Japan

To which Dutch diplomas can you compare certain Japanese diplomas? Use the overview or download the PDF with more detailed information.

PDF with detailed information

Download the PDF with detailed information about the Japanese education system:

Education system Japan‌ (522.83 kB)

Overview of Japanese diplomas

In the overview below you can find the level of Japanese diplomas. You cannot derive any rights from it.

Working in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can work in the Netherlands with a certain Japanese diploma? Go to Working in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Studying in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can study in the Netherlands with your Japanese diploma? Go to Studying in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

High School Certificate of Graduation (卒業証明書 Sotsugyoshomeisho)

  • Comparable to: a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education, upon successful completion of entrance examinations.

Associate degree obtained at a junior college (2 years)

  • Comparable to: 2 years of HBO (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to the final 2 years of a bachelor in higher education (NIAD-QE), upon successful completion of entrance examinations.

Associate degree obtained at a junior college (3 years)

  • Comparable to: 3 years of HBO (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to the final 2 years of a bachelor in higher education (NIAD-QE), upon successful completion of entrance examinations.

Associate (Diploma) obtained at a college of technology (5 years)

  • Comparable to: 2 years of HBO (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to the 3rd year of a university bachelor.

Diploma (専門士 senmonshi) obtained at a professional training college

  • Comparable to: 2 years of HBO (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to university bachelor.

Advanced Diploma (高度専門士 kodo senmonshi) obtained at a professional training college

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to master's degree programmes, upon successful completion of entrance examinations.

Bachelor’s degree (学士 Gakushi)

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to master's degree programmes, upon successful completion of entrance examinations.

Bachelor’s degree conferred by NIAD-QE (学士 Gakushi)

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.

Master’s degree (修士 Shushi)

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 years.
  • Type of education: research-oriented education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate progammes, upon successful completion of entrance examinations.