Foreign students over the age of 18 from countries where school education lasts for 10 or 11 years are eligible to enter higher education institutions after they complete any of the "courses of preliminary study for university entrance" authorized by MEXT. They must take an entrance examination.

A visa granting foreign student status must be obtained before entering Japan.

Japanese courses (one to one-and-a-half years) are available at some private universities or private Japanese language schools to upgrade students' knowledge of Japanese.