Verify the school, the program, the promise and the payment
A polished brochure is not evidence. Before you apply, verify that the institution is recognized, the exact program fits your goal, the published conditions are realistic and every agent claim can be confirmed independently.
The four-layer verification rule
Institution
Confirm legal recognition or the correct official authorization for that type of school.
Exact program
Verify the degree or qualification, language, campus, intake, duration and admission route.
Published conditions
Read current fees, refund rules, curriculum, support, progression and selection requirements.
Independent evidence
Confirm important agent statements with the school or an official government source.
Use the correct official check for each school type
| School type | First official check | Then confirm |
|---|---|---|
| University, graduate school or junior college | Search NIC-Japan for a recognized higher education institution, preferably using the Japanese name | Exact faculty, degree, campus, intake and current admission guidelines |
| Professional training college | Confirm prefectural authorization. NIC-Japan can also show recognized institutions and designated courses | Diploma or advanced diploma status, curriculum, equipment, teacher ratio and career outcomes |
| Japanese-language institution | Confirm the current official authorization or recognition route required for Student status | Refund policy, class size, level placement, EJU or JLPT preparation, progression, counseling and housing |
| Foreign university campus in Japan | Check MEXT’s list of designated locations of foreign universities | Home-university status, qualification, course location and recognition in the country where you will use the degree |
Evaluate what happens after enrollment
Learning reality
Ask for the curriculum, required credits, weekly timetable, class language, faculty profiles, class size, laboratory access and assessment method.
Student support
Confirm academic advising, Japanese support, disability support, health and counseling, housing help, emergency contact and career services.
Outcomes with context
Request progression, completion and career information. Check whether figures cover the exact program and whether the calculation method is explained.
Eight misleading-agent warning signs
| Warning sign | Safe response |
|---|---|
| “Admission or visa is guaranteed” | Ask for the written school or government rule. No private agent controls the final decision. |
| “Part-time work will pay all tuition and living costs” | Build a budget using official cost data. Study in Japan warns against this claim. |
| Pressure to apply or pay immediately | Pause. Obtain the current guidelines, service contract, fee breakdown and refund terms. |
| A request for false, altered or borrowed documents | Stop immediately. Never submit false academic, financial, employment or identity evidence. |
| Only advantages are discussed | Ask about language demands, attendance, academic difficulty, costs, housing and withdrawal rules. |
| The agent refuses direct school contact | Contact the school using the address published on its official domain. |
| Payment to a personal account | Verify the legal business name, invoice and official university or agency payment channel. |
| Vague service and unexplained fees | Require an itemized written contract showing deliverables, exclusions, dates and refund conditions. |
Interactive 100-point verification score
Score one exact school and program. Check a statement only when you have saved evidence. A high score supports comparison, but it does not guarantee admission, visa approval or future employment.
A 48-hour verification workflow
Create the identity record
Save the legal Japanese and English names, school type, campus address, official domain and admissions contact.
Verify official status
Use NIC-Japan, MEXT, Study in Japan or the responsible prefectural or immigration source for the school type.
Download primary documents
Save current admission guidelines, fee schedule, refund policy, curriculum and scholarship conditions.
Send five direct questions
Ask the school about the exact program, language, total fees, support and any agent claim that affects your decision.
Compare three options
Use the same criteria and evidence standard for all schools. Do not compare one brochure with another school’s official rules.
Record the decision
Write why the program fits, what risks remain and what evidence would make you stop.
Agent contract and payment audit
- Legal business name and verifiable office details
- Named school and exact program
- Itemized service fees and third-party fees
- Services included and excluded
- Application and payment schedule
- Cancellation and refund conditions
- Who holds original documents
- Direct access to school communications
- Official invoice and receipt
- No guaranteed admission, visa or job language
- No false-document or false-history request
- Time to review before signing or paying
Final decision rule
Choose the school only when you can answer four questions with evidence: Is it legitimate? Is the exact program suitable? Are the total conditions affordable and realistic? Can every important third-party claim be confirmed independently? If one answer is missing, the next step is verification, not payment.
Verified 11 August 2026. Lists and institutional details change, so recheck them before application or payment.
- NIC-Japan recognized higher education institution search
- Study in Japan official school search
- MEXT guidance-for-improvement information
- Study in Japan Basic Guide 2025-2026: choosing an agent
- Official Japanese-language institution selection points
- Official vocational-school selection points
- MEXT designated locations of foreign universities
AIC Japan provides an evidence-based evaluation method. It does not certify, rank or guarantee any school or agent.
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