Why should you study abroad in Japan? Picture this: one minute you’re studying Japanese in class and the next you’re learning new vocabulary at a local restaurant. You’re making Japanese and international friends as you explore your host city.
And not to mention the field trips that take you beyond your host city to explore the cultures and traditions of Japan!
With us, studying abroad in Japan means not only practicing Japanese language and culture in the classroom, but also experiencing it firsthand.
When it comes to study abroad, Japan has something for everyone. Whether you choose to study in Nagoya or Tokyo, our Japan study abroad programs help you make the most of your host city and academic interests.
Japan is a captivating and fascinating place for study abroad. The country is a dichotomy of worlds—from the serenity of bamboo forests, tranquil temples and traditional teahouses to its global engagement as an ultramodern, fast-paced country on the frontier of scientific advances and new technologies.
With top-ranked partners throughout Japan, KVI offers a variety of academic programs and campus settings to suit your personal interests, your major studies, and life goals. Pursue research in engineering and sciences, master Japanese language, or take classes in your major..
How do I find the right school?
Choosing the right school for you is the first thing that our student coordinators will think about. Finding the right study intensity, friendly environment, location and student support will all play into choosing the right language school for you.
Things you should think about:
What city do you want to study in?
What are your goals for studying Japanese?
Do you want to work after you finish your studies or continue on to higher education?
What kind of support or activities can you expect from the school and outside of the classroom?
Our student coordinator will take all these factors into consideration when helping you choose the best school.
How to apply to a school?
While you can apply directly to the language school, many of them do not offer student support in any language besides Japanese. This can make the first few months challenging as you struggle to talk with the staff while just starting to learn the language.
The GaijinPot Student Placement service takes care of all this by acting as a go-between for you and the school. Our student coordinators are fluent in English and Japanese so we can quickly step in to help you through any challenges that you might have.
Can I apply to multiple schools?
Don’t do it! There have been cases where a student applies to a “backup” school or even several schools to choose from later. The problem with this is that only one school can sponsor a visa and immigration might black list your profile if they receive your application from multiple schools.
The requirements for the student visa is set by the Immigration Bureau of Japan. The requirements and documents are the same for every school, so there is no difference between each school as to whether they can get you the visa or not.
If you have applied to several schools, you need to contact all of them and let them know as soon as possible. It should be possible to cancel applications and still get the visa through one school, but you’ll have to move fast!
When should I apply?
Language schools typically have admissions four times per year. They accept students for January, April, July and October starts. The actual application deadline will be several months before admission.
Keep in mind that the maximum a student visa can be issued is for two years. One thing to remember is that if your goals is further study or work in Japan, then you will want to graduate in March as the bulk of the hiring in Japan is done by April.
If you do not care about graduating in March, then you can study up to two years regardless of when you begin.
When is the academic year in Japan?
Most Japanese academic years are from April to March. Japanese language schools also follow this system, and even though you can join the school four times a year, the biggest intake is usually in April.
Classes usually run for three months, although a certain level may take several classes to complete.
There are usually extended breaks between sessions and also major breaks at the end of April/beginning of May for Golden Week, as well as a summer vacation in the middle of August.
If at all possible, try to plan your trips around these breaks as being absent from school for leisure purposes will hurt your attendance record.
Do I have to attend every class?
In Japan, attendance is everything! Schools will keep track of your attendance and take notice if you do not come to school or constantly come late. Of course, they’ll also get worried if you stop coming to school without any kind of notice and may even pay a visit to your home or contact your family if you stop coming all of a sudden.
It may seem overly strict, but it’s really important for your future because if your attendance is poor, then it will cause problems for:
i. Advancing to the next class
ii. Advancing to your next school after graduation
iii. Scholarship opportunities
iv. Visa extensions
v. Job opportunities
vi. Recommendation letters
Typically immigration requires at least 80 percent attendance.
If you drop below that, then it may affect your visa status and you will need to give them a reason and proof of why your attendance is so poor (for example, a doctor’s note if you were absent due to illness or details if you had to go home for a family emergency).
Your school may also have higher attendance requirements, since 80 perent will not be acceptable for many jobs or universities.
Many universities and trade schools will give scholarships to people with good attendance at the language school
If you are looking for a scholarship or want priority for admissions, try to shoot for at least 90 perent attendance.
In Japanese thinking, attendance is more important than grades because even if you perform poorly, at least by coming every day it shows that you’re doing your best and want to improve.
If you score high but don’t come to school, they’ll think you’re arrogant and consider yourself above the rules.
This kind of thinking is the same for working in the country.
