Information for students from Japan
We are delighted you are considering joining UCA to study! Here, you will be able to set your creativity free, learn a wealth of transferable skills, get unique industry insight and be prepared for a successful career in the creative industries.
This page should give you all the information you need to know about applying to UCA from your country, and more about life at UCA too.
And, if you have any questions, see the Get In Touch section to call or email your country’s specialist contact.
Entry requirements
If you do not have UK qualifications, we will consider equivalent qualifications from Japan for entry onto our Foundation, Bachelor’s and Master’s courses.
Each application we receive is considered individually and therefore these qualifications are provided as a guide.
Please also check the entry requirements on the specific course you are interested in to check for course-specific requirements.
If you are not sure if you have the necessary qualifications please contact internationaladmissions@uca.ac.uk.
For our Bachelor's courses, we usually require that you have one of the following:
- Japanese Associate degree
- A transcript showing successful completion of year 1 of a Bachelor's degree from a recognised Japanese university with average score of 70%
For Advanced entry (undergraduate top-up degrees), we usually require that you have completed an Associate degree with a score of at least 70%.
For our International Foundation in Creative Practices and our Integrated Foundation courses, we usually require that you have completed 12 years of Japanese High School (Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate) with average grade of 3.0/5.0 or higher.
Integrated Pre-Masters course
Our Pre-Masters courses require a recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject. Applicants will also need to meet any course-specific requirements.
Masters course
For our Master’s courses, we usually require that you have successfully completed a Bachelor's degree at a recognised university.
If you take the IELTS test you will need to achieve the following scores (or an equivalent from other UCA-approved English tests):
- Undergraduate degree (BA/BSc/BMus):
6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section (except if listed below) - BA Architecture:
6.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section - Undergraduate degree with international foundation year:
5.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section - International Foundation in Creative Practices:
5.0 overall with no less than 4.5 in any section - Master's Degree (MA/MSc/MFA/MBA/MArch/MMus):
6.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section - Pre-Master's (15 Weeks):
6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section - Pre-Master's (30 Weeks):
5.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section - Postgraduate Research (PhD/MPhil):
7.0 overall, with no less than 7.0 in writing and 5.5 in any other section - Pre-Doctorate:
6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section
Scholarships & bursaries
UCA offers a number of fee discounts, also known as scholarships, specific to students from overseas.
These discounts are available to new international students and international alumni, who have graduated within the last three years.
To find out more about what is available, whether you are eligible, and how to apply, visit our scholarships page.
Overseas representatives &
institutional partners
UCA works with a number of overseas representatives who can help you make an application to UCA. If you are considering using the services of one of these companies, we encourage you to refer to the British Council's guide to choosing an education agent and UCA’s Agent Complaint Procedure.
Affinity Japan
- Email: ryugaku@affinity-japan.com
- Website: https://affinity-japan.com
BEO
- Email: https://beo.jp/counseling-reservation/
- Website: https://beo.jp
diBec
- Email: tada@dibec.co.jp
- Website: http://www.dibec.co.jp
iae GLOBAL (Japan)
- Email: k.ota@iae-ryugaku.net
- Website: https://www.iae-ryugaku.net
Ryugaku Information Centre (RIC)
- Email: tomomi@ryugaku-johokan.com
- Website: https://www.ryugaku-johokan.com
SAA
- Email: info@ryugaku.or.jp
- Website: https://www.ryugaku.or.jp
SI-UK (Study International UK)
- Email: tokyo@ukeducation.jp
- Website: https://www.ukeducation.jp
UCA is delighted to be partnered with a number of institutions in Japan.
NIC International College, Japan
- Email: infonic@nicuc.ac.jp
- Website: https://www.nicuc.ac.jp/en
Japan College of Foreign Languages (JCFL)
- Email: world@dream.jcfl.ac.jp
- Website: https://www.jcfl.ac.jp/english
Sokei Academy of Fine Art & Design
- Email: artabroad@sokei.ac.jp
- Website: https://www.sokeiabroad.com/en
Get in touch
Please let the country manager know if you have any questions or need help with your application!
Luke Simmons
- Senior International Officer (East Asia)
- Email: luke.simmons@uca.ac.uk
- Phone/WhatsApp: +44 (0)7814 650 495
- LINE: lukehcsimmons
- KakaoTalk: LukeUCA
- WeChat ID: Luke_UCA