Tips for Choosing a Major when Studying in Japan

When graduating from a Japanese university or vocational school and changing your Status of Residence so that you can work in Japan, the most common type of Visa chosen is Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. However, depending on your major at university or vocational school, you may not be able to change your Status of Residence smoothly. When deciding on a major to study in Japan, be sure to research the relationship between the major and the types of job you can expect before making your decision.

Types of job available with GIJINKOKU Visa

In general, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (a.k.a. GIJINKOKU Visa) is a Status of Residence for office work and technical work that require expertise, and it does not allow you to do simple work alone. Moreover, jobs that correspond to Engineer and Specialist in Humanities are jobs that use the skills and knowledge learned at universities and vocational schools. International Services refers to work that involves foreign cultures and sensitivities.

If you want to work in the field of Engineer or Specialist in Humanities, you must choose a job that matches your major under Engineer or Specialist in Humanities studied at your university or vocational school.

What is the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI) Status? What are the requirements?

For those who are interested in working full-time in Japan and want to know how they can start working, we would like to introduce the status of residence called Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI) (generally called “gijinkoku” in Japanese).

Various Ways to Obtain GIJINKOKU Visa

There are various ways to obtain a Status of Residence, GIJINKOKU Visa (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services). The following are the common methods.

In Case of University Graduates

When applying for a GIJINKOKU Visa to do a certain job, if you are a university graduate, you will be judged broadly or leniently, and if you are a vocational school graduate, you will be judged strictly as to whether or not the job matches your major.

For example, when graduating from university, regardless of degree such as literature, law or economics, the types of job available with GIJINKOKU Visa will not differ much. Same will apply for university in Japan or university in your home country.

In Case of Vocational School Graduates

If you are a graduate from a vocational school, the relevance of your major to your job will be thoroughly and strictly examined. For this reason, major at vocational school must be carefully chosen with future job prospects in mind. Consult with your vocational school about your major before enrolling. Also, if there is a senior international student who has been able to find a job of your desire, you should consult with him or her.

Summary

There are actually many international students who must give up their jobs because they are unable to obtain GIJINKOKU Visa due to a mismatch of their major and their job, even though they have received a job offer. When deciding on which major to study in Japan, carefully research the relationship between the major and the types of job you can expect before making your decision.

Purpose of Studying Abroad and Schools

Let’s take a look at the different types of schools and how to choose the right one when studying in Japan.

If you want to know more, check here!

Job Hunting Guide for International Students | JASSO

Employment Service for foreigners | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare