About Japan
Japan, known as “Land of Rising Sun” located in the Pacific Ocean lies to the east of the of the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, China, Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. Japan has recently been noticed the third-largest economy in the world behind the US and China. Its economic strength is at least partly due to the strong research and development industry that underlies successful international brands such as Nissan, Toyota, Panasonic, Canon and Sony – as well as producing robots for every need imaginable. Unsurprisingly, an excellent higher education system lies behind all this innovation.
Japan is divided into five regions: Tohoku, from north of Kanto to Tsugaru Strait; Kanto, embracing seven prefectures in the Tokyo-Yokohama region; the Chubu, or central, region, from west of Tokyo to the Nagoya area; Kinki, including the important cities of Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Nara; and Chugoku, a narrow peninsula thrusting westward from Kinki between the Sea of Japan and the Inland Sea, which lies between southern Honshū and the island of Shikoku.
Cost of Living
Average costs of living in Japan are ¥88,000 (US$740) per month. Tokyo, unsurprisingly, is the most expensive place to live in Japan. Here, the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) recommends a budget of approximately ¥103,000 (US$860) per month to cover rent, food, insurance, entertainment and other living costs.
Thanks to Japan’s ambitious reforms, international students now have more opportunities to gain funding than ever before. With the percentage of international students remaining well below the targets laid out by the CIEE, there are a range of government scholarships, grants and loan schemes open to outstanding international applicants. The Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship is one such scheme, for which students will need a recommendation from their university or local Japanese embassy. Another government initiative is the Global 30 Project, which not only provides students with more options to study in English, but also offers financial support and visa advice.
Education System in Japan
Japan’s entire educational system was reorganized along US lines after World War II, adhering to a six-three-three-four plan (six years of primary school, three years of lower secondary school, three years of upper secondary school—full-time, part-time or correspondence—and four years of college). Education is compulsory and provided free of charge for the first nine years, from age 6 through 14. Entrance into high schools, the stage following the compulsory level, is by examination only, and most of these schools charge tuition. Coeducation has become an accepted principle.
Admission Requirements
The government is keen to attract more international students, and has set a target of having 300,000 foreign students in the country by 2020 (it reached the 100,000 mark in 2003). As a result, universities are focusing on making life easier for foreign students, from the application process all the way through to finding a job after graduation. One thing that will certainly help to attract international students is the introduction of more courses taught partly or entirely in English.
Aware that living and studying in Japan is expensive compared to many countries, the government has also introduced additional financial support for foreign students. Various university scholarships and grants are available through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). There are approximately 780 universities in Japan, of which about 80% are private. There are also specialized schools and colleges that provide more vocational types of degree.
Admission In Universities:
Rather than submitting a GPA (grade point average) or other assessment grades, students applying to universities in Japan are required to take entrance examinations. The ‘Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU)’ is the standardized test for foreign students, designed to test basic academic skill in areas of science, mathematics and ‘Japan and the world’. Some 95% of national universities, 65% of public universities and 44% of private institutions require the EJU for entrance. Many universities also require incoming students to take an additional examination. Although the EJU can be completed at test centers across Asia, prospective students must often travel to Japan to take these institution-specific tests. Fees for the tests range between ¥6,960 and ¥12,920 (US$57-$107) and test-takers have just one chance to pass each academic year.
In addition to the entrance examinations, applicants are likely to be asked to provide a completed application form, academic transcripts, proof of sufficient finances to cover tuition fees, academic references, a valid passport and a couple of passport-sized photographs.
Admission In Language Schools:
You can apply to study in Japanese Schools instead of going to universities directly. In Japanese Schools, you can learn Japanese Language Course which is 1 year to 2 years of duration. After completing the course, you are eligible to study either vocational courses in Technical Colleges or you can study academic courses in universities. In order to apply in Japanese Schools you need to learn the basic Japanese language or pass the test NMAT or equivalent Japanese Language test in your home country. The minimum requirement to study in Schools is 12 years of high school completion and Japanese Language test completion. Typically, you can expect to pay between ¥500,000 and ¥1,000,000 (US$4,140-8,280) annually – but don’t make the mistake of assuming the highest rates are charged by the highest-ranked institutions. Generally, there are four intakes: January, April, June & October Intakes.
For more details, you are requested to contact one of the counselors in our office.
Visa Requirements
International students intending to study for more than three months in Japan will need to apply for a student visa. To do this, you should first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, which will be applied for on your behalf by the Japanese institution you have been accepted by. Once this has been issued, you will need to apply for your visa through your local Japanese embassy or consulate. As well as the original certificate of eligibility (and an additional photocopy), you will also need to provide a valid passport, a completed application form and a recent passport-sized photograph.
If you want to work in Japan while studying, you’ll need to obtain ‘Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted’, which you can apply for at an immigration bureau once you arrive in Japan. As a general rule, this permission will entitle you to work up to 28 hours a week during term-time and eight hours a day during official holiday periods.
How to Apply
Step : 1 Registration
By Applicant
1．Application Forms or APPLY ONLINE
2．Personal History
3．Statement of purpose to study abroad
4．Statement of relatives and their health
5．8 photos（h4cm×w3cm, within past 6 months）
6．Last diploma
7．Last academic transcript
8．Certificate of Japanese learning history
9．Copy of passport
10 Health certificate
By Sponsor
1．Affidavit of Financial Support
2．Certificate of Employment or Business
3．Tax Receipt Proofs
4．Bank Certificate & Statement
5．Family Income Sources
6．Copy of identification
7．Family credentials
8．Written oath
Application & Registration Fee: Rs. 25,000 +Tax
Step: 2 – Certificate of Eligibility
1．Pay Tuition Fee
Step : 3 – Visa Application
1．Visa Application Form
2．Passport
3．Orginal & Copy of Certificate of Eligibility
4．Photo ( 4*3 cm Size)
5．Interview
6．Required Fee
Step : 4 – Flight
1．Balance Fee Payment
2．Ticket Confirmation
3．Airport Pick Up Confirmation
4．Accommadation Confirmation
5． Pre- Departure Information
6．Service Fee: Rs. 50,000 + Tax
