Hello, I’m an academic advisor with a decade of experience specializing in Japan study-abroad planning and international student support. Every graduation season, I receive urgent requests from graduates of Keio University—some have returned home only to discover a lost certificate and have no idea how to replace it, some are asked by employers for a specific format of certification and are completely lost, and some don’t even know whether their degree is recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education.
These are all real anxieties. Your graduation certificate and degree certificate are the ultimate physical evidence of years of hard work, yet they are often taken for granted the moment you receive them. Keio University, as one of Japan’s two private academic titans, has its own unique certificate formats, conferral conditions, reissuance procedures, and authentication processes in China. In this article, I will break down every key issue you might encounter from enrollment to post-graduation, helping you build a complete “knowledge archive” for your certificates.
Keio University’s Certificate System: What Documents Will You Actually Receive?
Keio University’s certificate system is more rigorous than many people imagine. A common misconception is that “you automatically get all your certificates when you graduate.” In reality, you need to distinguish clearly between the following documents:
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Graduation Certificate (卒業証書): Signed and issued by the President of Keio University, this certificate proves that you have completed the curriculum of a specific faculty or graduate school and have graduated. It is typically an A3-sized Japanese document, printed on special paper with security features. This certificate is conferred during the degree conferral ceremony (graduation ceremony), and only one original is issued per person.
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Degree Certificate (学位記): Unlike systems where a single document serves both purposes, Japan issues an independent degree certificate. For example, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Commerce, etc. It proves that you have been awarded the corresponding academic title and has a more concise format.
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Academic Transcript (成績証明書): Although not a certificate of academic qualification, it is almost as important as the certificates themselves for job hunting and further education. Keio’s transcript lists in detail the courses you took, grades received, GPA, and your graduation conclusion.
My advice from the front lines is this: when you graduate, be sure to obtain your English-language certificates at the same time. Keio University typically offers graduates the service of issuing English graduation certificates and English degree certificates. These are crucial for authentication back home, overseas job applications, or applying to graduate schools in Europe or the US. If you don’t apply for them at that moment, doing so later will add the costs of international postage and extra time.
Certificate Preservation and Common Risks: Don’t Let Them Disappear During a Move
One of the biggest regrets for many international students isn’t failing a course during their studies, but losing their certificates during a move between cities or back home.
Key points for the physical protection of your certificates:
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Scan and Cloud Backup: The moment you receive your certificates, scan them into high-resolution color PDFs and store a copy in the cloud and one on your personal computer. Many employers or certification bodies initially only accept scans.
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Original Storage Environment: Avoid folding or exposing them to moisture. The special paper used for certificates can develop spots if damp, affecting their credibility during authentication.
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Do Not Laminate Casually: Some certification bodies need to view the original certificate or specific seals. Laminating them can actually lead to a request for reissuance.
If you have unfortunately already lost a certificate, don’t panic. Keio University has a complete and legal reissuance system, which I will detail in the next section.
Reissuance: 5 Key Steps Regarding Process, Fees, and Time
In Japan, the reissuance of a lost certificate is referred to as “再発行” (sai-hakkou). Graduation certificate, diploma, transcript, educational background, academic certification, production and purchaseThe reissuance application at Keio University is not something you can do casually; it involves strict identity verification and a fixed reception window. Please follow the steps below.
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Identify the Right Office: Certificate reissuance is handled separately by the academic affairs center (学事課) of each faculty/graduate school, not by a single university-wide office. You need to directly contact the administrative office of the faculty or graduate school from which you graduated.
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Prepare the Necessary Documents: The following materials are typically required (please confirm the latest list on the official website):
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Application Form for Reissuance (再発行願): Most can be downloaded as a PDF from the official website. Fill in your personal information and the reason for the application.
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Identification Documents: A copy of your passport, residence card, or driver’s license.
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Letter of Attorney (委任状): If someone else is applying or picking it up on your behalf, a letter of attorney signed by you must be submitted.
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Pay the Processing Fee: A handling fee is usually charged for reissuance, and the amount varies depending on the type of certificate. Confirm the payment method (some accept online credit card payments, while others only accept postal money orders).
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Confirm Processing Time: Standard processing takes approximately 1–3 weeks. Keio does not issue certificates on the spot.Graduation certificate, diploma, transcript, educational background, academic certification, production and purchase If you are approaching a deadline for a visa renewal or a domestic academic qualification authentication, be sure to plan well in advance.
