This document provides information about applying to universities in Japan for international students and Japanese returnees. It outlines that there is no centralized application system, and students apply directly to individual universities, which include private, national, and technical universities. Popular universities mentioned include Waseda, ICU, Keio, Sophia, and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific. The admissions process involves submitting transcripts and essays, with interviews also required for some programs. English proficiency is important for international student programs, while Japanese proficiency is required for Japanese returnee programs. Scholarships are available. The document provides timelines and sample essay questions to help students prepare their applications.

1. JAPANESE RETURNEES
( 帰 国 子 女) AND
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
PATHWAYS INTO
JAPANESE UNIVERSITIES

2. ✓ Homecoming
✓ Reasonable tuition & cost
✓ English and international skills an asset
✓ Strong programs and impressive rankings
✓ Creating “global manpower” for Japan
WHY JAPAN?

3. 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!

4. POPULAR UNIVERSITIES
• WASEDA , TOKYO
• INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (ICU)
• KEIO, TOKYO & KANAGAWA
• SOPHIA, TOKYO
• RITSUMEIKAN ASIA PACIFIC (APU)
• NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES:
• KYOTO, TOKYO, NAGOYA

5. 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

6. ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Admissions
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

7. OVERVIEW OF APPLICATION PROCESS
Application 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

8. SAMPLE APPLICATION PERIOD
WASEDA 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

9. 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

10. 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?

11. • 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

12. 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

13. QUESTIONS??