Japanese Degree Evaluation: Are Japanese Degrees Recognized in the U.S.?

Are Japanese degrees recognized in the U.S.? Yes, degrees from recognized Japanese universities are generally accepted once they are evaluated, and most of them compare closely to U.S. degrees. A credential evaluation is the report that shows it: it states what your Japanese diploma, degree or transcript equals in the U.S. system, so that USCIS, an employer, a university or a licensing board can rely on it. This guide covers every level of Japanese education, from the high school diploma to the Hakushi, and is written for people who studied in Japan and for the immigration attorneys who file their cases. A standard evaluation from MotaWord costs $65 and is delivered in 72 hours.

Why You May Need Your Japanese Credentials Evaluated

U.S. institutions do not compare foreign education on their own, so they ask for an evaluation report. The usual reasons are:

• Immigration: H-1B and L-1 petitions, EB-2 and EB-3 green card cases, and other USCIS filings that require a U.S. bachelor's degree or higher, or its equivalent.
• University admissions and credit transfer: graduate schools and colleges usually ask for a course-by-course report with a GPA.
• Professional licensing: state boards in medicine, nursing, engineering, accounting, teaching and other fields check foreign education against their own rules.
• Employment: U.S. employers, including universities hiring faculty from Japan, often ask for an evaluation of a foreign degree.
• Military enlistment: recruiters may ask for an evaluation of a foreign high school diploma.

Employment-based green card petitions often depend on the degree level the evaluation shows. Learn what the USCIS Form I-140 requires. Intracompany transferees face similar questions about their education.

For managers and specialists moving within a company, the evaluation is part of the evidence for the role. See how academic evaluations support L-1A visa applications. The same report can be reused later for other filings.

The Structure of Japan's Education System

Japan follows a 6-3-3-4 structure: six years of elementary school, three years of junior high school, three years of senior high school and usually four years of university. The first nine years are compulsory, but nearly all students continue to senior high school, which offers general and specialized or vocational courses. Senior high school ends with a graduation certificate (Sotsugyo Shomeisho). University admission is based on university exams, and many students also take the national Common Test for University Admissions.

Universities, Junior Colleges and Technical Schools

After senior high school, students can enter:

• Universities (Daigaku): four-year bachelor's programs, and six years for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy, followed by master's and doctoral programs at graduate schools.
• Specialized training colleges (Senmon Gakko): practical programs in fields such as information technology, design, healthcare and culinary arts, leading to a Diploma or, after four years, an Advanced Diploma.
• Junior colleges (Tanki Daigaku): two-year and three-year programs, often in education, nutrition, nursing and business, leading to an associate degree.
• Colleges of technology (Kosen): five-year programs that start after junior high school and combine upper secondary and post-secondary engineering study.

Some government agencies also run their own colleges, known as daigakko, such as the National Defense Academy. Graduates of approved daigakko programs can receive a bachelor's degree through the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE).

Accreditation and MEXT

Education in Japan is overseen by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), which approves universities and colleges. Universities also go through regular evaluations by agencies certified by MEXT, such as NIAD-QE and the Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA). Evaluators confirm that your institution is recognized before they compare the degree.

South Korea follows a similar four-year bachelor's model. See how South Korean degrees compare to U.S. standards. Its grading and documents still differ from Japan's.

How Each Japanese Credential Is Usually Evaluated

The evaluation report always makes the final determination, based on your documents. Learn how foreign degree recognition works in the USA. As a general guide, evaluators usually reach these results:

• Senior High School Diploma: usually compared to a U.S. high school diploma.
• Junior college associate degree (Tanki Daigaku): usually compared to a U.S. associate degree.
• College of technology (Kosen) associate degree: often compared to a U.S. associate degree, depending on the final years of study.
• Specialized training college Diploma or Advanced Diploma: evaluated on length, credits and content; results range from undergraduate credit to a degree level comparison.
• Bachelor's degree (Gakushi): usually compared to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
• Master's degree (Shushi): usually compared to a U.S. master's degree.
• Doctorate (Hakushi): usually compared to a U.S. doctoral degree.

A Bachelor's Degree in Japan

A bachelor's degree in Japan, the Gakushi, normally takes four years and 124 or more credits, with general education and major courses. Evaluators usually compare it to a U.S. bachelor's degree in the same field. The degree name on the diploma often includes the field in brackets, for example Gakushi (Keizaigaku) for a Bachelor of Economics. Order a diploma evaluation to see what your Japanese degree equals in the U.S.

Medicine, Dentistry, Law and Other Professional Degrees

Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are six-year undergraduate programs in Japan, and graduates take a national licensing exam. Evaluators often compare these degrees to U.S. first professional degrees, but the result depends on the program and the evaluator's review. The Hakushi in medical science is a research doctorate and is usually evaluated that way.

