Entrance qualification for a master's course or a doctoral course (first half) is granted to a person falling under any of the following.
1. A person who has graduated from a university [Article 102 of the Act]
2. A person who has been granted a bachelor's degree by the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education [Article 155, paragraph (1), item (i) of the Enforcement Regulation]
3. A person who has completed a 16-year school education course (or an 18-year school education course for entrance to a doctoral course majoring in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or veterinary science) in a foreign country [Article 155, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Enforcement Regulation]
4. A person who has completed a 16-year education course (or an 18-year course for entrance to a doctoral course majoring in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or veterinary science) of a foreign country by taking, in Japan, a correspondence course provided by a school of that country [Article 155, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Enforcement Regulation]
5. A person who has completed a course of a foreign school designated as equivalent to a foreign university in Japan (a foreign university branch in Japan designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) [Article 155, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Enforcement Regulation]
6. A person who has been granted a degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree by completing a course of not less than three years (or five years for entrance to a doctoral course majoring in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or veterinary science) at a foreign university, etc. [Article 155, paragraph (1), item (iv)-2 of the Enforcement Regulation]
7. A person who has completed a postsecondary course of a designated special training college (List of Postsecondary Courses of Special Training Colleges Designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) [Article 155, paragraph (1), item (v) of the Enforcement Regulation]
8. A person who has completed a course of a school under the old educational system, etc. [item (i) to item (iv) of Public Notice of the Ministry of Education No. 5 of 1953; item (i) of Public Notice of the Ministry of Education No. 39 of 1955]
9. A person who has completed a course of the National Defense Academy of Japan, Japan Coast Guard Academy, Meteorological College, or other academy or college established by a ministry or agency [item (v) to item (xii) of Public Notice of the Ministry of Education No. 5 of 1953; item (ii) of Public Notice of the Ministry of Education No. 39 of 1955]
10. A person aged 22 or over who has been admitted by a graduate school through an independent entrance examination [Article 155, paragraph (1), item (viii) of the Enforcement Regulation]


Foreign University Branches in Japan Designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (as of April 15, 2015)