Meiji Gaukin University*

JAPAN

THE UNIVERSITY /
Meiji Gakuin University is Hepburn's educational institution. Even today, the university carries on Hepburn's personal creed of “Do for Others” as its educational philosophy. This philosophy still thrives, unbroken from the past to the present of Meiji Gakuin University.
While the fundamental function of a university is research and instruction through in general, the function of Meiji Gakuin University is, “Education that will foster character to put one's studies to good use.” To put it more concretely, the university holds to the idea that ours is an upbringing in Christian character that respects the educational philosophy “Do for Others”.
As of 2004, the university's International Exchange Center has sent 190 of its students to study abroad, and has accepted 161 exchange students from other nations. The International Exchange Center encourages exchanges between international students and Japanese students who are studying at Meiji Gakuin University. The Center hopes achieve a higher degree of success for our educational system by putting the “Do for others” philosophy into practice. We are conscious of the fact that in order to do this, it is necessary to further implement a system for sending students abroad and accepting students from other nations.
THE CITY /
s the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu. It is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area.
Yokohama's population of 3.7 million makes it Japan's largest incorporated city.
Yokohama developed rapidly as Japan's prominent port city following the end of Japan's relative isolation in the mid-19th century, and is today one of its major ports along with Kobe, Osaka, Nagoya, Hakata, Tokyo, and Chiba.
The historic port area is Kannai. Next to the waterfront Yamashita Park is Yokohama Marine Tower, the tallest inland lighthouse in the world. Further inland lies Yokohama Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Japan and one of the largest in the world. Nearby is Yokohama Stadium, the Silk Center, and the Yokohama Doll Museum. The Isezakichō and Noge areas offer many colourful shops and bars that, with their restaurants and stores catering to residents from China, Thailand, South Korea, and other countries, have an increasingly international flavour.
The small but fashionable Motomachi shopping area leads up to Yamate, or "The Bluff" as it used to be known, a 19th/early 20th century Westerners' settlement overlooking the harbour, scattered with foreigners' mansions. A foreigners' cemetery and the Harbour View Park (港の見える丘公園, Minato no mieru oka kōen) is in the area. Within the park are a rose garden and the Kanagawa Museum of Modern Literature.
There are various points of interest in the futuristic Minato Mirai 21 harbourside redevelopment. The highlights are the Landmark Tower which is the tallest building in Japan, Queen's Square Yokohama (a shopping mall) and the Cosmo Clock 21, which was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world when it was built in 1989 and which also doubles as "the world's biggest clock".
The Shin-Yokohama district, where the Shinkansen station is located, is some distance away from the harbour area, and features the 17,000 capacity Yokohama Arena, the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum, and Nissan Stadium, known as the International Stadium Yokohama when it was the setting for the final for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The city is home to the Central League baseball team, the Yokohama BayStars, and the soccer teams, Yokohama F. Marinos and Yokohama F.C.
Sankei-en is a traditional Japanese-style garden in Naka Ward. Designed by businessman Tomitaro Hara, it contains seventeen old buildings brought from all over Japan, ten of which have been declared Important National Cultural Properties.
Among the attractions are festivals and events.

LOCATION / ISP (International Student Program) students are based at our Shirokane campus located in the central area of Tokyo, and are thus required to take the Intensive Japanese Language course at the said campus. However, they may also register for the University of California-Global Studies courses offered at our Yokohama campus should their daily class schedule allow for the commute between the Shirokane and Yokohama campuses. Program participants should note that the trip between the two campuses roughly takes 1 hour.
GENERAL
WEBSITE /

