Meiji University Admission Guide for International Students

Meiji University at a glance

Meiji University is one of Tokyo's large private universities. Its official history traces the institution to the Meiji Law School, founded by Tatsuo Kishimoto, Kozo Miyagi and Misao Yashiro, with the new law school completed in January 1881. Today it spreads across campuses in the capital — including Surugadai in central Tokyo, Izumi, Nakano and Ikuta — and teaches across law, business, arts and letters, science and engineering, and more.

For international students, the most direct English-medium entry point is the School of Global Japanese Studies (SGJS), based at the Nakano campus. Meiji's scale means a large student community and extensive facilities, while individual schools run their own admissions.

The English Track: School of Global Japanese Studies

The School of Global Japanese Studies offers an English Track through which international students can earn a bachelor's degree by taking courses conducted in English. Meiji states that the School started its English Track program in 2011, and that English Track students can also take elective classes offered in Japanese at SGJS.

One structural point to plan around: Meiji states that the curricula of the English Track and the Japanese Track are different, and that you cannot change tracks after enrollment. Because this is the university's flagship English-medium undergraduate route, it is the natural starting point for applicants who do not yet have advanced Japanese — confirm what you can study on the official English Track pages.

Intake: September entry, and how screening works

Intake is the single most important thing to get right here. Meiji's official English Track admissions page carries the notice that the School of Global Japanese Studies will stop the April intake of English Track students from Academic Year 2026 onwards, and its published guidelines are for September admission. Do not assume an April start — confirm the current intake structure on the official admissions page before you plan.

Meiji screens in two stages: a 1st Screening of your application documents, and then a 2nd Screening online interview, which Meiji states is offered to applicants who pass the 1st Screening. Meiji also states that interview dates are final and non-negotiable and that missed interviews cannot be rescheduled, so build your calendar around the official schedule. For Japanese-track admission into other Meiji schools, expectations commonly include the EJU and, in some cases, a school-specific examination; these vary by school and should be confirmed individually.

• English Track: September admission — April intake stops from Academic Year 2026 onwards
• 1st Screening: application documents
• 2nd Screening: online interview for applicants who pass the first stage

English proficiency and standardized tests — no waivers

Meiji requires two separate kinds of evidence for the English Track: an English proficiency test result and a standardized test result. On English proficiency, Meiji is explicit that all applicants must submit the official score report, including applicants who have received primary and secondary education in English, and that no waivers are available — this is stricter than at some other Japanese universities.

Meiji lists the approved English proficiency tests as TOEFL iBT, IELTS (Academic Module), Cambridge English Qualifications, SAT and ACT; the Duolingo English Test is not among them. For the separate standardized test requirement Meiji lists options including SAT, ACT and the IB Diploma, and states explicitly that the French Baccalauréat, Abitur, European Baccalaureate Diploma, GCE A level and International A level do not qualify — a genuine difference from universities that do accept A levels. Meiji also excludes specific versions (for example, TOEFL Home Edition and MyBest scores, IELTS Online, and superscores). Requirements, scores and versions change — verify them in the current official guidelines.

• English proficiency test AND standardized test both required
• No English-test waiver, even for applicants educated in English
• A levels, Abitur, French Bac and European Bac do not qualify as the standardized test

Documents, fees, scholarships and visa

Prepare official transcripts, proof of education, your test results and any documents the guidelines require, and note that Meiji requires official score reports to reach the university by its deadline — arrange delivery from the testing organization early. Meiji also states that all inquiries must be submitted directly by the applicant, and that inquiries from agents, parents or guardians, teachers or school representatives are not accepted, which is worth knowing if anyone offers to "handle" your application for a fee. No agent can guarantee you a place.

Tuition, application fees, scholarship amounts and deadlines are set by Meiji and vary by year — this guide does not list figures, and you should verify them and any scholarship rules on the official site. Admitted degree students normally hold the "Student" status of residence, arranged via a Certificate of Eligibility; this is general information, not immigration advice, so verify current procedures on the official Immigration Services Agency of Japan and Study in Japan portals.