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Bilingual Master's Program in Law (BiP)
Please read all sections very carefully before applying for this program.
All inquiries to individual professors should be sent via the Admission Office (admission@law.kyushu-u.ac.jp). Direct inquiries to professors cannot be answered.
1 Overview
The Bilingual Master's program in Law (BiP) offers students the unique opportunity to engage in graduate level study of law in a "bilingual" environment at a law faculty in Japan.
As such, the program facilitates an improvement in Japanese ability whilst allowing students to engage in classroom study and supervised research across a wide range of subjects in the field of law.
The program offers students the possibility of taking classes and writing a thesis in Japanese or English. Although there is no formal language requirement, a high level of Japanese is required in order to participate in classes taught in Japanese. The program is open to students from a Japanese Studies background, as well as those who have previously studied law.
No prior formal legal education is required.
2 Program Duration
BiP is taught on a full-time basis and takes a minimum of 12 months for completion, beginning in either April or October every year and ending in March or September of the following year.
Students enrolled on BiP are able to extend the period of study for an additional 6 or 12 months (one or two semesters) if they wish, although any such extension is subject to faculty approval.
3 Program Requirements
All students are expected to complete:
- A 20-credit coursework requirement (approximately five courses per semester over one year/two semesters). Courses may be chosen from a wide selection undergraduate and graduate level classes offered by the Faculty of Law in both Japanese and English. An up-to-date list of the courses offered in English & Japanese can be found here.
  - A 50 pages master's thesis written in either English or Japanese on any legal subject agreed in consultation with the academic supervisor. A 20-page summary in the other language is also required. The research interests of faculty members involved in BiP are available here.
4 Admission Requirements
For admission to BiP, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- An undergraduate degree in either Law OR Japanese/East Asian Studies.
  - A good command of oral, written and reading Japanese. Although there is no formal Japanese language requirement for BiP, an interview will be conducted with all candidates to ensure that students have the ability to participate in courses taught in Japanese. In addition, students will be obliged to submit a personal statement written in Japanese as part of the application process.
  - A good command of English. A TOEFL score of 79+ (Internet-based) or equivalent is required for non-native English speakers.
  - Sufficient financial support for the duration of the program. Please note that scholarships may have additional requirements.
5 Application Materials & Procedure
Application requirements and procedures for the BiP vary depending on whether the applicant wishes to apply for financial aid or not, and what type of financial aid the applicant is seeking.
This section contains a list of financial aid options and the relevant application materials.
i. Self-financing
Students also have the option to self-finance their study.
Application Guidelines and the Application Form can be downloaded here_08.
Applications open from Mid-June each year for entry in April or October of the following year.
Application for April & October 2025 entries are open.
ii. Embassy Nominated Japanese Government Scholarship
The Japanese Government also offers Embassy-Nominated Japanese Government Scholarships. Please contact the local Embassy / Consulate General in order to receive the necessary application documents and further information on Embassy Scholarships.
Applicants who have passed the Preliminary Screening and wish to enroll in the
BiP for October of the following year must then submit the "BiP Application Form" and supporting materials to the Admission Office of the International Programs, Graduate School of Law, Kyushu University.
The application deadline is available in the Application Guidelines.
If you have passed the Preliminary Screening, Application Guidelines and the BiP Application Form can be downloaded here_09
Application opens from mid-June each year for entry in October of the following year.
Applications for Spring/Fall 2025 entries are closed.
iii. JASSO Honors Scholarship
JASSO offers "Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students" for international students who are accepted by a Japanese university. Applicants for the scholarship will be accepted through the school. The applicants must submit an application form to the Admission Office of the International Programs, Graduate School of Law, Kyushu University to have us recommend to JASSO that the candidate is qualified to receive the scholarship. The application deadline for the scholarship is available upon request.
More scholarship information for applicants who can read Japanese is available here:
Kyushu University Scholarship Information web site:
http://www.isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/intlweb/scholarship/view/list.php?nendo=2013&lang=en
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO):
https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/ryugaku/scholarship_j/index.html
Since Kyushu University does not have any control over the administration of these scholarships, it is the applicant's responsibility to check whether the scholarship he/she is applying for can be used for the LL.M. program.
Please note that acceptance to these scholarship does not guarantee acceptance to any of the International Programs in Law offered by Kyushu University.
6 Tuition, Other Fees & Living Costs
The various university fees and estimated living costs are approximately as follows. Exact amounts are available upon request:
- Kyushu University Registration Fee: 30,000 yen.
  - Kyushu University Entrance Fee: 280,000 yen (paid once on enrollment).
  - Kyushu University Tuition Fee per Semester (2x per year): 270,000 yen.
  - Monthly Living Costs: 100,000 yen (approx.).
  - Money for Arrival: Based on the experience of former students, we recommend new students to bring a minimum of 150,000 yen in cash if staying in university accommodation and 200,000 yen if staying in private accommodation.
Some additional information on fees is available here:
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/admission/fees/expenses
7 Scholarship Information
General Scholarship Information can be found through the following link:
http://www.isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/intlweb/scholarship/view/list.php?nendo=2020&lang=en
* Normally, eligibility to apply for a scholarship is after enrollment of Kyushu University. Please check the conditions and procedure very carefully.
The following information is for the self-supporting international students.
The application must be received at your Student Affairs Division. Please note that the deadline of application is different from each Student Affairs Division.
Before Kyushu University recommends the students to a foundation, we may have screening within the university.
In case you have any questions, please be sure to inquire at your Student Affairs Division.
8 FAQ
Am I entitled to a waiver of the TOEFL etc. language requirement?
Our normal practice is to require all applicants for whom English is a second language to submit a TOEFL test or equivalent, although if there are some special circumstances, we will consider a waiver.
Is my Japanese level good enough for BiP?

Although there is no formal requirement in Japanese language for BiP, students are expected to be able to actively participate in law classes taught entirely in Japanese. As such, a high level of Japanese is required prior to enrollment.
Students would be expected to be able to read the material contained in these files 01, 02 for example.

I cannot speak Japanese but I am interested in BiP?
This program is not suitable for beginners.
Are Japanese nationals eligible to apply for BiP?
No. The "Lifelong Learning Program" is designed for Japanese nationals.
Further information on this program is available here.
If I have taken an English test other than TOEFL, what score is required?
A conversion chart is available here
*Some scholarships may be restricted from acceptable English tests.
9 Pamphlet
The BiP Pamphlet can be downloaded here
10 Contact Details & Inquiries
Inquiries regarding this program should be addressed to:
Fax: 81 [Japan] -92-802-5407
E-mail: admission@law.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Application materials should be submitted to:
Admission Office of the International Programs, Graduate School of Law, Kyushu University,
744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
11 Privacy Policy
Before applying, please read carefully the Privacy Policy for International Students Applying for Admission at Kyushu University available at:
http://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/website/privacypolicy/internationalstudents
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744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, 819-0395 Fukuoka Fax +81-(0)92-802-5407
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International Programs in Law,
Graduate School of Law, Kyushu University
744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, 819-0395 Fukuoka
Fax +81-(0)92-802-5407
Privacy Policy