Scholarships
Most language schools do not have any kind of scholarships for incoming students, although some may give discounts if you have passed a certain JLPT level. Many schools do have scholarships for second year students. If you are a hard working student in good standing with the school, then you should apply for them whenever you can! There are also government scholarships available to language students that have similar criteria and your school will be able to give you more details for those.
If you are planning to pursue further education in Japan, then your next school may also have scholarships. The criteria depends on the school, but it is usually based on some combination of the following:
Attendance
Japanese level (either JLPT or EJU)
Recommendation letters
Nationality
EJU score
Performance in the school’s entrance exam or interview
Your language school will be able to give you details for any institution to which you may want to apply.
How do I avoid the bad schools?
Of course, any school that is recommend by the KVI international Student Placement Service will be a good and reputable school! However, there is occasionally bad publicity about language schools so we’d also like to give a little more clarity about the industry.
Language schools are strictly controlled by the government and immigration. There is a strict set of standards that a school has to go through in order to be allowed to accept students and the government keeps track of everything closely — from the teacher-to-student ratio to the textbooks used. New schools are subject to close scrutiny until they’ve proven themselves, which takes several years.
There are also criteria the government uses to determine if a school is trustworthy. It is a combination of many things, including student attendance records, any crimes committed by students, the kind of schools that the students go to for further education and other factors. Schools that are found to have a lot of offenses will get put on probation and have several restrictions placed upon them. If their reputation does not improve, they will lose their ability to issue student visas.
For the most part, any of these questionable schools will not be focusing their marketing efforts towards English-speaking students, and of course we at the KVI international Student Placement Service will only work with schools in good standing with the government — so have no fear about applying!
Accommodation
Although student dormitories operated by local governments and universities are available, approximately 75% of international students are living in private houses or apartments. Once you receive your letter of acceptance, you should start gathering information about housing immediately. Some ways to get this information include 1) your school’s international student office, 2) the Internet and informational magazines, and 3) real estate agents in areas you are interested in living in.
Student dormitory
Advantages
Lower expenses compared to apartments (no need for shiki-kin [security deposit], rei-kin [gratuity money] or renewal fees)
Student dormitory rooms may come equipped with electric appliances and/or other furniture
Disadvantage
Due to limited numbers of rooms available, not all students can stay in dormitories.
Rules such as curfew and wake-up time
Shared kitchen, toilet and bathroom
Apartment
Advantages
Your own life rhythm
Development of sense of the value of money
Disadvantage
In many cases, you will have to pay shiki-kin (security deposit equal to a few months’ rent), rei-kin (gratuity money), real estate agent’s commissions, or other fees in advance.
RComplicated rental agreements
Need to purchase all furniture and electrical appliances
Joint guarantor
A joint guarantor is required when renting an apartment in Japan. If you do not pay the rent in time or cause damage without paying for repairs, the landlord can demand that the joint guarantor pay for the overdue rent or repairs. There is a system in which school-related persons (student office or teaching staff) can serve as joint guarantors for international students with limited Japanese connections. A joint guarantor may not be needed if you conclude a contract that requires the payment of a guarantee charge.
Comprehensive Renters’ Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan
This insurance program, which is managed by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES), is designed to cover unexpected emergencies, such as fire, and to help an international student avoid unnecessarily inconveniencing his/her joint guarantor.
To find out if you are eligible for this insurance program, please contact the school in which you are currently enrolled or will be enrolled.
You will need to change your status of residence if you conduct activities falling under a different status of residence. Specifically in the following cases, international students need to change their residence status of “College Student” to another type of status. In any such case, the local immigration office will accept your application for Permission for Change of Status of Residence with payment of the required application fee. Check with the website of Immigration Services Agency of Japan regarding documents required for the application.
Approximately 76% of privately financed international students in Japan are working part-time. They earn about JPY 59,000 (US$518) per month on average.
By solely depending on part-time work, it is impossible to cover all school expenses and cost of living. Be sure to make an appropriate financial plan so that you do not have to depend too much on income from part-time work.
Recently, there are an increasing number of international students experiencing internship activities at companies, etc. before they graduate. An internship is an opportunity where students as interns will experience on-the-job training at companies, etc. for a fixed, limited period of time.
Check with your school regarding the availability of an internship system while you are enrolled.
Furthermore, like Japanese students, there are an increasing number of international students going job hunting while they study and finding jobs in Japan.
If you wish to extend your scholarship while you study in Japan, consult with the school or the scholarship organizer.
You can apply for a new scholarship. The application deadline and eligibility period of a scholarship varies with each scholarship organizer. Consult your school as soon as possible.
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