JAPANESE RETURNEES

( 帰 国 子 女) AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:

PATHWAYS INTO

JAPANESE UNIVERSITIES

✓ Homecoming

✓ Reasonable tuition & cost

✓ English and international skills an asset

✓ Strong programs and impressive rankings

✓ Creating “global manpower” for Japan

WHY JAPAN?

GENERAL INFO• NO CENTRALIZED SYSTEM OF APPLICATION. APPLY DIRECTLY TO

UNIVERSITIES

• 3 TYPES OF UNIVERSITIES:

• PRIVATE, NATIONAL & TECHNICAL UNIVERSITIES

• 2 TYPES OF CATEGORIES:

• JAPANESE RETURNEES ENGLISH PROGRAMS/ INTERNATIONAL

STUDENTS

• JAPANESE RETURNEES JAPANESE PROGRAM

• CHANGES EVERY YEAR – DO YOUR RESEARCH! A LOT OF

INFORMATION IS UPDATED EACH YEAR

• STUDY EACH UNIVERSITY’S ADMISSIONS PROCESS – 40 PAGES

LONG!

POPULAR UNIVERSITIES

• WASEDA , TOKYO

• INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (ICU)

• KEIO, TOKYO & KANAGAWA

• SOPHIA, TOKYO

• RITSUMEIKAN ASIA PACIFIC (APU)

• NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES:

• KYOTO, TOKYO, NAGOYA

GLOBAL UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

• IN 2014, JAPAN GOV INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE GLOBALIZATION OF THE

COUNTRY’S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES SO THAT GRADUATES CAN

“WALK INTO POSITIONS OF GLOBAL LEADERSHIP.”

• COURSES CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH. JAPANESE PROFICIENCY NOT

NEEDED FOR ENTRANCE BUT TAUGHT IN UNIVERSITY

• UNIVERSITIES IN THE PROGRAM INCLUDE:

• KYOTO, TOKYO (TODAI), SOPHIA, MEIJI, WASEDA, RITSUMEIKAN

APU, KYUSHU, NAGOYA, OSAKA, TSUKUBA, TOHOKU, DOSHISHA

• LOTS OF MERIT BASED SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTSAdmissions

Requirements

Japanese Program

(April or Sept)

English Programs(Sept)

Entrance

Requirements

Entrance Exam and in-

person interview with

faculty members.

(Interview based on

personality, interest in

university, etc)

Document review:

Academic transcripts,

application essay, test

scores (TOEFL), rec letter,

English must be strong

Interview in English

Language Japanese Encouraged to take

Japanese

Tests TOEFL

IB Full Diploma

SAT

SAT, TOEFL

IB Full Diploma

Entrance Exam not needed

Additional

Comments

Sample exam papers

available online

(Commentary on Essay)

Some unconditional offers

may be made

Admit Rate Varies from school to

school. More competitive

than English program

Less competitive than

Japanese programs. Merit

scholarships available

OVERVIEW OF APPLICATION PROCESSApplication Period Many universities have several rounds:

Round 1: Oct- Dec

Round 2: Jan – Feb

First Screening:

Document Review

Application Form, color ID photo, Essay

Transcripts, Predicted IB Grades

Letters of recommendation

Official TOEFL scores

Certificate of expected graduation

Invitation for

Interview

Those selected will be selected for an interview

(in English via Skype or in person)

Locations vary in Asia but none in Manila

Applicant may be asked to provide written

answers

Some unconditional offers

Acceptance and

Enrollment

decision

April – May: Acceptances are sent to students

Pay admissions fee to indicate decision to attend

SAMPLE APPLICATION PERIODWASEDA SPSE

1st Application: Oct 13-26, 2017

2nd Application: Jan 26-Feb 13, 2018

WASEDA SILS

1st Application: Jan 6-30, 2018

2nd Application: Jan 31 – March 23

ICU

1st Application: Jan 6-22, 2018

2nd Application: Feb 16-March 6

Ritsuimeikan APU

Apr Enrollment: June 5- Oct 18

Sept Enrollment: Sept 18 – Mar 28

Sophia FLA

1st Application: Nov 20-Dec 11, 2017

2nd Application: Mar 26- Apr 16

Sophia Science & Tech

1st Application: Nov 20-Dec 11

2nd Application: Mar 26-Apr 16

KEIO PEARL

1st Application: Oct 20 – Dec 1

2nd Application: Dec 13-Jan 31

3rd Application: Feb 27-Apr 10

KEIO GIGA

1st Application: Feb 1-13, 2018

Tokyo PEAK

Oct 27-Nov 29, 2017

Nagoya

1st Application: Nov 15-Dec 12

2nd Round: Jan 15-Feb 7

STEPS NEEDED TO APPLY Student ISM/Counselor

See counselor to discuss programs

and application period

Confirm with student dates and programs

Fill out blue transcript request form Provide transcripts, predicted IB Grades,

ISM Profile – stamp & seal

Fill out online application form,

provide photo

Pay application fee (5000 JYP to

35,000 JYP)

Ask teachers for recommendation

letters

Provide letters of recommendations –

stamp and seal

Write Essay Help with Essay Editing

SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS

1) WASEDA SPSE: ENGLISH ESSAY IN 1000 WORDS ON WHY

YOU WISH TO ENTER THE PROGRAM. USE PERSONAL

EXPERIENCE. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU WISH TO LEARN AND

HOW YOU PLAN TO UTILIZE WHAT YOU LEARN IN THE FUTURE

2) TOKYO PEAK: #1 - QUOTE, FOLLOWED BY REFLECTION.

#2 – CHOOSE ONE HISTORICAL FIGURE. WHAT DO YOU

THINK HE/SHE WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IF THE

PERSON COULD SEE THE WORLD TODAY?

3) KEIO PEARL: WHY ARE YOU APPLYING TO PEARL? WHAT

ARE YOUR ACADEMIC GOALS?

• JASSO: WWW.JASSO.GO.JP/EN/

• JPSS: WWW.JPSS.JP

• (SITE IN ENGLISH AND JAPANESE

• USEFUL TO DO SEARCH BY UNIVERSITIES AND ACADEMIC FIELD)

• STUDY IN JAPAN: HTTP://WWW.STUDYJAPAN.GO.JP/EN/

• INDIVIDUAL UNIVERSITY SITES

USEFUL WEBSITES

APPLICATION TIPS!

✓THINK ABOUT WHICH PROGRAMS TO APPLY EARLY (JUNIOR YEAR)

✓CHOOSE YOUR COURSES CAREFULLY AND ACCORDING TO EACH

UNIVERSITY

✓ATTEND AN OPEN HOUSE IN JAPAN UNIVERSITIES WHERE POSSIBLE

(JULY OR AUGUST)

✓ SHOOT TO APPLY IN ROUND 1

✓CONNECT WITH ISM ALUMNI IN JAPAN

✓TAKE THE TOEFL

✓START ESSAY DRAFTS

QUESTIONS??