Am I too old to study Japanese in Japan?

You may have heard recently that it’s now impossible to study in Japan if you are over 30 years old. Luckily for those who fall in that category, this isn’t actually true and it’s actually never too late to chase your Japanese language dreams.

But, there are some things you should be aware of before you go ahead and apply for a student visa.

Mind the gap

The biggest issue for older students is the gap between when you graduated high school or formal further education and the time you apply for language school. If that gap is more than five years, then Japanese immigration will ask for more information about your desire to study in Japan. This often just means you will need to write a letter detailing why you want to study Japanese and/or send hard copies of particular documents, rather than digital copies.

This is your chance to prove your passion and dedication to learning Japanese and it will encourage you to really think about what you want to achieve.

School availability

Some Japanese language schools do have age limits for accepting students. However, the majority of our schools support mature students and we have helped many students who are 30 and older successfully apply to Japanese language school. Talk to us and we can help you find the best option for you.

Age is just a number

Other than that, applying to study in Japan when you’re over 30 is very much the same as for anyone else. The slightly stricter requirements shouldn’t put anyone off, if it is something they want to pursue.

Studying abroad when you’re a bit older is incredibly fulfilling. You often have an appreciation for different things than when you’re in your late teens and early 20s. You may also have a clearer vision of your goals and what you want to achieve, since you’re likely to already have some work and life experience under your belt. This can go a long way to staying motivated when the studying gets tough and all those kanji start looking the same!!

Your work experience can also bode well for you if your goal is to work in Japan full-time. You can bring your language skills up to business-level after about two years of full-time study. As long as you have the right qualifications, you’re in a good position to find a job that you want.

Additionally, if you have a Bachelor’s degree or significant business experience, you might also consider studying an MBA in Tokyo through GLOBIS University. Their full-time programme can be completed in just one year and their extensive business network means you will receive the support you need in your post-study job hunt.

Visit our website for more information on GLOBIS’ one-year MBA programme.

Contact us to help you with your application

If you’re worried that you won’t be able to come to Japan to study if you’re over 30, then fret not. It’s likely you will be asked more questions about why you want to come to Japan to study. But if you’re motivated and want to come for the right reasons, then it shouldn’t be a significant barrier.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions!