How to apply for a Japanese university?
A brief guide to a gateway to higher education in Japan
Japan isn’t just the land of the rising sun, it is a land of rising innovation too. It is constantly taking a forward step in technology, robotics and is home to several top-notch automobile firms. This is topped by a deep cultural significance and a safe atmosphere with a low crime rate. Aside from these, numerous rationales back up the fact that Japan could be an ideal destination for your undergraduate education and beyond.
The immense attraction and reverence towards Japan and its people made me choose Japan as my study destination. Based in India, currently, I am an undergraduate student at The University of Tokyo, majoring in Environmental Sciences. This is a guide to walk you through the process of stepping into a Japanese university.
PRE-APPLICATION
Usually, Japanese universities have two recruitment periods, the spring semester in April and the autumn semester in September. But the application period varies with the university for both semesters. I would recommend starting by surfing about the universities, faculty, programs way before the application period (at least 6 months prior) in order to extensively research the programs with consideration to all the facets including your interest, fees, location, university specifications, career prospects, and so on.
The number of English undergraduate programs could be limited and few are exclusively for international students. Most English programs integrate Japanese language training courses into their curriculum and learning basic Japanese would be handy for social, academic, and professional interactions. With regards to cost, all public universities have fixed fees and the private ones could be relatively expensive.
This phase could be engaged with searching for programs and universities online, attending educational fairs and info sessions, compelling and analyzing information from multiple sources. This is a profound opportunity to gather substantial insight into the university, campus life, curriculum by interacting with faculties, students, and alumni. The more the better since applying to multiple universities increases the chance of plunging into Japan for your higher studies.
You could also spare some time to research scholarships. Most universities do provide scholarships, other private or public scholarships are also less to be debated. The government-sponsored MEXT scholarship is at the forefront for its attractive grant and other concomitant benefits. Contact the university or the concerned organization in need of further details and from my experience, they are quick with their responses.
Sitting for exams is also a requisite in this phase. The test requirements are independently decided by the university. JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) could be mandatory for Japanese programs. Other required or preferred tests include EJU (Entrance for Japanese University) which is a common test to enter Japanese universities and could be or not be mandatory depending on the program/university you apply for, SAT, ACT, IELTS, TOFEL, etc. A quick look at past application guidelines would benefit in constructing an idea of the requirements, although it could be updated in the following years.
Study in Japan and JPSS are two great sources for university/program hunt, scholarship and career opportunities search, a glimpse on life in Japan, and other interesting aspects. Finally, keeping track of updates is pivotal to avoid losing your favorite university.
APPLICATION
As mentioned the courses commence either in spring or in the autumn semester and the application period varies with the semester and the university. Keep yourself updated with a repeated check on the website. You could also seek the expertise of consultancy services for application and pre-, post-application assistance. Start with carefully scanning the application guidelines to grasp a good understanding of the requirements, method of evaluation, and future procedures. Few universities may demand application fees. The application could be entirely online, or an initial online application followed by sending the requested documents through post or just sending the documents by post.
In general, the selection methods are document screening and interview, but few universities may include a written exam and/or exclude the interview. Usually, the document screening requirements are application form, essay(s)/motivational statement, recommendation letter(s), transcript/test scores/certificates, financial statement. The essays could focus on specific issues or seek for your motivation to choose that university. On a similar note, there could be a need to request a recommendation letter from people in designated fields depending on the major you choose. While most applications are limited to high school transcripts, few universities may require specific test scores like EJU, SAT, ACT. Including renowned tests, skill development, non-academic activity certificates shoots up the chance of acceptance. It is less often for universities to ask for financial statements. Again, do contact the university in case of queries.
POST-APPLICATION
The result of document screening is followed interview or exam and most interviews are organized online. Japanese are time-conscious and so should you. Arrive earlier than the scheduled time. Be considerate of unique Japanese interview etiquettes, but international students could get away from it due to their lack of exposure to Japanese culture. As far as questions are considered they are not much distinct from general university interview questions. In the final result, you could be conditionally selected in certain instances, for example, your test results haven’t been released yet and in that case, your selection will only be confirmed only when they are submitted and meet the required scores. Finally, VOILA!! get your passport and visa ready as a token of your endeavors.
SUMMARY
To sum up, one could start by exploring the universities and courses through a wide spectrum of sources, prepare the requirements including the test to be taken. Keep yourself updated in order to apply before the deadline. Finally, take up the interview or the exam as instructed. The path towards an abroad education could be overwhelming due to insufficient knowledge, self-doubts, and lack of support. But the channels to overcome these obstacles are diverse. Expend your ultimate energy and keep moving forward. Gambattekudasai!! (All the best!!!)
