Foreign students brace themselves for hike in Japan's fees

Budget cuts in Japan could severely affect most of the 78,000 overseas students enrolled at the country's 4,800 universities and higher education institutions.

From April next year, self-financing students at the 99 national universities will pay 7.2 per cent more in tuition fees, taking the annual tuition costs to more than 500,000 yen (£2,700).

International students at the more expensive private institutions will be hit by a 10.3 per cent cut in financial assistance from the Japanese government.

Just as a goal set in 1983 of 100,000 overseas students has come within reach, the post-bubble era means that Japan has to refocus commitments.

Since 1987, the national government has offered to pay up to 30 per cent of annual tuition for self-financing international students enrolled full-time at accredited private institutions.