From Application to Enrollment

Select a department	We offer a variety of departments in creative fields, such as design, manga, and anime. Carefully select a department that suits your future career aspirations.

Submit application documents	- Admission by recommendation and regular admission Place your application documents in a designated envelope and bring them to TDA. - AO admission Preliminary screening is performed prior to application. Applicants who are approved are required to bring their application documents to TDA later.

Selection	Selection is performed through interviews, written examinations in Japanese (applicants may be exempt from examinations in some cases), and document screening. Interviews and examinations are conducted when applicants bring application documents to TDA.

Announcement of results	Approximately one week

Initial payment	Initial payment within two weeks from day of receiving the pass result

Enrollment information is sent	Information (regarding the enrollment ceremony and how to purchase materials and textbooks) will be sent by the middle of February.

Second payment	Second (completion) payment by the middle of March

Enrollment ceremony	Enrollment ceremony to be held at the beginning of April Orientation and other activities start the day after the enrollment ceremony.

Note for prospective students applying directly from overseas:
For details about how to submit application documents and attend interviews, contact us (via telephone or email) beforehand.

Application Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age (as of April 1, 2019), and must meet all of the following criteria

1. Have completed 12 or more years of formal education
Note: Please consult us if you completed an 11-year program.
2. Meet one of the following criteria:
(a) At least six months continuous study with satisfactory grades and attendance at a Japanese language school or other institute certified by the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education
(b) Qualification of N1 or N2 in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) administered by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services or the Japan Foundation
(c) A minimum grade of 200 points in reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and listening and reading comprehension in the Japanese as a Foreign Language Test of the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) administered by the Japan Student Services Organization
(d) Have studied for more than a full year in a school specified in Article 1 of the School Education Act of Japan (kindergarten excluded)
3. Have proof of financial support to cover tuition and living expenses while studying in Japan

Selection Method

Document screening, interviews, and written examinations in Japanese (applicants may be exempt from examinations in some cases)

How to Apply

There are several ways to apply to TDA: admission by recommendation, regular admission, AO admission, and admission by recommendation from a designated school.
The entire selection fee (20,000 yen) is waived in the case of admission by recommendation, AO admission, or admission by recommendation from a designated school.

How to Apply

There are several ways to apply to TDA: admission by recommendation, regular admission, AO admission, and admission by recommendation from a designated school.

Admission by Recommendation and Regular Admission

- Application period for admission by recommendation: September 3, 2018 to February 28, 2019
- Application period for regular admission: September 3, 2018 to February 28, 2019
Note 1: For those applying directly from overseas and those who are currently staying in Japan with a Temporary Visitor visa, the deadline is December 21, 2018 for both types.
Note 2: Admission may be closed before the above deadlines if the number of applications exceeds the number of available positions in each department.

Admission by recommendation	Methods of recommendation (1, 2, and 3)
	(1) Recommendation by a school	This type requires the applicant to be recommended by an instructor of an institution (Japanese language school or a university) he/she is currently attending or has graduated from.
		The applicant must satisfy the following requirements: - Has a genuine interest in design, is willing to study design (with a future goal of working in the design field), and has character that is fitting to TDA. - Is recommended by an instructor of an institution (Japanese language school or a university) the applicant is currently attending or has graduated from.
	(2) Recommendation by TDA	The applicant is required to have attended an open campus event (trial admission, etc.) or a tour of TDA.
	(3) Self-recommendation	This category requires self-recommendation by the applicant.
		The applicant is required to have a genuine interest in design, and be willing to study design (with a future goal of working in the design field).
Regular admission	The applicant applies without recommendation.

Other Admission Methods

AO admission	This method of admission requires preliminary screening prior to application.
	- Entries are accepted during a designated period, and then AO admission screening is performed. - First entry period: July 2, 2018 to July 27, 2018 - Second entry period: September 3, 2018 to September 21, 2018 - Third entry period: October 10, 2018 to October 16, 2018 - Fourth entry period: November 1, 2018 to November 16, 2018 - Applicants who pass the screening are required to submit their application between September 3, 2018 and Desember 17, 2018. Note: For details about AO admission, see the Entrance Guidebook (Admission Guidelines).
Admission by recommendation from a designated school	This method requires an applicant to be recommended by a Japanese language school that is designated by TDA. Note: For details on whether your school is designated by TDA (and other details such as recommendation criteria, application period, and relevant documents), check with your Japanese language school.

