Japan Will Let Students Earn Master’s Degrees in Five Years

Japan wants to encourage more students to complete graduate degrees at its universities and has proposed a new graduate degree system that allows students to complete a graduate degree in only five years. Here’s what Japan is considering and what it means for graduate students in Japan.

Japan wants more graduate students

Yesterday, at the Central Council for Education subcommittee meeting, Japan’s education ministry proposed a new degree system that would allow students to complete a master’s degree in just five years, instead of the current six-year system. The ministry hopes to implement the new system in 2026 as a way to boost the number of students who undertake graduate studies in Japan.

Currently, only about 12 percent of undergraduate students at Japanese universities continue on to graduate studies. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation (OECD) estimates that, globally, about 17 percent of 24-34 year olds hold graduate degrees. Japan wants to increase its graduate-degree holders to be more in line with Western countries, where the average is closer to 30 percent.

Graduate degree attainment is also largely dependent on the field students pursue. STEM students at Japanese universities are more likely to pursue graduate studies, while less than 5 percent of humanities and social science students earn graduate degrees.

Why don’t Japanese students pursue graduate degrees?

Under the current system, it takes four years to earn a bachelor’s degree from a Japanese university, followed by at least two years of study for a master’s degree. Japan’s education ministry hopes that by accelerating the degree cycle, more students will choose to enter graduate school.

Some Japanese universities, like Keio University, already allow outstanding students to shorten their studies if they meet course requirements. The University of Tokyo is also launching a five-year Bachelor’s/Master’s program at its College of Design in 2027. The ministry’s plan aims to make it easier for universities to develop these types of programs.

But the Central Council for Education also noted that time may not be the only factor deterring students from graduate degrees. Japanese companies recruit fewer graduate students because of salary demands and cultural norms.

Last year, the Japanese government launched an initiative to support and promote the hiring of doctoral degree holders by Japanese companies. A 2020 survey showed that less than a quarter of Japanese companies had hired doctoral degree graduates.

What’s next?

The ministry’s proposal is set to be implemented in time for the 2026/27 academic year. It follows on from last year’s initiative aimed at increasing the number of doctoral degree holders in Japan by 200 percent by 2040. Both measures are designed to increase the competitiveness of Japan on the global stage.

And while culture and industry practices will also be examined and addressed, some Japanese companies are already bucking the trend. Earlier this year, a gaming industry blogger found that compared to other Japanese companies in the sector, Nintendo is a major employer of graduate degree holders. A review of game developers hired by Nintendo between 2000 and 2023 found that more than a third of new hires held a master’s or PhD.