Since 2004, Japan has offered graduate law school programs that award a professional degree often translated as Juris Doctor. The undergraduate Bachelor of Laws is a general bachelor's degree and is usually compared to a U.S. bachelor's degree, not to a U.S. law degree. An evaluation compares education only; doctors, dentists and lawyers still follow the licensing rules of the U.S. state or board where they want to work.

Japanese Transcripts, Grades and GPA

Japanese universities often grade on a 100-point scale with 60 as the pass mark, shown as letter grades such as S, A, B and C, or as Yu, Ryo and Ka. Many now also report a GPA. U.S. institutions work with semester credits and a 4.0 GPA, so the grades need to be converted.

There are two types of evaluation:

• General (document-by-document) evaluation: states the U.S. equivalent of each credential. USCIS and most employers accept it.
• Course-by-course evaluation: lists each course with U.S. credits and grades and calculates a GPA. Universities, licensing boards and credit transfer offices usually ask for it.

Check what the receiving institution asks for before you order. See how a transcript evaluation converts your Japanese grades into U.S. credits and a GPA. A general report does not include a GPA.

Documents You Need for a Japanese Credential Evaluation

Send clear scans of:

• Your graduation certificate (Sotsugyo Shomeisho) or degree certificate for every completed program
• Your official academic transcript (Seiseki Shomeisho) with all courses, credits and grades
• Your senior high school graduation certificate, if the evaluation covers secondary education
• Certified English translations of any document that is only in Japanese

Most U.S. evaluations do not require an apostille on a Japanese degree certificate. A licensing board or another authority may ask for one, so check their requirements before you request it.

Many Japanese universities issue English certificates and transcripts on request. If yours are only in Japanese, the evaluation needs a certified English translation. When you upload documents for an evaluation, our system detects non-English documents and offers translation at the quote stage, so both are handled in one order. See how we translate diplomas for academic evaluations.

Certified Japanese translations cost $36.50 per page, with delivery in as little as 12 hours and free digital notarization. See our certified Japanese translation services. Our 26,000+ professional translators keep every name, date, seal and course title as printed.

Your file may include other documents too. Immigration petitions often need birth, marriage and employment records in English. See our certified translation service for USCIS.

Doctors and nurses who plan to work in the U.S. often need clinical records and license documents in English. See our professional medical translation services. Lawyers moving to the U.S. may need court or bar records translated as well. See how we translate legal documents.

Every certified translation includes a signed certificate of accuracy.

How MotaWord Evaluates Your Japanese Credentials

1. Upload: Our online ordering is available 24/7. Upload scans of your diploma and transcript, choose the evaluation type, and see your price and delivery date right away.
2. Document Check: Our team checks that the file is complete and readable and contacts you if anything is missing.
3. Evaluation: Our evaluators compare your Japanese credentials with the U.S. system and prepare the report.
4. Download: Once you order, a MotaWord client dashboard is automatically created for you. You can follow your order, download your evaluation and invoices, and talk to us at any time via live chat.

A standard evaluation costs $65 and is delivered in 72 hours. Same-day delivery costs $115 when you order before 3 PM ET on a weekday. A course-by-course evaluation costs $120, or $200 for same-day delivery. Live chat is available 24/7 for support, whatever your time zone. MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified.

Our evaluations follow the standard in the USCIS Policy Manual: a credible, logical and well-documented report. No evaluator controls an officer's decision, but a clear report with complete documents gives your case a strong footing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Japanese degrees recognized in the US?

Degrees from MEXT recognized Japanese universities are generally accepted in the U.S. after a credential evaluation. Each university, employer, board and USCIS officer makes their own decision based on the report.

Is a bachelor's degree in Japan equal to a U.S. bachelor's degree?

A four-year Gakushi from a recognized Japanese university is usually evaluated as the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree. The final result depends on your program and documents.

Are Japanese degrees recognized worldwide?

Degrees from recognized Japanese universities are widely accepted abroad, but every country and institution has its own recognition process. In the U.S., that process is a credential evaluation.

Do I need an apostille on my Japanese degree certificate?

Usually not for a U.S. academic evaluation. Some licensing boards and foreign authorities ask for one, so check with the institution that will receive your documents.

Does my Japanese diploma need to be translated?

Yes, if it is only in Japanese. USCIS and most U.S. institutions require a certified English translation, and you can add it to your evaluation order at the quote stage.

How long does a Japanese degree evaluation take?

A standard evaluation is delivered in 72 hours for $65. Same-day delivery costs $115 when you order before 3 PM ET on a weekday.

Get Your Japanese Credentials Evaluated

Whether you are relocating for a job, filing with USCIS or starting a U.S. graduate program, your Japanese education should be presented clearly and accurately. Order your academic evaluation from MotaWord and get a report you can submit with confidence.

Mark Rogers - Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord

Written and reviewed by Mark Rogers, Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord, drawing on the team's experience with evaluating Japanese degrees and academic records. MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified and a corporate member of the ATA and ITI, providing academic evaluations and certified translations in 120+ languages. See our academic evaluation for U.S. university admissions →