Going to College in Japan?

[Jcandres]

Hello All, I am new to this forum so sorry if I am posting a question someone has already posted. Anyways I'm 19 years old and I want to study in japan, right now I'm in a community college in Maryland. But I am wondering if anybody has any suggestions on good colleges in japan? My goal is to get a bachelors degree then stay in Japan. But my money is kinda tight so I am also looking for any info on scholarships for foreigners. Anyways I appreciate any info thanks.

[Harvey]

Here are some cheesy links I have collected.
http://www.japannewbie.com/ryugakuseitips.php

Mostly study abroad programs, but the same schools usually have 4 year programs as well.

My honest suggestion is to transfer to a 4 year US school, then get a scholarship while there to do a year in Japan.

[m477]

Do you mean like exchange programs, where you study Japanese language? Or do you mean that you actually want to get a degree from a Japanese university?

[Jcandres]

I want to go to a college or university for an actual degree, but I have heard of colleges that will teach foreign students Japanese also?

[Jcandres]

So really I am looking for any information on A: Colleges and Universities that allow foreign Students and also teach Students Japanese while attending the school. B: Any type of programs or scholarships for foreign students going to japan to recieve an actual degree, so going to school in Japan for 4 years. Any more info would be greatly appreciated thanks

[m477]

If you want to get a degree from a Japanese university, generally you will have to prove that you are fluent in Japanese before being admitted. Usually this means passing JLPT L1. American universities basically do the same thing; foreign students have to achieve a fluent-level score on the TOEIC/TOEFL before they are allowed to enroll in classes.

[Jcandres]

Thank you for the advice, I am trying to get as much information as i can.

[Jcandres]

Does anybody have any information on Scholarships for foreign students? Going to universities or colleges in Japan for a four year degree?

[Dark_kitten_god]

If you want to get a degree from a Japanese university, generally you will have to prove that you are fluent in Japanese before being admitted. Usually this means passing JLPT L1. American universities basically do the same thing; foreign students have to achieve a fluent-level score on the TOEIC/TOEFL before they are allowed to enroll in classes.

Are you sure level one?
Our japanese teacher is a native Japanese woman, and she claims she probaby couldn't even pass that.

I Passed lvl 4 last december, and some of my classmates passes 3, though none have attempted 2 or 1

[m477]

Yes, level 1. Go and check the websites of various Japanese universities for their requirements for degree-seeking students. In fact, that's one of the main reasons the JLPT was even created, as there are many students (mainly from other asian countries) that want to go to Japanese universities.

Also, any native speaker with a high school diploma should be able to pass JLPT L1 very easily. Most likely your teacher was thinking of the Kanji Proficiency Test, where level 1 is something like 5,000-6,000 kanji.

[TenMonGaKuSha]

What do you think about postgraduated studies at any of Japan's universities? My university in Serbia signed a contract of cooperation with Okayama university but I'm not sure what does it take to be accepted over there. I'm not talking about exchange program because I've heard that I need to speak very well Japanese for that, but postgraduated studies. The woman who teaches me Japanese said that in the beginning I am going to learn Japanese for 6 months over there before I get involved in serious university studying.

[mr.sumo.snr]

I expect a similar level of Japanese language ability will be required. Presumably you'll be studying in Japanese, taking examinations in Japanese and submitting a final dissertation in Japanese. The initial 6-month course that your teacher talked about would probably be an intensive course in Japanese for academic purposes - focusing on skills such as report writing. I can't imagine that a graduate school program (post-graduate in Euro-speak) has a lower language requirement than an exchange program - in fact I would imagine quite the opposite to be the case.

When I was a graduate student in the UK I met dozens of exchange students who couldn't string together a coherent English sentence. What they could do was write the necessary check (cheque) to cover their tuition fees - "any king's gold" is a general rule of thumb for academic institutions.

I expect it's quite daunting - but if you're young, and keen, and perhaps can afford to spend more time studying Japanese than just the six months then why not go for it.

[Harvey]

Personally, I wouldn't go to a Japanese university for a 4 year degree in anything other than Japanese language, or Japanese literature.

Mayyyybeeeee Engineering I would consider a Japanese university... But otherwise, the motivation of faculty and students for learning does not impress me at all.

[TenMonGaKuSha]

I expect a similar level of Japanese language ability will be required. Presumably you'll be studying in Japanese, taking examinations in Japanese and submitting a final dissertation in Japanese. The initial 6-month course that your teacher talked about would probably be an intensive course in Japanese for academic purposes - focusing on skills such as report writing. I can't imagine that a graduate school program (post-graduate in Euro-speak) has a lower language requirement than an exchange program - in fact I would imagine quite the opposite to be the case.

When I was a graduate student in the UK I met dozens of exchange students who couldn't string together a coherent English sentence. What they could do was write the necessary check (cheque) to cover their tuition fees - "any king's gold" is a general rule of thumb for academic institutions.

I expect it's quite daunting - but if you're young, and keen, and perhaps can afford to spend more time studying Japanese than just the six months then why not go for it.

Yes, actually it's some sort of intensive course... like.. 5-6 days a week. She said that in the beginning foreign students learn only the Japanese language for 6 months and then begin their professional work at the uni. And studying is not in Japanese only but also in English (literature for example..). I can write a coherent Japanese (and English) sentence :) Well, I've been learning Japanese for a year now and if I go to Japan in a year, like I plan, I will have 2 years of learning Jap. behind me.
Yes, that's right. My teacher said that they expect better knowledge of Japanese for exchange students (undergraduate) than for the graduate students.

[Harvey]

Does anybody have any information on Scholarships for foreign students? Going to universities or colleges in Japan for a four year degree?

I did one year at Nanzan University in Nagoya about 5 years ago. I was in a 1 year, just learn the language type of special program for foreigners though, so it's not what you are looking for.

However, while I was there there was -one- other American guy there who was enrolled in the regular Japanese ciriculum. He was there on a scholarship called FULBRIGHT (or is it fullbright...). It payed for all his tuition, and even gave money for him to play...

I think that MONBUSHO also gives similar scholarships like this.