In recent years, conventional approaches to education have changed significantly. E-learning and distance learning give students more ways to study across locations and time zones. Universities and education providers connected with Japan have also adopted online and distance-delivery formats.
Japan is one of the world’s largest economies and is internationally known for higher education, research, and technology.
Students can find a limited number of graduate-study options connected with institutions in Japan. However, “online” may refer to a fully online degree, a hybrid program, a distance-learning program, or individual courses delivered remotely. Applicants should review each program’s delivery method and qualification status carefully.
For the convenience of our readers, we have created a detailed article below on institutions offering online or distance-learning master’s-level study options connected with Japan.
Top Schools Offering Online Master’s Degrees in Japan
1. United International Business School, Tokyo
United International Business School (UIBS) has an educational site in Tokyo that operates under its main campus in Zurich. Degree programs associated with the Tokyo site use a blended format that includes virtual courses. Students seeking a completely online route can apply through UIBS’s Zurich-based Online Campus, where programs can be completed online.
UIBS focuses on international and intercultural business education. Its English-taught programs follow an American-inspired model that gives students flexibility in selecting courses. Faculty members combine academic instruction with professional experience.
Online master’s-level options include the Master in Business Studies, Master of Business Administration, and Master in Financial Management, among other business-related programs.
Applicants to UIBS master’s programs generally need a bachelor’s degree or an internationally equivalent qualification and sufficient English proficiency. The Online MBA for experienced professionals also requires at least three years of professional experience.
Applicants should check the recognition status of the exact qualification they intend to pursue. UIBS explains that many qualifications issued through its Swiss headquarters are private institutional qualifications, while certain Professional Master programs available through the Online Campus may lead to state-recognized qualifications through partner arrangements.
2. Globis University, Japan Campus
GLOBIS began as a management school in 1992, and GLOBIS University was established in 2006. Its English-language Part-time & Online MBA can be completed fully online through live, interactive classes or through a hybrid format that combines online and on-campus participation.
Online classes bring together students from more than 20 nationalities. Live videoconferencing allows students to participate in real-time case discussions, group work, and other interactive learning activities.
The Part-time & Online MBA normally takes two years and is divided into eight terms. Its curriculum includes Fundamental, Applied, and Specialized courses. Current course offerings include subjects such as Essentials of Accounting, Business Analytics, Marketing, Business Presentation, Customer Journey and Branding, Venture Business Planning, and Strategic Reorganization.
The university’s currently published fee information lists an enrollment fee of JPY 80,000 and tuition of JPY 3,450,000, for a total of JPY 3,530,000. Applicants should confirm the amount that applies to their intake because fees may be revised.
The university also offers GLOBIS Scholarships covering up to 50% of tuition. Selection considers factors such as admission performance, leadership potential, expected contributions to the GLOBIS community, and financial need. Recipients must also satisfy the scholarship’s continuing conditions.
3. Nihon University, Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies
Nihon University officially identifies its Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies as a Graduate Program in Distance Learning. The program is intended to make graduate study more accessible to working adults and other students who require a flexible study format.
Its three master’s-level fields are International Political Science and Economics, Culture and Communication Studies, and Human Science.
International applicants should consult the current admissions materials or contact the graduate school directly to confirm Japanese-language requirements, application eligibility, attendance obligations, and whether all program components can be completed while residing outside Japan. The currently available official information does not clearly establish that the entire degree can be completed fully online from abroad.
4. Kyoto University, Graduate School of Biostudies
Kyoto University offers several remotely taught courses through its Graduate School of Biostudies. However, the cited university page does not describe these offerings as separate or fully online master’s degree programs. Instead, it identifies them as courses within the school’s master’s program that are taught in a distance-learning format.
The listed courses include Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology I, offered with the National Taiwan University; Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology II, offered with the University of California San Diego; and Cancer Biology and Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms in Neural Development and Regeneration, offered with the University of Tsukuba.
Students seeking an entire online master’s degree should not treat these individual courses as confirmation that the Graduate School of Biostudies offers a fully online degree. Prospective students should consult the school’s current admissions and curriculum information for the applicable degree requirements.
Online study can make international education more accessible, but applicants should compare time zones, tuition fees, language requirements, delivery methods, and degree-recognition conditions before applying.
We hope this article helps you narrow down the most suitable online or distance-learning master’s option connected with Japan. For more information, please see our Study in Japan guide and Available Programs for International Students!