EXCHANGE
STUDIES / The MGU International Student Program (ISP) provides an opportunity for English-speaking students from our exchange partners to pursue undergraduate studies for a semester or academic year at our Shirokane campus.
The International Student Program consists of:
1) A mandatory Intensive Japanese Language course divided into 4 levels (4 credits)
2) A selection of elective courses and seminars offered in English by various MGU faculties with a focus on Japanese social and cultural issues (2 credits per class)
Though registration to the Intensive Japanese Language course is limited to exchange students only, the elective courses offered in English are also open to full time MGU students, allowing for a truly international and integrated academic atmosphere rarely seen in Japanese Universities.
Exchange students who have passed Level 1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test are allowed to take all courses offered at MGU upon prior permission from the instructor. Students should be aware that some courses require prerequisites apart from the abovementioned language requirement.
LANGUAGE
REQUIREMENTS / The aim of this program is to provide a creative academic environment for studies pertaining to Japan and the Japanese language for international students who have studied Japanese for a minimum of one year at the university level. (NOTE: Students belonging to partner Universities where this requirement is not applicable must have a mastery of “hiragana” prior to their arrival).
APPLICATION /
  1. Application form.
    You must complete the form designated by the university.
  2. Documentation required as proof of high school education.
    NOTE: Only official documents issued by your school or other educational authorities can be accepted. The documents should be originals in a sealed, unopened envelope. Photocopies are not acceptable. Documents must be issued within three months before the application date.
    As evidence of 1.(1) to (3) above, submit a transcript of grades (educational certification) and a certificate of completion of studies (certificate of anticipated completion of studies).
  3. If possible, submit evidence of the following as educational certification:
  4. (1) SAT Reasoning Test (SAT ), SAT Subject Tests (SAT )
  5. (2) Advanced level GCE or GCSC
  6. (3) Baccalauréat
  7. (4) IB Full Diploma
  8. (5) Abitur
  9. (6) Another form of educational certification equivalent to those listed above.
NOTE: These certificates must be originals or certified true copies made by your school or embassy, or by a public notary in Japan.
  1. Personal Statement.
    The personal statement should be written in English. There are no restrictions as to format or length. It should be sent together with this application.
    Possible subjects for your personal statement include the following:
    ・Why I want to study at Meiji Gakuin University.
    ・Why I want to live in Japan.
    ・What kind of academic subjects interest me.
    ・My future plans after graduation.
  2. Two Letters of Recommendation. One letter should be written by a teacher at your high school. The second letter of recommendation can be written by any person chosen by you. (The letters can be written in English or Japanese. Letters in other languages should be accompanied by a translation into English or Japanese.)
  3. English test results: Proof of ability in English.
    Submit the “Examinee Score Record” for TOEFL-iBT or TOEFL-PBT.
    Submit the “Test Report Form” for IELTS.
    Submit the “Official Score Certificate” for TOEIC.
    NOTE: Only originals, not photocopies, are accepted in the case of IELTS “Test Report Form” and the TOEIC “Official Score Certificates. A photocopy is acceptable in the case of the “Examinee Score Record” for TOEFL-iBT or TOEFL-PBT.
    Those who are native speakers of English should submit documentation for one of the educational certifications listed above, “Application Documents” (1) to (6).
  4. Passport copy
    The pages with your name and photo.
  5. 2 photos
    Attach one on the application form and enclose another in the envelope.

APPLICATION
DEADLINES / Fall semester: February 15 Spring semester: September 15
ACADEMIC
CALENDAR / The program follows the Japanese academic calendar of two semesters which constitute an academic year: 1) Spring Semester (April to July) and 2) Fall Semester (September to February). Students may enter the program in either semester.
HOUSING / It is often extremely difficult for foreign students without Japanese language ability or personal contacts in Japan to find housing in the Tokyo/Yokohama region. Apartment managers usually require a guarantor and applicants who cannot speak Japanese struggle to understand the deposit system. In order to ease concerns over housing, MGU will sponsor a limited number of apartment units for GTS students who have declared foreign citizenship in their applications, and who do not have “residency status” in Japan prior to matriculation.

Overview

Apartment complex description:
Domile Totsuka Annex. Facilities include laundry-room, personal mailbox, bicycle parking spaces, and auto-lock front entrance for safety. The apartment manager resides on site.

Apartment description:
Single-occupancy western-style (studio) units. Floor space is approx. 16m2. Units include bath/WC, mini-kitchen, basic furniture (bed, desk/chair, chest of drawers), and air-conditioning.
Rent (estimated):
¥60,000 per month.
Location:
The apartment building is a five-minute walk to Totsuka Station with access to the JR Yokosuka and Tokaido lines, as well as the Yokohama city subway system. The area has a large mall with convenient shopping plus other shopping streets. The Yokohama campus of Meiji Gakuin University is a ten-minute ride via the Enoden bus (¥210 one-way fare), or twenty-five minute walk. Downtown Yokohama is approx. 10 min by train while the main stations in Tokyo are approx. 40 min. away.
ADDITIONAL
INFO / Contact
Faculty of International Office
〒224-8539 1518 Kamikurata-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama
Department of Global and Transcultural Studies
Faculty of International Studies, Meiji Gakuin University

Center for International Cooperation in Education(CICE)
We offer consultation on issues regarding studies and campus life with international students as well as study abroad programs with current students.
Shirokane Campus TEL: +81-3-5421-5152
Yokohama Campus TEL: +81-45-863-2190
* Information subject to change