What Is a Vocational School (Senmon Gakko) in Japan? Fields, the Diploma and Advanced Diploma, Entry Requirements and How to Choose

Published: 7 Nov 2026 · Updated: 7 Nov 2026

A smiling student in an apron learning to plate a dish in a training kitchen, with an instructor beside her

If you want to learn skills for a job in Japan, one option for further study is the vocational school, called a senmon gakko. Its purpose and way of teaching differ from a university. This guide explains the features of vocational schools, their fields, the difference between the Diploma and the Advanced Diploma, the requirements for international students to enter, and what to watch for when choosing a school, using official information.

We checked the official pages listed at the bottom on 7 November 2026. The system for vocational schools, entry requirements and how titles are treated can change. They also differ by school and year, so use this guide as a map, and before you apply, always confirm the details in the admission guidelines of the school you want to enter and in the latest guidance of the Ministry of Education (MEXT) and the Immigration Services Agency. We cannot guarantee admission or a grant of a status of residence.

What a vocational school is

A vocational school is formally the professional course of a specialized training college. It is one of the higher education institutions and is called a "senmon gakko." Its purpose is to help you gain the knowledge, technology and skills needed for work and real life, and to raise your general culture (Study in Japan).

Whereas a university lets you study broadly in an undergraduate program and earn a degree, a vocational school teaches practical skills directly tied to your future job. If you are thinking about further study, see also the guide to going on to further study after language school.

The eight fields, with examples of subjects and jobs

There are eight fields of vocational schools. The MEXT site "#Shirusen" lists the main subjects and examples of jobs for each field.

Field	Examples of main subjects	Examples of main jobs
Industry	Information processing, civil engineering and architecture, electricity and electronics, automobile maintenance, games and CG, etc.	Systems engineer, architect, electrician, automobile mechanic, etc.
Agriculture	Agriculture, horticulture, livestock, biotechnology, garden business, etc.	Gardener, horticultural technician, floral designer, etc.
Medical care	Nursing, dental hygiene, dental technology, clinical laboratory work, radiological technology, etc.	Nurse, dental hygienist, clinical laboratory technologist, physical therapist, etc.
Hygiene	Cooking, nutrition, hairdressing and beauty, confectionery and bakery, esthetics, etc.	Cook, dietitian, beautician, pastry chef, etc.
Education and social welfare	Childcare, early childhood education, social welfare, care work, etc.	Childcare worker, kindergarten teacher, social worker, certified care worker, etc.
Commercial practice	Accounting and bookkeeping, secretarial work, tourism and hotels, medical office work, etc.	Tax accountant, certified public accountant, secretary, hotel staff, etc.
Dressmaking and home economics	Sewing, clothing, fashion design, etc.	Fashion designer, pattern maker, stylist, etc.
Culture and liberal arts	Music, art, foreign languages, interpreting and translation, law and administration, sports, etc.	Designer, interpreter, pet groomer, judicial scrivener, administrative scrivener, etc.

These subjects and jobs are only examples. What you can learn differs by school and course. Check with the school.

The Diploma and the Advanced Diploma

When you complete the course of a vocational school, if it is a course that meets the conditions, you receive the title of Diploma (senmonshi) or Advanced Diploma (kodo senmonshi) (MEXT, Study in Japan).

	Diploma	Advanced Diploma
Length of study	2 years or more	4 years or more
Total credits	62 credits or more	124 credits or more
Class hours	1,700 class hours or more	3,400 class hours or more
Course structure	Completion is certified by evaluating results through exams and similar means	The curriculum is systematically organized, and completion is certified by evaluating results through exams and similar means
After completion	Eligibility to transfer to a university is recognized	Eligibility to enter a graduate school is recognized

The eligibility of the Advanced Diploma to enter a graduate school is recognized for people who complete a course designated separately by the Minister of Education.

To gain eligibility to transfer to a university with the Diploma, in addition to completing the vocational school course you must have the qualification to enter a university, such as high school graduation (MEXT). However, whether you can actually transfer, which year you can enter and which credits are recognized are decided by each university. Ask the university you want to enter.

Whether you receive the title depends on whether that course is one recognized by the Minister of Education. Be sure to ask the school whether you receive the title in that course.

Entry requirements for international students

Classes at vocational schools are in Japanese. To enter, you need to meet both a schooling requirement and a Japanese ability requirement (Study in Japan). Detailed conditions differ by school.

Schooling

If you come from a country with 12 years or more of primary and secondary education, you need to have completed 12 years of school education, among other routes.
If you come from a country with fewer than 12 years, there are several routes. Examples are completing 11 years plus a designated preparatory course, or passing a qualification exam at the high school completion level plus a preparatory course.
People with qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate, and people aged 18 or older whom a school recognizes through individual screening, may also be able to enter.

