Hello, I'm TJ, the CEO of Alpha Advisors.
In this article, I’ll walk you through a pressing question for many globally-minded families today: "What really happens when you send your child to an international school? Where do they end up for university?"

At Alpha Advisors, we've helped students gain admission to the world’s most competitive universities—Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Columbia, and many more. We've also supported applicants to the top universities in Japan and Asia. Beyond university admissions, we specialize in complete career strategy—from securing offers at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, McKinsey, and Google, to building careers that exceed \$300,000 annually. Our clients range from age 2 to 60+, with tailored support at every life stage.

Recently, we've seen a surge in consultations from parents seeking educational and admissions guidance for their children. Many are now aware that even top domestic universities no longer guarantee global success, and want their children to become true international professionals.
International schools have become a popular option. These schools offer early immersion in English and global learning environments—but naturally, parents have questions about outcomes, academic quality (especially in math and native language instruction), and future options.

International schools are often viewed as “pathways to overseas universities.”
But there’s a lingering concern: “Will my child still be able to attend a top local university if we choose the international route?”
The reality is changing. An increasing number of international school graduates are being accepted into Japan’s most competitive universities, and the range of possible pathways is expanding rapidly.

That said, outcomes differ significantly between schools. It’s absolutely essential to ask:
“Which international schools actually produce top university results?”

This article breaks it all down—with verified data and expert insights:

・Latest trends in international school graduates’ admissions to top universities (US, UK, Canada, Asia)
・Key points about entering local universities as an international school student
・Top school case studies: ASIJ, BST, Hiroo Gakuen, YIS, Rugby School Japan
・How IB, AP, and other curricula impact university admissions

If you’re considering an international school for your child, this is a must-read.
It will give you a clear framework for evaluating schools—not just for academics, but for university admissions and career success beyond.

At Alpha Advisors, we provide fully customized educational strategy support from early childhood through high school, helping students win offers from global universities and design long-term career trajectories.
In our Alpha Genius Program, we focus on building essential 21st-century skills: English fluency, leadership, non-cognitive skills, extracurricular achievements, and more—tailored to each child.

If you're wondering:

・“Should I send my child to an international school?”
・“Which schools or curricula will give them the best chance at top university admission?”
・“What should we start doing now to prepare them for success?”

Then book a free one-on-one consultation with Alpha Advisors. We’ll help you craft a strategy that works—from school choice to university acceptance to career launch, whether in the U.S., UK, Asia, or beyond.

▼ Learn more about Alpha Genius > 【Alpha Genius Program for Kids】

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What Comes After Graduation? University Admissions Trends Among International School Students

1. Trends in Admission to Overseas Universities

Many students graduating from international schools in Japan aim for admission to prestigious universities in North America, Europe, and Asia. In fact, international schools in Japan have consistently produced successful applicants to elite U.S. institutions like Harvard and Stanford, as well as the U.K.'s Oxford and Cambridge.

For example, among the 2020 graduates of the American School in Japan (ASIJ), 2 students were admitted to Harvard, with others gaining admission to Yale, 3 to Cornell, 1 to the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, and 2 to Stanford. The same cohort saw 4 students accepted to UC Berkeley, along with admissions to UCLA, 2 to the University of Chicago, 3 to the University of Southern California, and 5 to New York University (NYU). Canadian institutions such as the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia (UBC), and McGill University also accepted a large number of graduates.

Beyond the U.S. and U.K., graduates of international schools are also gaining admission to top universities across other regions. Between 2017 and 2020, students from Yokohama International School (YIS) were accepted to Cambridge (2 students), Imperial College London (5), University College London (UCL), King’s College London (5), and other top U.K. institutions. They also matriculated at top U.S. schools like the University of Michigan, the University of Texas at Austin, and Purdue University. In Canada, 10 students were accepted to both the University of Toronto and UBC, with additional acceptances to McGill. In Asia, students gained admission to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Seoul National University in South Korea, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the University of Hong Kong.

Why Are International School Students So Competitive for Global Admissions?

The curriculum itself is a major factor. Most international schools in Japan adopt globally recognized academic frameworks such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), A-levels, or IGCSEs. These align directly with the admissions criteria of many global universities.

