In Japan, a rōnin(浪人) is a student who has graduated from middle school or high school but has failed to enter a school at the next level, and consequently is studying outside of the school system for entrance in a future year. The term "rōnin" is colloquial; the word kanendosei(過年度生) is more formal. "Rōnin" derives from their having no school to attend, as a ronin (a masterless samurai) had no leader to serve.