, university of tokyo 19th , kyoto university 25th. in 2010 qs asia university rankings top 20 included 8 japanese universities, highest ranking, university of tokyo, in 5th position. out of top 100 asian universities in 2011 s times higher education - qs world university rankings, 33 japanese.

postgraduate education

graduate schools became part of formal higher education system after world war ii , still not stressed in 1990s. though 60% of universities have graduate schools, 7% of university graduates advance master s programs, , total graduate school enrollment 4% of entire university student population.

the pattern of graduate enrollment opposite of of undergraduates: majority (63%) of graduate students enrolled in national universities, , appears disparity between public , private graduate enrollments widening. graduate education largely male preserve, , women, particularly @ master s level, heavily represented in humanities, social sciences, , education. men found in engineering programs where, @ master s level, women comprise 2% of students. @ doctoral level, 2 highest levels of female enrollment found in medical programs , humanities, in both fields 30% of doctoral students women. women account 13% of doctoral enrollments.

the small numbers of graduate students , graduate enrollment profile results number of factors, traditional employment pattern of industry. in private sector, demand students advanced degrees (especially in non-hard sciences) low compared other developed countries. because private sector companies prefer hire new university graduates , train them operate according company guidelines. stated negatively, because skills associated postgraduate education in west (especially independent thinking) make employee resistant homogenization. thus, students avoid taking graduate work unless in hard sciences.