At the British School in Tokyo (BST), for instance, IB and A-level results have led to strong outcomes. The class of 2024 included students admitted to Oxford, Cambridge, and the London School of Economics (LSE), as well as to the University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, and McGill University. The principal at BST has noted that students regularly gain admission to top institutions including Cambridge, Imperial College London, NYU, UBC, and the University of Tokyo. In fact, in the 2023-2024 academic year, BST students gained admission to Oxford (2 students), Cambridge (2), LSE (7), and the University of Tokyo.

Overall, international school graduates in Japan consistently achieve outstanding results in global university admissions. Their high English proficiency, access to robust extracurricular and essay support systems, and early exposure to global academic standards enable them to compete successfully for Ivy League and other elite institutions. At top schools like ASIJ, it's reported that admissions results remain strong year after year, even through disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. For many international school students, admission to top global universities is not just an option—it's the expected path.

2. Trends in Admission to Japanese Universities

Meanwhile, admission to universities within Japan has been gradually increasing. While international school graduates traditionally pursued overseas education, more Japanese universities have expanded their frameworks to welcome globally educated students.

One key trend is the growing number of programs that offer courses entirely in English. This, combined with pandemic-era travel uncertainties, has led to a rise in international school graduates choosing English-language degree programs at Japanese institutions. According to recent observations, more Japanese universities and faculties now actively accept international school graduates, particularly into programs taught in English.

An important gateway is the use of special admission schemes such as returnee (kikokushijo) and IB-based admissions. Japan's Ministry of Education recognizes diplomas from international schools accredited by bodies such as WASC and CIS as equivalent to a Japanese high school diploma. This allows graduates to sit for standardized university entrance exams or apply via special admission routes. However, students educated in English may face difficulties competing with domestic students in written Japanese exams. Moreover, many universities still do not classify students from international schools in Japan as returnees, unless they have spent significant time abroad. Without this designation, international school graduates have historically faced limited options when applying to Japanese universities.

Recent Developments

In response, Japanese universities have developed international programs and AO (admissions office) admissions to provide alternative paths. Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies (SILS) and Sophia University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts, for example, have long offered English-taught programs with September entry, which have proven attractive to international school graduates. However, these programs have traditionally focused on liberal arts and have not offered English instruction in fields like STEM or medicine.

This is changing thanks to initiatives such as the Ministry of Education's "Global 30" project and broader IB recognition. Universities like the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, along with other top-tier national institutions, have begun to offer entire undergraduate degree programs in English across a range of fields, including science, engineering, and medicine. The University of Tokyo’s PEAK program, for instance, allows students to pursue studies in environmental sciences and Japan studies entirely in English.

Other universities such as the University of Tsukuba, Nagoya University, and Kyushu University have launched similar programs. Meanwhile, schools like Keio and Waseda have expanded their AO admissions and now actively consider IB scores during the admissions process. Sophia University, notably, now offers both returnee and IB admissions across all faculties, often relying on document screening and interviews rather than traditional exams.

As a result, an increasing number of international school graduates are gaining entry to Japan’s top universities. Between 2017 and 2020, YIS students were admitted to Waseda University (10 students), Sophia University (8), and Keio University (3). Others gained admission to institutions like the International Christian University (ICU), Meiji Gakuin University, and Hosei University, all of which actively support English-language learning and returnee-friendly admissions.

Remarkably, even the University of Tokyo has begun admitting more international school graduates. YIS alone had 2 students accepted in recent years, and other international schools have reported similar cases. These results are largely thanks to the university’s launch of English-language programs and IB-based special admissions pathways.

For instance, Aoba-Japan International School reported top-level admissions to the University of Tokyo and Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2022, while K. International School Tokyo (KIST) has also seen students accepted to the University of Tokyo and Nagoya University. Japan’s most prestigious universities are beginning to open their doors wider to international school graduates.

3. University Admission Results of Major International Schools

This section introduces the actual university acceptance records of major international schools in Japan. In recent years, graduates from these schools have been accepted to top universities around the world, with notable cases of admission to domestic universities as well.

