So for context, I'm a software dev with ~4 years experience but do not have a university degree.
After years of searching for a path to Japan I eventually came to the conclusion that my only hope was to go back to school and get a degree.
I decided that if I have to go back to school, I want to at least do it Japan. I've spent the past year or so brushing up on my highschool maths and writing various tests that are required by the uni I was hoping to join.
While getting all my documents in order I have now come to a rude awakening that basically all educational institutes require "Academic Transcripts" from when you were in highschool, I graduated nearly 10 years ago and it is seeming very unlikely that I will be able to acquire these from my highschool (I have tried multiple times to contact my highschool, their website is down and they have been quite unresponsive. I also tried getting records from our Qualifications Authority and they didn't have much). I contacted the university to check if there was any way around this and although I do still have my highschool graduation certificate, without the transcripts from the school I am ineligible.
This puts in me in quite the predicament because essentially all of my plans and backup plans (専門学校) requires these transcripts that may no longer exist.
What other options do I have to be able to study or work in Japan? Are there any bridging courses or something I could take in Japan to supplement highschool?
If I get a good score on the EJU or satisfy one of the other requirements instead of the 12 years of schooling will they still want to see my academic transcripts?
Additional context:
– I have passed the JLPT N2
– "Why not just get a degree in my own country?" – I live in South Africa, we have one of the highest crime rates in the world and our infrastructure is a joke (my electricity was literally out yesterday, its like a biweekly occurrence). I don't think I can make it another 4 years here man. I'm at my wits end here and just wanna get out ASAP.
– I have completed a 2 year vocational school thing thing here for programming, they may still have transcripts but I don't know if that will satisfy the requirements
Lastly, I wanted to ask if the "Must have a degree or 10 years experience to work in Japan" thing is actually true? Everyone on the internet says that but I idk if I'm crazy or missing something but I find that in writing anywhere – looking at the required documents for engineering COE application, section 8.2: it says "One of the following documents certifying your academic or work history" and under that section it says "A university graduation certificate" but it also has "One copy of a certificate of employment". So if I don't have a degree but have a job in that field could I not just get a certificate of employment from my current employer?
Anyways, any advice would be appreciated – Is there anyway for me to get to Japan from here that won't have me stuck here for another 4 years?
by ZXY101