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Choose a Receiving Method: You can choose to pick it up in person on campus, or request delivery by mail (you bear the postage and the risk of loss). If you have already returned to your home country, mail is the only option. Be sure to use a trackable international courier service (such as EMS or DHL).
Please note: Keio University marks reissued certificates with the words 「再発行」 (Reissued), to distinguish them from the originally conferred originals. However, their legal validity is identical to the originals, and they will not negatively affect authentication by the Chinese Ministry of Education.
Academic Qualification Authentication for Returning International Students: The Full Process You Need to Know
International students planning to develop their careers back home cannot bypass the Recognition of Overseas Academic Qualifications issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). This certificate is a mandatory document for applying for civil service positions, entering state-owned enterprises, and enjoying preferential policies for returnees. Regarding certificates from Keio University, there are several points worth noting for the application:
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Verifiable Scope of the Institution: Keio University is on the list of Japanese higher education institutions published on the official website of the Education Foreign Supervision Information Network of the Chinese Ministry of Education, meaning it is an officially recognized institution. However, note that not all affiliated institutions or short-term programs are automatically accredited. If you were enrolled in a non-regular program (such as a Bekka or a non-degree research student track), you may not be able to apply for degree authentication.
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Online Application Process: The entire process is conducted online through the CSCSE’s “Study Abroad e-Service” portal. You will need to upload:
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Color scans of your Graduation Certificate (卒業証書) and Degree Certificate (学位記).
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The corresponding English versions of the certificates (if available) to assist with the review.
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The personal information page of your passport and all pages with entry/exit stamps during your stay in Japan.
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A recent passport-style photograph.
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Processing Time: With complete documents, it typically takes 10–20 business days. It may take longer during peak seasons (graduation period).
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Common Reasons for Rejection: Glare on the certificate photo, unclear seals, and a lack of English translation. Ensure your images are sharp and clear before uploading.
The Long-Term Value and Use Cases of Keio Certificates
Keio University’s graduation and degree certificates are not just pieces of paper; they are your key to entering its vast alumni network, the Mita-kai. The network’s influence in Japanese political, business, legal, financial, and media circles is extremely profound. Throughout your future career, these certificates may continuously appear in the following scenarios:
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Applying for a work visa or the Highly Skilled Professional Visa: As proof of your “educational background” for points calculation.
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Applying to Japanese graduate schools: As the official document of your final educational attainment.
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Participating in international academic conferences or applying for international professional qualifications: To verify your level of education.
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Overseas job applications: Multinational corporations, especially in Europe, the US, or the Asia-Pacific region, often require academic credentials in both Japanese and English.
FAQ Section
Q1: Can the graduation certificate and degree certificate from Keio University be reissued separately?
Yes. Keio University’s graduation certificates and degree certificates are managed separately by the academic affairs division. When applying for reissuance, you may request just one of them, or both at the same time. The application form will clearly list the selectable options; simply tick the ones you need.
Q2: The reissued certificate will be marked “Reissued.” Will this affect domestic authentication in China?
No, it will not. The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange audits the authenticity of the certificate and the institution’s qualifications, not whether it is a first-issue or reissued copy. The reissuance marking itself will not lower the authentication pass rate. The key is to ensure the reissued certificate is issued through official Keio University channels, with clear and complete seals and the president’s signature.
Q3: I graduated from an English-taught program at Keio. Will my certificate be the same as that from a Japanese-taught program?
The certificate itself is identical. Regardless of whether you were in a Japanese-taught or English-taught program (such as PEARL or the GIGA Program), as long as you graduated from a regular faculty or graduate school, the academic title and certificate format issued by Keio University are exactly the same. The only difference is that graduates of English-taught programs usually also receive an additional certificate of completion in English, which is more convenient when applying for overseas postgraduate programs or English-language positions.
Your Next Step
The matter of certificates seems like something you only face at graduation, but the real seeds of trouble are often sown as early as enrollment. If you are currently studying at Keio University or are about to enroll, I suggest taking a little time now to organize your academic records and a plan for archiving future documents. If you are facing a lost certificate or need emergency reissuance, you are also welcome to leave a comment below with your faculty and specific situation; I will do my best to offer my advice.
To help every Keio student better manage their important documents, I have compiled a “Keio University Certificate Management Handbook,” which includes contact information for each faculty’s academic affairs office, a reissuance application form template, and a certification upload checklist. If you need it, please reply “Keio Certificate” via the back-end, and we will send it to you. May every bit of your hard work always have a paper trail to prove it and a certificate to rely on.
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