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Study abroad in
Japan
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live the life of a Japanese student, joining a local family and attending a local secondary school: the best way to discover Japan from the inside!
Going with WEP is best
Since 1988, a wide choice of destinations and comprehensive assistance before, during and after your overseas programme. WEP is the ideal partner for your big overseas adventure.
Like you, we also get to choose who we travel with: our schools, host families and overseas partner organisations are carefully selected.
We offer a custom-made insurance policy, specifically designed for our participants, and we have a solid network behind us.
Emergency assistance, overseas and in the UK, is available 7 days out of 7, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Allowing all our participants to live their desired overseas experience is a mission, a challenge we're thrilled to accept.
Why study in Japan?
Japan is known world-wide for its excellent education system, so different to ours. Studying in Japan is a great opportunity to experience a high quality school system first-hand, whilst exploring in incredibly fascinating, ancient culture.
You may be immersed in the hustle and bustle of a large city or soak in the peaceful atmosphere of its rural areas, where traditions are deeply rooted in the local community: wearing kimono, practicing martial arts, the tea ceremony, the art of calligraphy...
The natural abundance in the Land of the Rising Sun will surprise you: from majestic Mount Fuji, to the heavenly beaches of Okinawa or the lavander fields in Hokkaido, but also the picturesque autumn foliage or the cherry blossom season
Japan's unique architecture is bound to impress you, with Buddhist temples, Shinto temples, castles and Kabuki theatres, traditional houses and Ryokan (traditional Japanese inns).
You'll be able to dive into the delicious Japanese cuisine, which is not all about sushi, sashimi and maki, but ramen, gyoza, tempura, yakitori... get your taste buds ready for the real, authentic deal!
Studying in Japan will be a life-changing experience, a full immersion in a thousand year old culture with a unique allure.
Study in Japan with WEP
Head to Japan with WEP to make quick progress with your Japanese and live a memorable experience! An educational programme in this country will help you grow, mature, discover a new education system and improve your intercultural understanding and awareness.
As an exchange student to Japan, you will step into the shoes of a local teenager, attending a local secondary school and living with a Japanese family who will show you their traditions and way of life.
The Japan education system
The Japanese education system is known to be one of the best, most efficient in the world. Students begin primary school at the age of 6, until 11 years old. They then continue with middle school for 3 years (from 12 to 15 years old) and secondary school, for another 3 years, until 18 years old.
The Higher education system is made up of different types of institutions and programmes. The most famous universities, Tokyo, Nagoya and Hokkaidô, are very prestigious and attract students from all over the world. Usually, the first cycle of university studies (gakubu) lasts 4 years, followed by shushikatei (master) and hakasekatei (PhD).
FAQ
To participante in a high school exchange programme to Japan, you need to be between 15 and 18 years old on departure, have a C grade average, have studied Japanese for a minimum of 2 years, be a non-smoker, and have positive personal traits, such as being motivated, curious, tolerant, open and adaptable. You also need to be physically and emotionally healthy - please discuss any specific conditions or requirements with WEP in advance.
Our high school exchange programmes in Japan can be of different durations: approximately 1, 3, 5, 7 or 10 months. The exact duration depends on the departure period - please contact WEP for more information.
To decide which duration is best for you, you should reflect on what you would like to achieve through the programme, and discuss your preferences both with your family (they need to be on board!) and with your school. In particular, make sure you discuss with a school representative what their policies are, regarding coming back from an exchange programme and re-integrating into school in the UK.
It's always best to check our website and/or obtain an online quote to see updated programme prices.
We know an overseas programme is a significant financial investment. We do our best to offer competitive prices, which vary depending on the destination and chosen programme, and provide discounts and special promotions to help towards the cost.
You will live with a Japanese host family, who may be located anywhere in the country.