Q: I heard that in Japan, in addition to full-time and part-time high schools, there are also correspondence high schools. What exactly is a correspondence high school? Can you obtain a high school diploma just as you can at a regular high school?

 

A: Correspondence high schools generally offer two main types of study formats: one in which students primarily study at home, including online, and attend school once or twice a month; and another in which students attend school every day and receive support from tutors. Because students can choose a study format that suits them--for example, attending school only a few times a week--, an increasing number of people are choosing correspondence high schools. Today, approximately one in ten high school students in Japan is enrolled in a correspondence high school. If you meet the prescribed graduation requirements, you can obtain a standard high school diploma.

 

　The most distinctive feature of a correspondence high school is that students can proceed with their studies

at their own pace. As such, correspondence high schools can be a good option for students from international backgrounds who are able to speak Japanese but find it difficult to read and write in Japanese.

 

　Tuition at a private correspondence high school is about the same as that at a private full-time high school,

but students may incur additional support fees if they attend schooling sessions and receive support from tutors,

making the overall cost somewhat higher. For this reason, some students choose to attend school three days a week

and work part-time for the remaining two days.

Many schools accept students who transfer or enroll during the school year. So, if you are not confident in your Japanese proficiency but would like to obtain a high school diploma, a correspondence high school may be worth considering.