○ The American School in Japan (ASIJ)

ASIJ, located in Tokyo, is the largest international school in Japan, and its size is matched by its exceptional university admissions record. As noted earlier, the class of 2020 saw students accepted to top-tier universities such as Harvard (2 students), Stanford (2), Cornell (3), Dartmouth, UC Berkeley (4), USC (3), and UCLA. Graduates were also admitted to prestigious global campuses such as Imperial College London, NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU Shanghai, and École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) in Switzerland.

ASIJ also has notable domestic university admissions, including Waseda University, Keio University, Sophia University, and Osaka University. Although ASIJ has traditionally focused on U.S. university pathways, its principal reports that "every year, graduates continue to gain admission to top U.S. institutions, including Ivy League and Little Ivy schools, with minimal disruption even during the COVID-19 pandemic." This reinforces ASIJ's continued strength in global admissions.

○ The British School in Tokyo (BST)

BST follows a British curriculum and has rapidly expanded its scale and reputation in recent years. Although it is non-selective, the school offers both the IB Diploma and A-levels in its upper secondary program, resulting in outstanding university placements.

In recent years, BST students have gained admission to Oxford and Cambridge (1–2 students each), and 7 students were accepted to LSE, alongside numerous others to top U.K. universities. Graduates have also been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, McGill University, McMaster University in Canada, and the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Domestically, BST students have been admitted to the University of Tokyo, Keio University, and ICU. According to its official website, "Our students go on to study at world-class institutions such as Cambridge, Imperial College London, NYU, UBC, and the University of Tokyo," and recent results confirm this claim.

○ Yokohama International School (YIS)

YIS is a historic institution with over 100 years of history, offering the IB curriculum from early childhood through high school. According to data from 2017–2020, the school is notable for its broad range of university destinations.

Graduates have been accepted to universities across North America, the U.K., continental Europe (including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic), and Asia (including Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong). In the U.K., multiple students were admitted to Cambridge (2), Imperial College London (5), and King's College London (5). In Canada, YIS recorded high numbers of acceptances to the University of Toronto and UBC (10 each).

Domestically, graduates have entered top institutions such as Waseda University (10), Sophia University (8), ICU (4), Keio University (3), and the University of Tokyo (2). The curriculum and counseling system are designed to support admissions to selective universities both abroad and in Japan. Approximately 5% of graduates take a gap year, reflecting a thoughtful, individualized approach to university selection.

○ Rugby School Japan (Rugby School Japan)

Rugby School Japan (RSJ) opened in September 2023 as a full-boarding British public school located in Kashiwa-no-ha, Chiba. It inherits the educational philosophy and curriculum of the historic Rugby School in the U.K.

RSJ currently serves students aged 11 to 18 and offers a distinctive boarding education. While the school has yet to graduate its first class, early indications are that students are preparing to apply to Oxford, LSE, Yale, and other global universities. According to the headmaster, the school enrolled approximately 230 students in its first year, with plans to grow to a capacity of 760. RSJ is already establishing strong collaborations with the University of Tokyo, Chiba University, and Google Japan, offering a unique blend of tradition and innovation in its academic offerings.

○ Hiroo Gakuen International Course (Hiroo Gakuen International Course)

Finally, although technically a Japanese high school, Hiroo Gakuen's International Course offers a full English immersion program aimed at preparing students for admission to overseas universities. It is one of the most competitive and successful programs in Tokyo.

The curriculum centers around Advanced Placement (AP) courses and is structured to allow students to accelerate their learning. In 2024, 203 students from this course were accepted to overseas universities, the highest number of any school in Japan.

Top overseas destinations include Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Michigan, NYU, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, Boston University, and Carnegie Mellon. In Canada, 41 students were accepted to the University of Toronto, alongside admits to UBC and McGill. Students also enrolled in top U.K. institutions such as King's College London, LSE, UCL, and the University of Edinburgh, as well as universities in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Australia, and South Korea.

Domestically, Hiroo Gakuen had 18 students accepted to the University of Tokyo in 2024 (1 through special admissions), along with admissions to Kyoto University, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Waseda (129), Keio (93), Sophia (113), Tokyo University of Science (90), and ICU.

The school employs a dual-teacher system with Japanese and native English-speaking instructors to support application essays, interviews, and academic planning. Its accelerated model allows students to complete the middle school curriculum in two years and the high school curriculum by the end of grade 10, with grades 11 and 12 focused entirely on AP preparation.

