The Japanese academic degree system including bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees.
Overview
Academic Degrees
The Japanese academic degree system is a credential framework granted by higher education institutions such as universities and graduate schools to individuals who complete specific educational programs under the School Education Act. In addition to the three-tier structure of bachelor's (4-year university), master's (graduate school), and doctoral (highest degree) degrees, various other degrees exist including associate degrees and professional degrees. Professional degrees emphasize education that bridges theory and practice, with types including Juris Doctor (professional) from law schools and Master of Education (professional) from teacher training graduate schools. These degrees are positioned within international educational frameworks and contribute to quality assurance in Japanese higher education.
academic degrees
bachelor
master
doctor
professional degree
university
graduate school
higher education
| code | slug | name | description | category | credits | duration | level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L6 | bachelor | Bachelor's Degree | A degree awarded to those who complete a 4-year university program. | undergraduate | 124 credits or more | 4 years (6 years for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and pharmacy) | 6 |
| L7 | master | Master's Degree | A degree awarded to those who complete a master's program at graduate school. | graduate | 30 credits or more | 2 years | 7 |
| L7-P | professional-master | Master's Degree (Professional) | A professional degree awarded to those who complete a professional graduate school. | professional | 30 credits or more | 2 years | 7 |
| L7-JD | juris-doctor | Juris Doctor (Professional) | A professional degree awarded to those who complete a law school. | professional | 93 credits or more | 3 years (2 years for those with prior legal education) | 7 |
| L7-ED | master-of-education-professional | Master of Education (Professional) | A professional degree awarded to those who complete a teacher training graduate school. | professional | 45 credits or more | 2 years | 7 |
| L8 | doctor | Doctoral Degree | The highest degree awarded to those who complete a doctoral program at graduate school. | graduate | 30 credits or more (including master's credits) | 5 years (4 years for medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine) | 8 |
| L5 | associate-degree | Associate Degree | A degree awarded to those who complete a junior college. | undergraduate | 2 or 3 years | 5 | |
| L5-SD | advanced-diploma | Advanced Diploma | A title awarded to those who complete a specialized training college program (4+ years). | vocational | 4 years or more | 5 | |
| L5-D | diploma | Diploma | A title awarded to those who complete a specialized training college program (2+ years). | vocational | 2 years or more | 5 |