Student Guide To Japan 2019 - 2020 (English)

English

CONTENTS - Student Guide to Japan 2019 - 20201 Why Study in JapanChapter015 Reasons to Study in Japan07Planning Your Studies in Japan02Japan Facts and Figures08Schedule04Feedback from International Students in Japan05Interview—Why I Chose to Study in Japan06Campus Diary (1)Chapter2Schools and Exams10Japanese Educational System2012Universities (Undergraduate) and JuniorCollegesProfessional Training Colleges (specialized trainingcolleges postsecondary course)22Japanese Language Institutes14Graduate Schools2417Degree Programs in EnglishExamination for Japanese University Admission forInternational Students (EJU)18Short-term Study Programs and UniversityTransfer Program26Other Exams Used for Studying in Japan27Campus Diary (2)19Colleges of TechnologyChapter3Life in Japan28Immigration Procedures38Part-time Work32Calculating the Costs of Studying in Japan39Accommodation33Living Cost and Price40Medical Insurance, Accident/Property Insurance,and Kyosai41Internship42Employment in Japan34 Academic Fees36 ScholarshipsChapter4Learn More43Statistics44Q&A about Study in Japan/Study in Japan Global Network Project45Useful InformationPhotos courtesy of: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Kyoto University, Ochanomizu University, Sophia University, Tokai University,Anabuki College Group, Laugh & Peace Entertainment School Okinawa and Ajinomoto do Brasil

1ChapterWhy Study in Japan5 Reasons to Study in JapanWorld-Class Educational Standards1The biggest appeal of studying abroad in Japan is the opportunity to learnabout cutting-edge technology and science. Japan is a world leader in the fieldof science, and recently has been producing Nobel laureates nearly every year.The automobiles, digital cameras, fiber optics, artificial hearts and otherproducts that Japan’s scientific and technological prowess generates arerecognized around the world. Many of these products become an essentialpart of people’s lives.Japanese educational institutions do not just develop your academic abilities.They also instill personal values such as proper behavior in relationships andrespecting others that will help students once they enter the real world. Thisearns high praise from international students.Affordable Academic Fees2Academic fees in Japan are much lower than in the United States or theUnited Kingdom. In fact, tuition at Japan’s national universities is aboutone-third that of public universities in the United States. There are alsovarious financial support programs for international students in Japan,including scholarships, tuition reductions and waivers.3International EnvironmentAround 300,000 international students from around 180 regions andcountries are now studying at Japanese universities, Japanese languageinstitutes, and other schools here. Strong continued economic growth hasmade Asia one of the world’s hottest economic regions in recent years.Studying abroad in Japan offers you the chance to learn about not justJapan but the whole world. In addition, more and more Japanese institutionsare offering degree programs in English so that the need to learn Japanesedoes not become a barrier.Rich Nature and Culture4Japan is known for its rich natural environment and four very distinctseasons of spring, summer, fall and winter. Surrounded by the sea, Japanhas fostered a unique culture since ancient times. Traditional culture suchas the tea ceremony and flower arrangement now coexists with popculture elements such as anime and manga. Washoku—meaningJapanese cuisine—which is listed as a UNESCO Intangible CulturalHeritage, is popular around the world for its colorful and healthy dishesmade with seasonal ingredients.5Employment in JapanJapan is hiring more and more talented international students regardless oftheir nationality. They energize their organizations with diverse thinking andperspectives, and serve as international go-betweens. Japan has manyblue-chip companies with world-beating technology and top market shares.These include major corporations as well as small and medium-sizedcompanies. Working in Japan can be a great opportunity to accumulateknowledge and experience that will help your future.Student Guide to Japan 2019 - 2020 / 01

1ChapterWhy Study in JapanJapan Facts and Figures1Longest life expectancy: 1st1Industrial robots in operation in the world: 1st3Total of financial contributions to the UN: 3rd3Gross national income in the world: 3rd3Total automobiles exported in the world: 3rdNumber of Nobel laureates (26) in the world: 7th (and 1st in Asia)Chugoku regionGlobal Peace Index in the world: 9th (and 2nd in Asia)ShimanePopulation in the world: 11thHiroshimaNumber of World Heritage Sites in the world: 12th (and 4th in Asia)OkayamaYamaguchiSources:Ministry of Foreign Affairs of JapanGlobal Peace Index 2018References:Statistical Abstract of Education, Culture, Sports,Science and Technology of Japan, 2018Nobel c information on JapanArea: Approx. 378,000 kmMiyazaki2Population: 126,420,000Kyushu/Okinawa regionsKagoshimaCapital: TokyoLanguage: JapaneseCurrency: yen ( )Source: Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications (As of December 2018)02 / Student Guide to Japan 2019 - 2020OkinawaKochi

ture,anluiftnuobfor itsnwonkisnaJaptory!ishgintaincsand fadoofginzaamHokkaidoHokkaido regionAomoriTohoku regionAkitaIwateYamagataMiyagiChubu AichiChibaShizuokaMieKanto TokushimaShikoku regionKinki regionWebsites with information on Japan Web Japan (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)https://web-japan.org/ Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)https://www.jnto.go.jp/ Attractive Regions of Japan (Japan Tourism duction/index.htmlStudent Guide to Japan 2019 - 2020 / 03

1ChapterWhy Study in JapanFeedback from International Students in JapanQAWhy did you choose to study in Japan? (multiple answers possible)No. 1 Interested in Japanese society, wanted to live in JapanNo. 2 Wanted to study the Japanese language/Japanese cultureNo. 3Found education and research at Japanese institutions, etc. appealing60.8%48.2%34.1%No. 4Wanted to work in an occupation connected to JapanNo. 5Wanted to come in contact with a different culture23.7%No. 6Because the specialty or major I was interested in was offered in Japan23.6%No. 7Recommended by friends, acquaintances, families, etc.18.4%No. 8Geographically close17.5%No. 9Considered other countries, but conditions such as academic abilities and costs in Japan suited me best16.8%No. 10Got a scholarshipQA24.5%5.5%What was your impression of studying in Japan?Couldn’t sayNot good1.2%6.1%Not clear 0.7%Good 92%Source: Lifestyle Survey of Privately Financed International Students 2017 (JASSO)I was able to make many friends from JapanI was able to engage in fulfilling researchJob hunting in Japan is unique and it wasand other countries, actively communicate,participate in lots of extracurricular activities,and enjoyed a full lifestyle.activities surrounded by fantastic researchersand in an outstanding research environment.Set clear goals and immerse yourself inresearch!difficult, but it was a valuable experience thatenabled me to rediscover myself and trulygrow.04 / Student Guide to Japan 2019 - 2020

Listen toWhy I Chose to Study in Japanwhat they have tosay!ChinaVietnamPham Thi ThaoI.C.NAGOYAGuo YifanWaseda UniversityWhen people ask me why I came to Japan, I tell them because Japan is aplace where miracles happen. I was inspired to start learning JapaneseI decided to study in Japan because of my interest in Japanese society.I’ve frequently watched shows like Detective Conan and Pokémonbecause my parents wanted me to study in Japan. They thought a brightsince I was a kid. I also read a lot of Japanese literature, including Harukifuture was waiting for me. Thanks to studying Japanese, I was able tomake the most wonderful friends in the world. They did not just becomemy friends, they helped me find my dream. Someday I hope to build aMurakami’s novels, which made me want to see what Japanese societywas really like with my own eyes. When I had to think about the path Iwould take in my education and my career, I chose studying abroad incompany that provides safe food products to help keep people healthy.Japan without hesitation.I believe this dream can become a reality in Japan.Two things I find fascinating are why Japan, despite being such adisaster-prone country, has so many world-class companies, as well aswhy the Japanese are able to create such safe and healthy foodproducts. I also wanted to learn about the indomitable spirit of theJapanese, because they never give up no matter the hardships they face.I really wanted to learn these things and more about this wonderfulcountry, which strengthened my desire to study in Japan. I was sure thateven someone like myself with so little life experience could learndiscipline and grow if I went to Japan. This desire to proactively andpassionately learn from Japan is why I decided to study here.It’s been five years since I came to Japan. Studying subjects such asJapanese politics and economics at a university while living insideJapanese society and also making many Japanese friends have madeevery day I have spent here incredibly stimulating. Looking back on mytime as an international student, I’m sure that if I could study abroadagain anywhere in the world, I would still choose Japan. However, thereason would be the people here in Japan rather than an interest inJapanese society. I now feel that the biggest appeal of studying abroadin Japan is the people who kindly accepted me and supported me whenI was in trouble.TurkeyOzturk Ahmet FurkanAichi Prefectural UniversityI came to Japan for two reasons. The first was that I wanted to learnabout the IT industry in Japan, the first country in Asia to become aleader in that industry. Japan became active in the area of computerscience in a joint relationship with American companies beginning inthe 1990s. Now Japan is one of the world leaders in IT, both in Asia andaround the globe. I wanted to thoroughly learn about Japan’s ITindustry, since the country has long-established traditions in the fields ofIT and technology and has experienced a great deal of both success andfailure.The second reason I chose Japan was the tendency of young people inmy country, Turkey, to study abroad in Europe or the Americas. However, for the past sixty years Asia and especially Japan have seen remarkable economic growth. By studying in Japan, I felt I could be part ofJapan’s development and become an irreplaceable bridge betweenTurkey and other countries as well as different companies around theworld.EgyptMahmoud Mohamed NasefKyushu UniversityWhere to begin. I have known about Japan and all its glory since I was inprimary school. This is when I started to develop an interest in readingand watching Japanese anime and gradually over time immersedmyself in the world of Japanese culture. Ever since I visited Japan back in2013 when I was an undergraduate student, I have had great passion onhow systematic and precise things were. I was fascinated by what I sawand experienced and that included the hospitality of the people,beautiful places and amazing food. I like the overall Japanese cultureand work ethics, as I have gained some experience studying in aJapanese institute and did my industrial internship in a Japanese basedcompany (Toyota) before. My main aim studying in Japan is that itprovides the stepping stones for my future career as a researcher in myfield. I am here to experience firsthand living and studying in Japan andto adopt their style in order to better oneself, learn and grow. Ultimately,I hope to complete my studies and graduate from Kyushu University as aPhD student. I am looking forward to new experiences and to accomplish great things.Student Guide to Japan 2019 - 2020 / 05