Check the admission guidelines of the school you want to enter to see which category your country's school system falls into.

Japanese ability

You need to meet one of the following.

You received six months or more of Japanese language education at a Japanese language institution designated by the Minister of Justice (Study in Japan). This is one of the conditions shown on the official page. Some schools have additional Japanese conditions or application conditions, so be sure to check the latest admission guidelines of the school you want to enter.
You passed JLPT N1 or N2.
You scored 200 points or more on the Japanese subject of the EJU.
You scored 400 points or more on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test.
You studied for one year or more at an elementary, junior high or high school in Japan.

For the JLPT, see the JLPT guide.

Intake and costs

Intake months and application periods are not on the Study in Japan vocational school page. They differ by school, so ask the school you want to enter. For how to think about this together with the intake month of your language school, see the April vs October intake guide.

The Study in Japan vocational school page does not list tuition amounts. The MEXT site "#Shirusen" introduces, as an example of the average amount students pay, about 1.255 million yen (including admission fees, tuition, facility fees, materials fees and practical training fees), from a survey (fiscal 2020) by the Tokyo Association of Vocational Schools and Miscellaneous Schools. However, fees differ greatly by school and field. When choosing a school, you are advised to check the first-year fees, the total up to graduation and when you pay. For how to think about costs, see the cost guide, and for scholarships, the scholarship guide.

After graduation

Diploma: Eligibility to transfer to a university is recognized. Whether you can actually transfer and which year you enter are decided by each university.
Advanced Diploma: Eligibility to enter a graduate school is recognized (for designated courses).
Work: To work in Japan, you need to change your status of residence. The "Designated Activities" status for continuing job hunting, in the case of a professional course, is for people who graduate with the Diploma title and whose studies are found to relate to an activity under a work-related status of residence (Immigration Services Agency). For details, see the guide to working after graduation.

Cautions when choosing a school

Study in Japan advises checking the following points.

Is the school officially accredited? Approval by the prefectural governor is required. At a school that is not approved, you cannot receive the Diploma or Advanced Diploma title.
Is it a course that gives the title? Ask the school directly.
The content of education and the number of teachers. Will you gain the knowledge and skills you want? What is the ratio of teachers to the number of students?
Facilities and equipment. Check through open campus events, the school's website and materials.
Job guidance and where graduates go. Ask about the policy of job guidance and where graduates find jobs.
Tuition. The first-year amount, the total and when you pay.
Reputation. Make use of graduates and networks of senior international students.

In addition, this site recommends that international students also check the following.

Can you keep up with classes in Japanese? Classes are in Japanese, so check before you enroll that your Japanese is good enough.
Support for international students. Support such as consultation and Japanese language help is not listed on the Study in Japan vocational school page. Ask each school.

How to think about choosing between a vocational school and a university

Which is better depends on your goal.

You want to gain skills directly tied to a job, quickly. A vocational school may suit you.
You want to study broadly, do research or go on to a graduate school. A university may suit you.
Even from a vocational school, there are paths such as having eligibility to transfer to a university with the Diploma, or eligibility to enter a graduate school with the Advanced Diploma (actual admission is decided by each university).

Ask schools about fields, length, costs and what you can do after graduating, and compare.

Frequently asked questions

Are classes at vocational schools in Japanese?

Yes. Classes are in Japanese. There is a Japanese ability requirement for entry (JLPT N1 or N2, a score of 200 or more on the EJU Japanese subject and so on, or meeting it in another way).

What is the difference between the Diploma and the Advanced Diploma?

The length of study and the class hours differ. The Diploma is two years or more, and the Advanced Diploma is four years or more. The Diploma gives eligibility to transfer to a university. The Advanced Diploma, in designated courses, gives eligibility to enter a graduate school. In both cases, actual admission is decided by each university.

Can I receive the title from a vocational school that is not accredited?

No. Approval by the prefectural governor is required. At a school that is not approved, you cannot receive the Diploma or Advanced Diploma title. Check with the school before you enroll.

How much are the fees at a vocational school?

They differ greatly by school and field. The MEXT site "#Shirusen" gives an example of an average of about 1.255 million yen for fiscal 2020, but this is only a guide. Ask the school about the first-year fees, the total up to graduation and when you pay.

Can I work in Japan after a vocational school?

Whether you can change to a work-related status of residence is decided individually by the Immigration Services Agency, based on factors such as how your studies relate to the job. It is not guaranteed.

What to do next

If you are thinking about a vocational school, from the time you choose a Japanese language school, check its results in helping students go on to further study and whether it offers JLPT and EJU preparation. See How to Choose a Japanese Language School and the school list. For the full process, see How to Study in Japan from Nepal. You can contact us, but we do not guarantee admission or a visa. This site is free to use.

Sources

All guides