TOKYO, Mar 10 (News On Japan) –
As college entrance examinations attain their last stage, with nationwide and public universities starting their second-round assessments on February twenty fifth, many candidates and their households are grappling with the problem of “double payments” of admission charges, prompting the schooling ministry to contemplate reviewing the system.
The drawback arises when college students safe admission to a backup college earlier than studying the outcomes of their most popular alternative. If the deadline to pay the admission payment on the backup college arrives earlier than the announcement of outcomes from the first-choice college, college students should pay the deposit to maintain their place, despite the fact that they might later enroll elsewhere.
For instance, if a second-choice college proclaims profitable candidates on February fifteenth with a cost deadline of February twenty fifth, however the outcomes of the first-choice college are introduced on March fifth, college students should pay the sooner deadline or danger shedding their spot. If they later move their most popular college and pay that admission payment as properly, the sooner cost isn’t refunded, leading to a double cost.
Some might wonder if universities might merely wait for college students to resolve. However, in line with Shiro Tsujimoto, a reporter masking the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), universities need to decide as early as potential what number of profitable candidates will truly enroll.
By setting an admission payment deadline, universities can gauge the seriousness of candidates and estimate what number of extra admission provides might should be issued. The system additionally permits college students who obtain supplementary admission provides to finish enrollment procedures earlier.
According to a 2023 survey by MEXT, 23.5 p.c of scholars reported paying admission charges to a number of universities—practically one in 4 candidates. The common admission payment at non-public universities stands at 240,365 yen.
A separate 2025 survey by the National Federation of University Co-operative Associations discovered that college students spent a median of 225,200 yen on textbooks, studying supplies, and computer systems earlier than beginning college—roughly the identical quantity as a typical admission payment.
One first-year college scholar interviewed stated they bought a pc really useful by the college co-op for about 200,000 yen and couldn’t assist excited about the admission payment paid to a college they in the end didn’t attend.
For many households, such prices signify a major burden, particularly as some college students might pay admission charges to greater than two universities whereas awaiting last outcomes.
Mai Demizu famous that monetary causes stay one of many largest components stopping some college students from pursuing larger schooling, suggesting that even modest monetary reduction measures might assist potential college students proceed their research.
Ken Ishida, editor-in-chief of The HEADLINE, argued that the problem additionally displays a broader structural drawback in society, the place attending college is commonly seen as a mandatory step earlier than profession alternatives change into seen.
As a outcome, college students really feel compelled to safe a spot someplace by paying admission charges, even when they later withdraw. Ishida recommended that policymakers also needs to rethink whether or not the present mannequin of profession and life development tied intently to college enrollment stays applicable.
Recognizing the rising concern, MEXT issued a discover to personal universities and junior schools in June 2025 calling for clearer explanations to college students and oldsters, efforts to cut back the monetary burden of admission charges, and measures to ease the burden on college students who in the end select to not enroll.
In December 2025, MEXT performed a survey of 836 non-public universities and junior schools concerning admission charges for college students who don’t enroll. A complete of 210 establishments stated that they had taken or had been contemplating some type of motion.
However, a better look revealed that solely 83 universities—about 10 p.c—deliberate to implement measures beginning with the 2026 entrance examination cycle, indicating that widespread adjustments have but to happen.
Among universities introducing reforms, Tokyo Junshin University has determined to refund admission charges in full for college students who don’t enroll, whereas Bunka Gakuen University plans to refund the payment after deducting 100,000 yen.
Demizu recommended that universities ought to discover other ways of confirming college students’ intention to enroll slightly than counting on massive admission charges, and deal with making their establishments extra interesting to potential college students.
Ishida added that whereas universities inevitably function inside monetary constraints and search to safe as many college students as potential—significantly in an period when practically all candidates can achieve admission someplace—schooling establishments ought to in the end compete by the standard of schooling and analysis environments they provide slightly than counting on monetary obstacles.
Rather than competing solely throughout the present framework of college admissions, he argued, establishments ought to deal with what sort of schooling they supply and the way they will nurture the following technology of expertise.
Source: TBS