There are several entrance examinations for the Masters course: general exam, career exam (for those already in the workforce and for Japanese language teachers) and special international exchange student exam. All exams are held twice throughout the year—in October (first semester entrance examinations) and in February (second semester entrance examinations). This means there are two opportunities to take the test but you only need to pass it once. Regardless of which test you pass, the beginning of the academic year is April. Internal entrance examinations are available for KUIS undergraduate students and for KUIS graduates who have graduated within five years.

To sit the general entrance examination, it does not matter what your university major is or whether or not you have experience outside university. It involves a written exam (specialist problems and English) and an oral exam. The content of the examination is outlined below.

1. Specialist problems exam
This involves specialist short essay problems. One question will be revealed beforehand (a choice of 2 questions) and another question will be unseen prior to the test. The seen question will be sent to you together with the examination admission slip upon application. Please prepare by ensuring you are able to write between 700 and 800 characters. Notes cannot be taken into the exam. The exam is 90 minutes in duration.

2. English exam
The English exam is a reading comprehension exam 60 minutes in duration. Dictionaries are allowed. Proof of TOEFL 500, or IELTS5.0 scores (if the test was taken within the previous two years) will gain an exemption from the English examination.

Japanese Language Majors will conduct the exam in Japanese. The questions will be based on the contents of the previously submitted ‘Research Proposal’. The test is 20 minutes in duration.

As a rule, those who have at least three years practical experience outside university are exempt from taking the written examination and can instead write a short essay and sit the oral exam. This is offered as an opportunity for those who have a clear objective for enrolling, and know where they are headed after graduating, to learn and research at KUIS graduate school. The oral examination method is the same as the general examination.

This examination is for those who have at least three years experience as a Japanese language teacher in either a Japanese or overseas education institution. It is for those who wish to take the Graduate School Japanese Language Major in order to improve their Japanese language teaching speciality, practical ability and qualifications. You may be exempt from the written examination, so a document screening and a Japanese oral examination (20 minutes per person) will be conducted.

To be eligible to take this exam you must have graduated, or be close to graduating from a 4-year university and have passed Level N1 or Level 1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. The examination contains specialist problems and an oral exam. There are no English language examinations.

To be considered for selection you must pass document screening, a written examination (speciality area and English) and an oral examination.

To be considered for selection you must pass documents screening, a written examination (speciality area and English) and an oral examination.

To be considered for selection you must pass document screening, a written examination (speciality area and English) and an oral examination.

To be considered for selection you must pass document screening, a written examination (speciality area and English) and an oral examination