Scholarship support is also robust, with students frequently receiving awards from the Yanai Tadashi Foundation, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, JASSO, and various university-specific programs. Hiroo Gakuen provides international-level university guidance and outcomes, while remaining within Japan’s educational system.

4. Why Are International Schools So Competitive for University Admissions?

When it comes to overseas universities, international school graduates stand out. With daily instruction in English and a curriculum built around global standards such as IB and A-levels, they consistently gain admission to elite institutions like Harvard and Oxford. This level of success is rare among traditional domestic high schools.

International schools also offer strong university counseling, including essay writing support, scholarship information, and university fairs that connect students with global institutions. These students tend to have a broad, global perspective and are encouraged to find the "best fit" university from around the world. As a result, many aim high and successfully gain entry to the most selective institutions.

Thus, the pathway from international school to top-tier global university is a highly effective route.

On the domestic side, admissions to Japanese universities have been rising steadily. As more universities expand their English-language programs and AO admissions, international school students now have broader access to top Japanese institutions. Universities such as Sophia, ICU, Waseda, and Keio are enhancing their returnee and IB-based admissions processes, placing more emphasis on documentation and interviews. Consequently, even the University of Tokyo now welcomes international school graduates.

5. International School Education: A Strategy Beyond College Admissions

As shown above, international school graduates consistently achieve exceptional university admission results. Each year, they gain entry to top-tier institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, UCL, and the University of Toronto—clearly setting them apart from traditional high schools in both scope and level of university outcomes. In recent years, an increasing number have also been accepted to leading Japanese universities, including the University of Tokyo and major private institutions, offering a flexible path for both domestic and international higher education.

What we emphasize at Alpha Advisors is that college admission is not the goal—it's the beginning. The true objective is building a globally competitive career, whether that’s at Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, Mitsubishi Corporation, or Google. In reality, many professionals at these firms are graduates of top overseas universities—and international schools, along with IB curricula, are often their starting point.

In short, targeting overseas universities from the outset gives students a significant edge in global recruitment compared to pursuing traditional domestic paths.

Of course, many parents ask us:
"Can my child get into an international school?"
"Is admission to an overseas university really possible?"
"What about the cost?"

We understand these concerns completely. Tuition at international schools and overseas universities may seem daunting at first glance. However, many of our students secure non-repayable scholarships every year from organizations such as the Yanai Tadashi Foundation, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and the Ezoe Memorial Foundation. With the right strategy, funding up to graduation is often feasible. You don’t need to give up because of financial concerns.

This is why we encourage families to think beyond "college acceptance" and approach school selection from the perspective of career strategy that wins in the real world.

As a first step, we invite you to consult with Alpha Advisors. We’ll help you identify the right school—including international schools—based on your child’s personality, preferences, and long-term goals.

If you’re wondering:

・"Should we even consider international school?"
・"Which school is the best fit for my child?"
・"How can we design an education plan that covers college admissions and future employment?"

Then reach out to Alpha now. Whether your child is in preschool or high school, we provide personalized, strategic guidance based on their goals, strengths, and challenges. Your child’s university, career, and life trajectory are all shaped by strategy. School choice shapes the future—so let Alpha be your first step.

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Alpha is your go-to partner for global education strategy!

Over the past 17 years, Alpha Advisors has helped students gain admission to world-renowned boarding schools—including Andover, Exeter, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, and Choate—as well as top global universities. We now specialize in education support for children aiming for overseas boarding schools, high school, and university admissions. Through Alpha Private Coaching and Alpha Intensive Programs, we offer fully customized guidance—from admission strategy and essays to recommendations, interviews, and scholarships.

We also support university students through graduate school admissions, study abroad placements, and international transfer admissions, offering long-term guidance that aligns with each student’s career goals.
Our proven framework and personalized advising ensure that you reach your destination as efficiently as possible.

If you are seriously considering international boarding school or university admissions, start with our “Career Strategy Advisory” (¥48,000, with discounts available) and speak directly with our founder TJ (formerly Sumitomo Corporation → Chicago Booth MBA → Goldman Sachs IBD) to create a clear roadmap. We are here to support your child’s academic success and global career—every step of the way.

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