Japan, the country that attracts a lot of people wanting to visit, study, work and live here. It is not only one of the safest countries in the world because of the low crime rate, offering a welcoming environment, but it is is also full of culture as UNESCO World Heritage has shown. If you are the one who is looking for a job in Japan and want to know how to deal with it because Japan has a Job hunting period during the first half year of every year. For more information, please follow this article and prepare yourself ready for that season! On the other hand, studying in Japan can be a brilliant choice to seek a high-quality study aboard experience with such unique opportunities. If you are the one who is looking for the university to continue your Bachelor, Master or Ph.D. and have a desire to have an excellent experience college life in Japan, this article showed you the recommended universities in Japan for the international students. An emerging study aboard destination, Japan is one of the best choices which offers many scholarships for every major. If you are interested in exploring the modern city in Japan and the stunning world heritage sites, it will be a good idea to take advantages of the number of Japan’s high-tech fields of study here. Besides, this article includes some not so secret yet not well known little tips for you about the scholarship for each university.
Which University should International Students Go?
1. The University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo ranks 42nd in the World ranking best university. The total international student body is 3,696. Most of them are Chinese students (1,801 students). There are many programs for Undergraduate or Graduate international school students as can be seen via this list.
College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty of Science
Graduate School of Economics
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Graduate School of Science
Graduate School of Engineering
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Graduate School of Medicine
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
Graduate School of Information Studies
Graduate School of Public Policy
Graduate School of Education
Besides, there are no worries about language because all of them are offered in English. 🙂 Japanese government provides the scholarship for international students 117,000 yen – 145,000 yen per month. The scholarship amount is depended on the type of program enrollment. In my opinion, this is enough for staying in Tokyo which is one of the high cost of living city in Asia. The University of Tokyo’s procedure for international students, please check this document.
2. Hokkaido University
Hokkaido University ranks 401st in the World ranking best university. Japanese government offers the scholarship for international students 117,000 yen – 145,000 yen per month which is depended on the type of program enrollment. Due to Hokkaido is the coldest region in Japan, they offer 3,000 yen extra during November to March for students as a cold-district allowance to cover the hike and the cost of heating, etc. 🙂 Please stay warm in Hokkaido because the higher temperature in Hokkaido is 26 degree Celsius in summer. You can learn how to keep warm in cold place from this article and foods which help to keep you warm from this article. The total foreigner student body is 2,101. More than half are Chinese students (1,112 students). Hokkaido University has undergraduate and postgraduate study area for you to choose to study as the following list.
Letter : Humanities and Human sciences (Undergraduate/Postgraduate)
Law (Undergraduate/Postgraduate)
Economics and Business (Undergraduate/Postgraduate)
Education (Undergraduate/Postgraduate)
International Media, Communication and Tourism Studies (Postgraduate)
Public Policy (Postgraduate)
Medicine (Undergraduate/Postgraduate)
Biomedical Science and Engineering (Postgraduate)
Dental Medicine (Undergraduate/Postgraduate)
Veterinary Medicine (Undergraduate/Postgraduate)
Infection Disease (Postgraduate)
Health Sciences (Postgraduate)
Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy (Undergraduate)
Fisheries Sciences (Undergraduate)
Sciences (Undergraduate)
Agriculture (Undergraduate)
Engineering (Undergraduate)
Information Science and Technology (Postgraduate)
Hokkaido university’s prospectus for international students, please check this document
3. University of Tsukuba
The University of Tsukuba ranks 401st in the World ranking best university. The total foreigner student body is 2,426. Most of them came from Asia. Besides, the University of Tsukuba offers a wide range of international programs from undergraduate to Doctoral program. Some programs also provide both Japanese and English. They offer international undergraduate programs in Life and Environmental Science (Biology, Agrobiology, Geoscience), International Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Global Issues, and Medical Science. A wide range of Masters anPh.D degree programs such as major Biology, International Relations and Public Policy, Geology, and Medical Sciences.
There is a scholarship list for international students. It is depended on enrollment program, nationality and grade point average start from 30,000 yen up to 200,000 yen per month. University of Tsukuba’s guidebook for international students, please check this document.
4. Nagoya University
The University of Tsukuba ranks 301 st in the World ranking best university. They offer a scholarship for international students 123,000 yen – 153,000 yen per month. A scholarship amount is depended on the enrollment program. There are many programs for graduate and postgraduate international students in the following list.
Letters
History
Art&Culture
Politics&Economics
Law
Philosophy
Education, Development & Psychology
International Studies
Informatics
Engineering & Technology
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
Life Sciences & medicine
Environmental & Earth Studies
Nagoya University’s guide for prospective students Japanese and English and Chinese.
5. Chiba University
Chiba University ranks 601 st in the World ranking best university. The total foreigner student body is 1,443. For more information about Chiba University’s international exchange, please check this website and about the prospective student. Japanese government offers the scholarship for international students 120,000 yen – 145,000 yen per month which is depended on the type of program enrollment. The list below shows the program at Chiba University. The scholarship will be provided for international students until the end of the applicant’s current or new degree period.
Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Law and Economics Science
School of Medicine
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Nursing
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Horticulture
College of Liberal Arts And Sciences
Graduate school of Education
Graduate school of Science
Graduate school of Nursing
Graduate school of Engineering
Graduate school of Horticulture
Graduate school of Humanities and Social Sciences
Graduate school of Advanced Integration Science
Graduate school of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science Law School
Graduate school of Science and Engineering
Graduate school of Humanities and Studies in Public Affairs
The criteria for getting a scholarship in Japan
1. Grade Point Average (GPA)
To get an award in Japan, a GPA of 2.30 – 3.00 scale over the last two years of study is the minimum GPA requirement.
2. English Proficiency test
Most of the university in Japan require TOFEL (internet based analysis) 80+ or IELTS 6.00+ (Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing must not less than 6.00) as a minimum criterion for the international program. TOFEL and IELTS scores are valid only for two years. Both are the English language examination for study, immigration, and work. TOEIC has only listened and reading test. The TOEIC certification never expires. It is the standard English exam for assessing the English language skills needed in the workplace. Thus, it is necessary for job hunting.
3. Japanese Proficiency test
Some university or some major also requires the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). The JLPT certification never expires. JLPT has twice a year which is July and December. Prepare yourself for this exam; this article may help you to advance your Japanese skill.
Scholarships
1. Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarships
The Japanese government is also pushing an internationalization in higher education. It is one of the most popular scholarships to study abroad in Japan. Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology has been inviting international students to study in Japan since 1954. There are plenty of study program available for international students in Japan. Academic levels which can apply this scholarship are Graduate school student, Research student, Undergraduate student, and Junior college student. The scholarship amount is depended on enrollment program, and all applicants must participate program at least 1 year. For more information about the Japanese Government Scholarship (Monbukagusho – MEXT), please check this website. Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Indonesia, Vietnam, France, Spain, Russia and the Hebrew language are available for this website.
2. Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarships
“Monbukagusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students” has been provided by JASSO. This scholarship is for the applicants who participate Student Exchange Support Program to join the short term study in Japan (at least eight days). It is for those accepted by Japanese universities under student exchange agreements or other student exchange arrangements with their home universities. All countries that have diplomatic relation with Japan can apply for this scholarship and get 80,000 yen per month. I had the honor to receive a JASSO scholarship and came to Japan. It was also one of my dreams that I want to spend time being a student in Japan once in my life and experience its cultures. 🙂
3. Local Governments and Local International Associations Scholarships
Local Governments and Local International Associations in Japan provide scholarships to students who live in their district as well as those who attend the class in their area.
4. Private Foundations Scholarships
Private companies or organizations provide these scholarships. This is to reflect the objective and character of the company or organization, awards are granted to students attending schooled in a specific district, or limited to particular subjects related to their company, or to be provided to students from a given country where the enterprise has exchanges. Scholarships are arranged according to the name of foundations in Japanese alphabetical order. However, These kinds of award have a contract that the attendants have to work with their company after graduation. The working duration depends on each scholarship.
5. Scholarships available aboard
Most of the award is available after coming to Japan, several local governments, local international associations and private foundations accept the application from overseas.
For Local Governments and Local International Associations Scholarships, Private Foundations Scholarships and Scholarships available aboard, they provide a scholarship for a high school student, Junior college student, Undergraduate Students, Master, Doctoral, Research Students, etc. The scholarship amount depends on the enrollment program, the origin country of each applicant, and duration. Some of them have additional requirements. Most of them require only documents for the submission. Few of them need documents, interview exam and written exam. Please make sure and prepare your documents and yourself ready before applying.
Payday and payment method are depended on each scholarship. However, If you do not have enough money to spend in each month, I suggest you do a part-time job. Most of my friends and I had part-time jobs (called バイト baito). This is a common thing in Japan. Everyone who wants an experience about finding a job, the part-time job is the first step before trying the job hunting. However, there are many rules about part-time job in Japan, one of the most strict rules is underages are not allowed to work after 10 PM, as well as you will only be allowed to work within 28 hours a week (up to 8 hours a day) The hourly wage in Tokyo is 1,000 yen – 1,500 yen, whereas suburbs is around 800 yen.
Nevertheless, you have to be careful about the tax. If you have a part-time job and get a salary, you need to pay the income tax. If your annual employment income is less than 1,030,000 yen, you will not have to pay the fee with the filling income tax return. Furthermore, all of the residents in Japan are required to pay residence tax. It is imposed on all registered citizens. The tax amount is based on your income from the previous year. However, being an international student in Japan can earn many excellent experiences! One of them is you can get student price at places such as Karaoke. They offer you a discount price at around 500-1,000 yen cheaper. Besides, karaoke in Japan is such a unique technology. I think it is because karaoke originally came from Japan.
As an idiom ‘the world is your oyster’, do not miss out on the opportunity to experience brilliant college life in Japan! Thus, the selection of a university is one of the most critical decisions. I hope that this article stimulates your curiosity and help you discover your dream university, sitting in one of the classrooms and participating lecture class or designing an experiment in the laboratory.
Note All of the link information is the latest (2019) from each university website. Application outlines or guidance and the amount of the allowance are subject to change.
Ferinmi/Thailand
