Tsukuba International School

Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

Positions available at Tsukuba International School


Tsukuba International School takes its role advocating for and safeguarding children very seriously. The school child protection policy is in accordance with the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection, endorses the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which Japan is a signatory, and is in accordance with Japanese Law.


We are currently seeking a full-time Guidance Counsellor (academic and career counselling) to start on August 1, 2023. 

The successful candidate will have the following responsibilities.

  • Developing the guidance curriculum at all grade levels as directed by the school leadership team.
  • Working with teachers to implement and review the guidance curriculum.
  • Helping students, including students with additional learning needs, and parents develop a plan for future academic and career options that correspond with students’ skills and interests.
  • Helping students to evaluate their own attributes and assist them in realizing their objectives.
  • Planning and managing individual guidance conferences for students (including alumni) and parents.
    • Explaining the IB continuum from PYP to DP.
    • Explaining the differences between public schools and international schools.
    • Explaining application systems for schools and universities (overseas and domestic).
    • Providing information on scholarships (application documents, information, preparation for interview and essays, etc. ).
  • Making and maintaining relationships with other schools, universities, and companies.
  • Managing guidance documents, such as pamphlets, emails, etc.
  • Checking application documents made by students.
  • Working with students to prepare for and practice interviews, essays, and exams for entrance to individual universities.
  • Offering guidance orientation and the outline of guidance documents to students and parents.
  • Reporting on application results internally and externally.
  • Attending meetings for guidance counsellors run by the prefecture, Ministry of Education.
  • Planning and negotiating with companies about internships and job experience.
  • Helping students create resumes and practice interviewing for getting jobs.
  • Making and maintaining connections with alumni.

The guidance counsellor will share additional responsibilities (for example, pastoral care of homeroom students, organizing school events) with the other teachers at the school.

As TIS is an IB World School, guidance counsellors with International Baccalaureate experience will be given preference, although qualified guidance counsellors with a strong understanding of the Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme will also be considered.

Please note, the position may be filled before the application deadline if suitable candidates are found, therefore we encourage interested applicants to submit their applications early to ensure that they are considered.

Position Type: Guidance Counsellor
Contract Type: Full-time
School: Secondary
Apply by: June 23, 2023
Job Starts: August 1, 2023
Click here for the Job Description and Application Form

Tsukuba International School

At a glance


Location: Ibaraki, Japan

Established: 1992

Type: IB School Status

Grades: Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12

Funding status: Independent

Gender: Mixed

Age range: 3-18 years

Working at Tsukuba International School


Tsukuba International School is an international preschool, elementary, junior high, and high school in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. We offer a full-time international curriculum in English for students from Grades 1 to 12. We are an IB World School authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP) of the International Baccalaureate. IB World Schools share a common philosophy - a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that we believe is important for our students. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit the International Baccalaureate website.


Video - Tsukuba International School




Welcome to Tsukuba International School


Tsukuba International School (つくば・インターナショナル・スクール, TIS) is an IB World School in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Since our founding in 1992, we have been dedicated to promoting international-mindedness in the northern Kanto Region.

Tsukuba Science City, a place where critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration are highly valued, provides the backdrop for our unique programmes. The school provides a warm and welcoming environment for students of all nationalities.

We offer a rich educational program for students from pre-kindergarten (age 3) to Grade 12 (age 18). We have 260 students in our school (as of September 2018). We are authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB). IB World Schools share a common philosophy — a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit the International Baccalaureate website or the Ministry of Education website (in Japanese).

We are accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS). We are registered as an educational organization (学校法人 各種学校) by Ibaraki Prefecture. This is the standard category for international schools in Japan that are registered as schools in their local prefecture. (We are the only international school registered in Ibaraki Prefecture.) We are also a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) and the Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS).



Pledge of Non-Discrimination


Tsukuba International School is an equal opportunity educator and employer. We will not discriminate against any student, prospective student, employee, or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, nationality, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We will take measures to ensure against such discrimination in all of our services and practices.