Universities Abroad
日本語US, UK, Canadian or Australian University? A Guide for Families in Japan
Degree length, application deadlines, costs and student visas in the four countries families in Japan most often consider for university.
The first decision for a family in Japan looking at universities abroad is the country. The US, UK, Canada and Australia all teach in English, but they differ on how long a degree takes, how you apply and what it costs.
This page sets the four side by side. Application deadlines and UK visa costs were checked on official sites in October 2026.
The Radcliffe Camera and central Oxford from above
The four compared
| US | UK | Canada | Australia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 4 years | Usually 3 (4 in Scotland) | Usually 4 | Usually 3 |
| Choose a subject | After starting (around year 2) | When applying | Depends on the university and faculty | When applying |
| How to apply | Each college (Common App and others) | UCAS, up to 5 choices | Each university (OUAC in Ontario) | Each university |
| Academic year starts | August–September | September–October | September | February–March |
| What admissions read | Grades, essays, references, activities, tests (optional at many) | Grades, personal statement, fit for the subject | Mainly grades | Mainly grades |
When to apply
The UK uses a single system, UCAS, for up to five choices. For 2027 entry:
| Courses | Deadline (UK time) |
|---|---|
| Oxford, Cambridge, and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses | 18:00, 15 October 2026 (closed) |
| Most other courses | 18:00, 13 January 2027 |
Oxford, Cambridge and medicine close about eleven months before the course starts. Check UCAS for the next cycle's dates.
US deadlines vary by college. Many have an early round in November and a regular round in January. Early Decision is binding: if admitted, you must attend, so be cautious until you know what aid you will receive.
Canada and Australia take applications university by university. Australia's year starts in February or March, and some universities also have a July intake.
Cost and aid
The US has the widest spread. Leading private liberal arts colleges cost about $95,000 a year (Swarthmore $95,770, Williams $95,960, 2026-27). Some, including Amherst and Bowdoin, are need-blind for international applicants and meet full need without loans. See what is a liberal arts college.
The UK, Canada and Australia charge international students higher fees than domestic ones, and need-based grants for international undergraduates are far less common than at US private colleges. Fees vary widely by university and subject, so check each university's international fees page.
Student visas
| Country | Visa | What we checked |
|---|---|---|
| US | F-1 student visa | See the US student visa guide for parents |
| UK | Student visa | £558 application fee, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year of the visa, paid up front |
| Canada | Study permit | Proof of funds for tuition and living costs is required; check the amount with IRCC |
| Australia | Student visa (subclass 500) | Check the fee and conditions with the Department of Home Affairs |
The UK figures are from GOV.UK. On a three-year course, the health surcharge alone comes to more than £2,000.
Applying from a Japanese high school
The UK and Australia: some universities do not accept a Japanese high school diploma for direct entry, and expect a one-year foundation course first. An IB Diploma or A-levels open up direct entry at far more of them.
The US accepts applications on Japanese high school grades. Most colleges ask non-native speakers for an English test; Carleton, for example, looks for TOEFL iBT 100 or above (pre-2026 format) or IELTS 7.0.
International school graduates find the curriculum (IB, AP, A-levels) shapes which countries are easiest; see international school university outcomes.
When to start
Applications open in the autumn of the final year everywhere, but the preparation differs, so it helps to narrow the country by year 1 or 2 of high school.
| Country | By the end of year 2 | Final year |
|---|---|---|
| US | English tests, activities, grades | Essays and references over the summer and autumn; early deadlines around November, regular around January |
| UK | Choose a subject; without IB or A-levels, check whether a foundation year is needed | UCAS: mid-October for Oxford, Cambridge and medicine, mid-January for most other courses |
| Canada | Check each university's entry and English requirements | Apply to each university by its deadline |
| Australia | Check whether a foundation year is needed | Decide between February and July intake and apply |
Which country
- Want to explore before choosing, or need generous aid? The US, especially liberal arts colleges.
- Know the subject and want to finish in three years? The UK or Australia.
- Want a four-year North American degree with a simpler, university-by-university application? Canada.
For six leading US liberal arts colleges compared, see six top liberal arts colleges.
Related guides
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Who wrote this
The Standard Japan editorial desk
The Standard Japan is run from Japan. No school pays to appear in these guides. We check facts against primary sources and update pages when official information changes.