Expected Graduation and Withdrawal on a Japanese Résumé: Samples for Current Students
Students job hunting in Japan often aren't sure how to list a school they haven't finished. Mid-career applicants face similar questions if they left university or are attending graduate school while working. This article explains when to write 卒業見込 (expected graduation), 修了見込 (expected completion) and 在学中 (currently enrolled), how to write 中途退学 (withdrawal) with a reason, and how your highest level of education is counted, with samples.
While job hunting, write "expected graduation"
If you're writing a résumé before graduating, follow your entry line with a line dated at your expected graduation that says 卒業見込 (expected graduation). Graduate school (master's and doctoral) ends in 修了 (completion) rather than 卒業, so it's 修了見込. Here's a sample for someone in the fourth year of university as of October 2026.
| Year | Month | Education |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | ○○市立○○中学校 卒業 (municipal junior high school, graduated) |
| 2020 | 4 | ○○県立○○高等学校 普通科 入学 (prefectural high school, general course, entered) |
| 2023 | 3 | ○○県立○○高等学校 普通科 卒業 (same, graduated) |
| 2023 | 4 | ○○大学 理工学部 情報工学科 入学 (university, science and engineering, information engineering, entered) |
| 2027 | 3 | ○○大学 理工学部 情報工学科 卒業見込 (same, expected graduation) |
These are the dates for someone born between April 2, 2004 and April 1, 2005, with no gap or repeated years. For expected graduation, write the month of your planned graduation, which falls after the submission date. In the Japanese calendar, that's Reiwa 9, March.
When to use "expected graduation" and "currently enrolled"
Both describe the time before you graduate, but they say slightly different things. 卒業見込 says you plan to graduate on that date, and 在学中 states only that you're attending the school now.
| Situation | What to write | Date |
|---|---|---|
| New-graduate job hunting (final year) | 卒業見込 / 修了見込 | Expected graduation or completion date |
| Part-time job or internship applications in years 1 to 3 | 在学中 | Write only the entry line, then 在学中 on the next line |
| Working adult attending evening or distance university or grad school | 在学中 (or 修了見込) | Expected is fine if your completion date is set |
| You'll repeat a year and graduate later | 卒業見込 with the later date | New expected graduation date |
If you write 在学中, either add 現在在学中 on the line after "○○大学 経済学部 経済学科 入学" or add （在学中） at the end of the entry line. If your graduation date is set, 卒業見込 tells the reader more.
How to write withdrawal, and how to add a reason
If you left a school partway through, follow your entry line with a line dated when you left that says 中途退学 (withdrew). It's standard to write it out rather than shortening it to 中退, and not to write only 退学. A reason isn't required, but adding a brief one avoids misunderstanding if it's positive or something you couldn't avoid.
| Reason | Example |
|---|---|
| Change of path | ○○大学 文学部 英文学科 中途退学（○○専門学校進学） (withdrew to enter a vocational school) |
| Taking a job | ○○大学 経済学部 経済学科 中途退学（株式会社○○就職） (withdrew to join a company) |
| Family or financial reasons | ○○大学 法学部 法律学科 家庭事情中途退学 (withdrew for family reasons) |
| Illness (now recovered) | ○○大学 工学部 機械工学科 病気療養中途退学（現在完治） (withdrew for medical treatment, now fully recovered) |
| No reason given | ○○大学 商学部 商学科 中途退学 (withdrew) |
Isshinjo no tsugo ni yori (for personal reasons) is a phrase commonly used for leaving a job, and it's generally not used in the education section. Even if you don't write a reason, be ready to explain if asked in an interview. If you left a doctoral program after earning the required credits but without submitting a dissertation, write 単位取得満期退学 (withdrew after completing credit requirements).
What's your highest education if you withdrew?
Your highest education is the highest level of school you graduated from. If you withdrew from university, it's high school graduation. You wouldn't meet a "university graduate or above" requirement, but you still list the university entry and withdrawal in the education section.
- Withdrew from university: highest education is high school graduation. List the university entry and withdrawal on your résumé
- Withdrew from university, then graduated from a vocational school: highest education is vocational school graduation (senmonshi diploma)
- Withdrew from grad school: highest education is university graduation. List the grad school entry and withdrawal too
- Withdrew from high school, then passed the high school equivalency exam: highest education is junior high graduation. Write the exam pass at the end of the education section or in the qualifications section
If you get an offer but can't graduate
Job offers are generally conditional on graduating, and an offer may be withdrawn if you don't. As soon as you realize graduation is at risk, contact the recruiter, tell them when you now expect to graduate, and talk it over. Some companies will delay your start date or let you join after a September graduation.
- 1
Check the credits you need to graduate
After the first semester of your final year, go through your remaining credits and course plan with the academic affairs office.
- 2
Contact them as soon as you see a risk
Don't wait for grades to come out. Contact the recruiter while it's still only a possibility. Staying silent and having it come out in March makes the worst impression.
- 3
Rewrite with the new expected date
If your graduation is delayed, any résumé you submit from then on should show 卒業見込 with the later date.
Gap years, repeated years and leaves on a Japanese résumé covers what to write when your graduation year shifts, and how to write the education section covers the section as a whole. The Japanese Résumé Education Dates Calculator automatically marks graduation after the document date as 卒業見込 and reflects withdrawal dates as it builds your education section.
FAQ
- What date do I write for expected graduation?
- Write the year and month you plan to graduate. For a university with April entry and March graduation, that's March of the year after your final year begins. A fourth-year student in fiscal 2026 would write 卒業見込 with March 2027, or Reiwa 9, March in the Japanese calendar.
- Is it 卒業見込 for graduate school?
- Graduate school ends in 修了 (completion) rather than 卒業, so write 修了見込. After finishing, write 修了. If you left a doctoral program before submitting a dissertation, write 単位取得満期退学.
- Can a third-year student write 卒業見込 for an internship application?
- 卒業見込 is generally used from your final year, when graduation is in sight. Up to your third year, 在学中 is the safer choice. Write 現在在学中 on the line after your entry line.
- Do I have to give a reason for withdrawal?
- No. If it's a positive reason, such as a change of path or a job, or something you couldn't avoid, such as illness or family circumstances, adding a short reason before 中途退学 avoids misunderstanding. Even if you don't, be ready to explain it in an interview.
- What's my highest education if I withdrew from university?
- High school graduation. Your highest education counts the highest level of school you graduated from. Still, don't leave out the university entry and withdrawal lines in the education section.
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