Japan Eases Student Enrolment Limits to Boost Internationalisation

Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has announced at a public meeting late last month plans to relax student enrolment limits at select universities, junior colleges, and technical colleges as part of its strategy to enhance internationalisation in higher education.

Education Minister Abe Toshiko highlighted the importance of attracting outstanding international students to advance Japan’s global human resource development. The proposed revisions to the University Establishment Standards would allow certain institutions to exceed their enrolment thresholds by up to 5% starting in April 2026.

To qualify for this exemption, universities must submit detailed recruitment plans to MEXT, demonstrating their capacity to maintain high continuation rates and manage increased enrolments effectively. Currently, enrolment restrictions are based on factors such as institution size, with penalties including the loss of state subsidies if limits are exceeded. Under the new proposals, only universities with strong financial standing and no history of regulatory violations would be considered for the exemption.

This move aligns with Japan's ambitious goal of attracting 400,000 international students by 2033, a significant increase from the current numbers. Last year, the number of international students in Japan rose by 20% to reach near pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the Japan Student Services Organization.

(Trends in Number of International Students by Source of Funds)

The relaxation of enrolment limits is seen as a strategic effort to bolster Japan's position in the global education landscape, fostering a more diverse and internationally competitive academic environment.

The public consultation period for the proposed changes is currently underway, with MEXT seeking feedback from stakeholders across the education sector.