EJU Exam Guide for Indian Students: 2026 Dates, New Delhi Centre and Subjects

Dr. Jayanthy Ramakrishnan

06/11/2026

7 min read

The EJU, the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students, is the entrance test most Japanese universities use for international applicants to their Japanese-taught bachelor’s programmes. It is run by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) twice a year. India has one test centre, in New Delhi.

This guide covers the 2026 dates, the New Delhi centre and fee, the four subjects and their score scales, and which universities use the EJU. It also explains why many English-taught degrees in Japan do not ask for it. Every date, fee and figure comes from JASSO’s official EJU pages, read on 5 November 2026.

What is the EJU exam?

JASSO’s Guidelines for the 2026 EJU describe it as a test of the Japanese language ability and basic academic ability that international students need to study at undergraduate level in Japan. It is for people who want to enter a Japanese university or a similar higher education institution as an international student.

The EJU is not a pass-or-fail exam. Each university decides which subjects it wants and how it uses the scores, often alongside its own interview or written test. All questions are multiple choice, except the writing section of the Japanese test.

When is the EJU in 2026, and can you still register?

JASSO’s examination schedule lists two sessions for 2026:

Registration for the 8 November 2026 session closed on 30 July 2026. If you did not apply by then, you cannot sit this session. The next chance is the first session of 2027. As of 5 November 2026, JASSO has not yet published the 2027 dates. Going by the 2026 pattern, the first session falls in June with applications in February and March, but treat that as a guide only until JASSO announces the dates.

Where can you take the EJU in India?

Only in New Delhi. JASSO lists India (New Delhi) among its 17 test cities outside Japan, and its venue list for the November 2026 session names the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies as the New Delhi venue.

You do not apply to JASSO directly from India. The local administrator is the Mombusho Scholars Association of India (MOSAI), at New Delhi House, 27 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, and applications are made online, according to JASSO’s list of overseas representatives. The India field is small: JASSO’s applicant figures show 341 applicants in New Delhi for the November 2026 session, out of 8,344 outside Japan and 32,853 in total.

How much is the EJU fee in India?

The 2026 guidelines set the India fee at INR 1,300. In Japan the fee is ¥12,000 for one subject or ¥23,000 for two or three subjects, including tax. JASSO’s fee page adds that fees are not refunded once paid, and that changing subjects inside the application period means paying again. Confirm how to pay with MOSAI when you apply.

What subjects does the EJU test, and how is it scored?

There are four subjects. You take only the ones your target universities ask for.

Three rules from the 2026 guidelines matter when you choose:

• Science or Japan and the World, not both. You cannot take both in the same session.
• Science means two sciences. You pick two of physics, chemistry and biology.
• Language of the paper. Science, Japan and the World and Mathematics can be taken in Japanese or English. The Japanese test is in Japanese only. You choose the language when you apply.

Apart from writing, scores are not raw marks. JASSO reports them on a common, equated scale, so a score means the same thing across sessions. According to the EJU score FAQ, scores stay valid for two years, so universities can consider up to four sessions’ results at once.

Which Japanese universities use the EJU?

A large share of them. JASSO’s count of schools using the EJU, as of October 2026, lists 508 universities: 77 national, 61 local public and 370 private. Counting junior colleges, colleges of technology, professional training colleges and graduate schools, the total is 954 institutions.

That covers 77 of Japan’s national universities, so the EJU matters most if you are aiming at a Japanese-taught programme at a national university. Each university publishes which EJU subjects, Maths course and exam language it needs, and JASSO links to lists by school type from its EJU pages.

Some schools also offer pre-arrival admission. They admit you on your EJU scores and documents, so you can learn the result while still in India. For an Indian applicant that can save a trip to Japan for an entrance exam.

Do English-taught degrees in Japan need the EJU?

Often not. JASSO’s Study in Japan page on English programmes says some universities and graduate schools now offer degrees taught only in English, for which Japanese study is not required. These programmes usually admit on school results, English test scores and tests such as the SAT, ACT or IB.

Waseda University is one example. Its list of application documents for its English-based undergraduate programmes (September 2026 admission) asks CBSE applicants for Class 10, 11 and 12 results, with SAT or ACT where Class 12 predicted scores are not available. It does not list the EJU for them. Rules differ by university, school and board, so check the current application guide for each programme you shortlist.

The short version: if you want a Japanese-taught degree, plan for the EJU. If you want an English-taught degree, you may not need it, but you will need strong Class 12 marks and usually an English test such as IELTS or TOEFL.

Is the EJU the same as the JLPT?

No. The JLPT measures general Japanese ability at five levels from N5 to N1. The EJU Japanese test measures the academic Japanese needed for university lectures, and the EJU also tests maths and science or general knowledge. Many universities use the EJU for admission, and some also ask for a JLPT level. See our JLPT exam guide for India and the JLPT exam dates in India.

Does the EJU help with scholarships?

It can. JASSO runs a reservation programme for the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for privately financed international students that is tied to EJU sessions. Check JASSO’s pages for how to register, the current amount and the conditions before you rely on it.

The MEXT scholarship through the Embassy of Japan in India is a separate route. It uses the embassy’s own written test and interview, not the EJU. Our MEXT scholarship application guide explains it.

How should you plan for the EJU from India?

• Shortlist universities first. The subjects, Maths course and language you choose depend on what each programme asks for.
• Work back from the intake. The Japanese academic year usually starts in April. A June EJU fits applications for the following April, and scores stay valid for two years.
• Watch for the 2027 dates. If the pattern holds, the first-session window opens in mid-February. Apply through MOSAI as soon as it opens.
• Prepare your Japanese early. The Japanese test measures the academic Japanese used in university lectures, and it is in Japanese only.
• Use the past papers. JASSO publishes past and sample papers on its EJU site.

For help choosing universities and programmes in Japan, talk to our Japan admissions team about your shortlist, entrance tests and applications.