EJU explained: the scores, the Japanese section, two-year validity and the 2026 fees, from JASSO
The EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) is run by JASSO. Universities use it to judge international applicants' Japanese and basic academic ability. It has no pass mark: each university decides which subjects it wants and how it uses the scores, and some do not require it at all.
It runs twice a year. In 2026 the dates are 21 June and 8 November, and the November score report is due around 15 December. Everything below is from JASSO's 2026 guidelines, bulletin and FAQ, read on 5 November 2026.
The four subjects
You take only what your target university asks for. You cannot take both Science and Japan and the World.
Japanese is always in Japanese. The other subjects can be taken in Japanese or English, chosen when you apply. Everything is multiple choice except the Japanese writing section.
- Japanese as a Foreign Language125 min0–400, plus 0–50 for writing
- Science (choose two of physics, chemistry, biology)80 min0–200
- Japan and the World80 min0–200
- Mathematics (Course 1 or Course 2)80 min0–200
How the Japanese section is scored
Order: writing (30 minutes), reading (40 minutes), then listening-reading and listening (about 55 minutes).
Two separate numbers. Reading is 0–200 and listening with listening-reading is 0–200, reported together as 0–400. Writing is reported on its own, 0–50.
Writing has only nine possible scores: 0, 10, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50.
The other scores are not raw marks. JASSO puts them on a common scale, adjusted for the difficulty of each session, so that 80 points from one session means the same as 80 from another.
How long scores last
Two years, which means a maximum of four sessions can be in use at once. But JASSO warns that some universities name which years and how many sessions they accept. Ask yours before you decide to rely on an old score.
What it costs in 2026
JASSO's 2026 guidelines raised the fees in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Mongolia.
In Japan, you cannot top up. If you pay ¥12,000 for one subject and later want two or three, you pay the full ¥23,000 again, not the ¥11,000 difference. After payment, you cannot cancel or get a refund.
The 2026 application windows ran from 16 February to 12 March and from 6 to 30 July, so the next chance to apply is for a 2027 session. Outside Japan, you apply through the overseas representative in your country.
- Japan¥12,000 / ¥23,000One subject / two or three
- South KoreaKRW 65,000 / 110,000One subject / two or three
- TaiwanTWD 1,500 / 2,000One subject / two or three
- Hong KongHKD 600 / 1,150One subject / two or three
- Vietnam275,000 dongHanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
- ThailandTHB 400Bangkok, Chiang Mai
- IndonesiaIDR 110,000Jakarta, Surabaya
- MalaysiaMYR 90Kuala Lumpur
- IndiaINR 1,300New Delhi
- PhilippinesPHP 750Manila
- SingaporeSGD 65
- Sri LankaLKR 1,850Colombo
- MongoliaMNT 70,000Ulaanbaatar
- MyanmarUSD 20Yangon
Mistakes worth avoiding
Asking what score passes the EJU.
Asking your target department which subjects and scores it uses.
The EJU has no pass mark, and requirements vary by university and department.
Paying for one subject and planning to add another later.
Deciding your subjects before you pay.
In Japan, adding a subject means paying the full ¥23,000, not the difference.
Assuming every two-year-old score still counts.
Checking which sessions your university accepts.
JASSO says some universities limit the years and the number of sessions.
Questions
What is the EJU pass mark?
There is none. Each university sets the subjects and how it uses the scores.
How long are EJU scores valid?
Two years, up to four sessions, though some universities set narrower limits.
What is the maximum EJU Japanese score?
400 for reading and listening with listening-reading, plus a separate 50 for writing.
Can I take the EJU in English?
Science, Japan and the World and Mathematics, yes. Japanese as a Foreign Language is only in Japanese.
How much does the EJU cost?
In Japan in 2026, ¥12,000 for one subject and ¥23,000 for two or three. Fees abroad are set per country, for example THB 400 in Thailand.
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