Application Documents

(1) Admission application	- Use the designated admission application (for international students). Fill in all the necessary items (both sides) and attach a photograph.
(2) Graduation certificate of last school	- Certificate of diploma from your last school (or the diploma itself) Note: Only the original certificate will be accepted. Certificates in a language other than English require an attached translation in Japanese.
(3) Proof of Japanese language proficiency	Submit all applicable documents.
	Those who have studied at least six months continuously at a Japanese language school or other institute certified by the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education	- Grade report and attendance certificate from your Japanese language school Note: Submit the latest versions at the time of application.
	Those who have achieved N1 or N2 qualification in the Japanese- Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) given by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services or the Japan Foundation	- Certificate stating that the applicant has passed N1 or N2 Note: Only the original certificate will be accepted.
	Those with at least 200 points in reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and listening and reading comprehension on the Japanese as a Foreign Language Test of the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) given by the Japan Student Services Organization	- Grade report Note: Submit the original.
	Those who have enrolled/studied for more than a full year in a school specified in Article 1 of the School Education Act of Japan (excluding kindergarten)	- Document proving that the applicant was enrolled in the school more than a year (such as course records)
(4) Proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses	- Remittance letter or the passbook of your bank deposit account (updated to the point of application) Note 1: For those currently residing in Japan, submit documents that prove your ability to pay all tuition fees and living expenses (at the time of application). Note 2: If proof of your ability to pay all tuition fees and living expenses cannot be provided, you may be asked to submit a certificate of employment, certificate of annual income, and certificate of deposit balance of a benefactor who has agreed to pay the tuition.
(5) Photographs	- Two (4 cm tall x 3 cm wide) Note 1: Photographs must be recent (within the past three months), and follow passport conventions (head and shoulders, plain background, no adornments such as a hat, etc.). Note 2: On the back of each photograph, write your name, and the name of the pertinent department. Submit both photographs together (one attached to the admission application, the other in a suitable envelope) to TDA.
(6) Other items	- Residence card - Passport - National health insurance card Note: Original ID must be available on request.
	- Grade report and attendance certificate if you were enrolled at a university or career college in Japan
(7) Documents to be submitted in the case of admission by recommendation	Depending on the type of recommendation, submit the following in addition to (1) to (6) above.
	Recommendation by a school	- Letter of recommendation by your school (TDA-designated form)
	Recommendation by TDA	- Certificate of attendance (handed out to attendees of one of TDA’s open campus events or academy tours)
	Self- recommendation	- Letter of self-recommendation (about 300 Japanese characters (TDA-designated form))
(8) Documents to be submitted in the case of AO admission	- Certificate of attendance (handed out to attendees of one of TDA’s open campus events or academy tours) - Application qualification certificate (given to those who pass the preliminary screening for AO admission)

Selection Fee

20,000 yen
Note: Selection fee is waived in the case of admission by recommendation, AO admission, or admission by recommendation from a designated school.

How to Submit the Application Documents

International students must apply directly at the appropriate TDA office (except for applications from directly overseas).
Bring all application documents and selection fee (regular admission only).
Note 1: Selection fee (regular admission only) payments must be in cash.
Note 2: Please inform us (by telephone) of your intended submission date and time.

For International Students Applying from Outside Japan

Note: For details about how to apply and the selection fee, see above.

Application Documents

(1) Admission application	- Use the designated admission application (for international students). Fill in all the necessary items (both sides) and attach a photograph.
(2) Graduation certificate of last school	- Certificate of diploma from your last school (or the diploma itself) Note 1: Only the original certificate will be accepted. Certificates in a language other than English require an attached translation in Japanese. Note 2: Graduates of Chinese universities (including colleges) must submit the original of their academic verification report issued by the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (Department of Education Certification Center) or the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center.
(3) Proof of Japanese language proficiency	Submit all applicable documents.
	Those who have studied at least six months continuously at a Japanese language school or other institute certified by the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education	- Grade report and attendance certificate from your Japanese language school Note: Submit the latest versions at the time of application.
	Those who have N1 or N2 qualification in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) given by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services or the Japan Foundation	- Certificate stating that the applicant has passed N1 or N2 Note: Submit the original.
	Those with at least 200 points in reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and listening and reading comprehension on the Japanese as a Foreign Language Test of the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) given by the Japan Student Services Organization	- Grade report Note: Submit the original.
	Those who have enrolled/studied for more than a full year in a school specified in Article 1 of the School Education Act of Japan (excluding kindergarten)	- Document proving that the applicant was enrolled in the school more than a year (such as course records)
(4) Proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses	- A certificate of employment, certificate of annual income, and certificate of deposit balance of a benefactor who has agreed to pay the tuition
(5) Photographs	- Three (4 cm tall x 3 cm wide) Note 1: Photographs must be recent (within the past three months), and follow passport conventions (head and shoulders, plain background, no adornments such as a hat, etc.). Note 2: On the back of each photograph, write your name, and the name of the pertinent department. Submit all photographs together (one attached to the admission application, the other two in a suitable envelope) to TDA.
(6) Other items	- Photocopy of your passport Copy the following pages and submit them. - Front and rear covers - Page showing your passport number and photograph - All pages showing records of embarkation and disembarkation, visa status, etc. Note: If copies are unclear, you may be asked to submit clearer copies.
	- Grade report and attendance certificate if you were enrolled at a university or career college in Japan
(7) Documents to be submitted in the case of admission by recommendation	Depending on the type of recommendation, submit the following in addition to (1) to (6) above.
	Recommendation by a school	- Letter of recommendation by your school (TDA-designated form)
	Recommendation by TDA	- Certificate of attendance (handed out to attendees of one of TDA’s open campus events or academy tours)
	Self-recommendation	- Letter of self-recommendation (about 300 Japanese characters (TDA-designated form))
(8) Documents to be submitted in the case of AO admission	- Certificate of attendance (handed out to attendees of one of TDA’s open campus events or academy tours) - Application qualification certificate (given to those who pass the preliminary screening for AO admission)

How to Submit the Application Documents

Send all of the application documents in one parcel by mail.
Note: If you intend to submit your documents in-person to TDA, inform us (date and time) beforehand by telephone.
■ Postal address
Harajuku Gakuen, Tokyo Design Academy
3-62-8 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan 151-0051
Phone: +81-3-3497-0701

Deposit the selection fee (regular admission only) into the following bank account for depositing tuition at the time of your application.
■ Bank account for depositing tuition
Bank name: Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ
Branch name: Harajuku Branch
Branch address: 3-6-1 Kita Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
SWIFT code: BOTKJPJT
Account number: 1047375
Academy address: 3-62-8 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Recipient name: Harajuku Gakuen