2013 Academic Year
Exchange Student Application Guidelines
Meiji University
International Student Office, International Collaboration Division
Address: 1-1 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8301
Tel: 03-3296-4488
Fax: 03-3296-4360
Website:
Table of Contents
IApplying for the Exchange Student Program
1Features of the Meiji University Exchange Student Program
2Schools and Graduate Schools (Programs) Accepting Applications and the Number of Openings
3Application Qualifications
4Application Period
5Application Procedures
6Application Documents
7JapaneseLanguage Online Test
8Acceptance Decisions
9For More Information
IIMeiji University Information
1Overview
2University Accreditation
3Academic Year Timeline
4Number of Students
5Number of International Students
6Campus Profile
IIIHousing
1Types of Housing
2Housing for Exchange Students
IVApplication for Certificate of Eligibility
1Instructions regarding Completion/Submission
2Special Instructions
VMeiji Language Program (MLP) Japanese-Language Course
1Overview
2Eligibility
3Class Names and Credits
4Earning Credits
5Japanese Class Level by Grade
VIExams and Grades
1Exams
2Academic Transcripts
VIILiving Expenses
1Living Expenses in Tokyo
2Costs upon Arrival
3Part-Time Work
1
IApplying for the Exchange Student Program
1Features of the Meiji University Exchange Student Program
(1)Classes
1.Of the 13,000 class sessions offered at Meiji University, 12,000 are conducted in Japanese. For this reason, those applying for admission to the exchange student program are generally required to have a certain level of Japanese-language proficiency. (However, the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies, the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies, and the International Program in Architecture and Urban Designof theGraduate School of Science and Technology, or will be taking classes in English in the School of Business Administration do not require Japanese-language skills.)
2.You can view the syllabus for each school and graduate school by visiting the following website:
Click “Guest Login” and enter “guest” as the ID and “guest” as the password.
Note: Courses listed in the syllabi are from the 2012 academic year. Courses are subject to change for the 2013 academic year.
For classes in the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies, please visit the following website:
For classes in the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies, please visit the following website:
For the curriculum of the International Program in Architecture and Urban Design of the Graduate School of Science and Technology, please visit the following website:
(2)Academic Advisors
1.Exchange students are generally assigned an academic advisor and participate in seminars in which those advisors provide instruction directly to students. These seminars are comprised of 10–20 students and encourage active discussions with the advisors. Students participating in these seminars not only get access to direct counseling by their academic advisors, they are also able to interact with other students (excluding students in the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies).
2.Not all students can participate in the seminars. Participation depends on Japanese-language proficiency and the number of seats available.Upon their arrival in Japan, exchange students will meet with their academic advisors and create study plans that include these seminars if appropriate.
3.Students accepted into the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studieswill not participate in a seminar. However, they must take a course called “research methods” conducted during their study-abroad term taught by the academic advisor the graduate school assigns to them. They must also take at least one class taught by that advisor.
(3)Japanese-Language Course
Exchange students can take a Japanese-language course through the Meiji Language Program (MLP). A regular coursethat can be taken for credit, it will give students the Japanese-language skills they need to study at Meiji University. For details, please see p. 20.
2Schools and Graduate Schools (Programs) Accepting Applications and the Number of Openings
All Meiji University schools and graduate schools accept exchange students. The number of students accepted is determined based on the agreements between Meiji University and its partner schools. For details regarding the various schools and graduate schools Meiji has, please see the following website:
3Application Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
(1)Be a student at one of Meiji University’s partner universities
(2)Fulfill one of the following criteria:
(Please note that this does not apply to applicants to the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies, the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies, the International Program in Architecture and Urban Designof the Graduate School of Science and Technology, or will be taking classes in English in the School of Business Administration.):
1.Taken the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in the 2011 or 2012 academic year and be able to provide copies of the JLPT Score Report andJLPT Certificate of Proficiency showing that the applicant achieved level N4 or higher. However, those who have passed level N1 may submit copies of the JLPT Score Report and JLPT Certificate of Proficiency showing that they took and passed the exam prior to the 2011 academic year.
2.Taken the JapaneseLanguage Online Test within the designated period and be recognized by Meiji University as possessing Japanese-languages skills at least equivalent to the N4 level (for more details on the Japanese Language Online Test,please see p. 5).
(3)Applicants to the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies must meet one of the following requirements:
1.Taken one of the following tests in or after September 2010 and must be able to submit a valid official score:
(a)TOEFL®iBT71 points or higher
(b)TOEIC®710 points or higher
(c)IELTS5.5 points or higher
(d)Cambridge ESOLFCE or higher
2.Spent three years in high school or three years in college taking regular classes in English.
(4)Applicants to the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studiesmust meet one of the following requirements:
1.Have a bachelor’s degree related to public policy, and also either have practical experience related to public policy or have already taken and completed basic courses in public administration, political science, and economics.
2.Taken one of the following tests in or after September 2010 and be able to submit a valid official score (applicants who have spent three years in high school or three years in college taking regular classes in English do not need to submit a score,however):
(a)TOEFL®iBT76 points or higher
(b)TOEIC®710 points or higher
(c)IELTS5.5 points or higher
(d)Cambridge ESOLFCE or higher
(5)Applicants to the International Program in Architecture and Urban Designof the Graduate School of Science and Technology must meet the following requirements:
1.Have a bachelor’s degree related to architecture and must currently be enrolled in a program related to architecture.
2.Taken one of the following tests in or after September 2010 and must be able to submit a valid official score (applicants who have spent three years in high school or three years in college taking regular classes in English do not need to submit a score, however):
(a)TOEFL® iBT76 points or higher
(b)TOEIC®710 points or higher
(c)IELTS5.5 points or higher
(d)Cambridge ESOLFCE or higher
(6)Students in the School of Political Science and Economics may also take classes only in English. For requirements and other details, please contact the International Student Office.
(7)The School of Business Administration accepts severalexchange students who are allowed to take classes in English. These students are not required to have Japanese-language skills or experience studying the Japanese language. However, there is an English-language skill requirement. For details, please contact the International Student Office.
Special Notes
(1)There may be restrictions on the classes a student may take based on Japanese proficiency level. Students deemed to have skills equivalent to the N1 level of the JLPT can focus on classes in their major. Students deemed to have skills equivalent to N2 or lower, however,mayneed to build their study plan aroundthe Meiji Language Program (MLP)Japanese-language course.
(2)Students with skills equivalent to level N4 on the JLPT will be required to take the MLP Japanese-language course.
(3)A maximum of 10exchange students will be accepted for enrollment in the School of Global Japanese Studies in April 2013, and a maximum of 20in September 2013. (The number of students admitted in September may be increased if the April slots are not filled.) The maximum number of students accepted to the English Track is 10students per year.
Universities that have two or more students applying to the School of Global Japanese Studies should assign an order of priority to their applicants.
(4)When applying to the School of Global Japanese Studies (excluding the English Track), be sure to enter an alternative choice of preferred undergraduate schools. When a large number of students apply to the School of Global Japanese Studies, the undergraduate school named as alternatives may accept some of them.
(5)Students who have applied for and been accepted to the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies cannot take classes conducted in Japanese.
(6)Students who have applied for and been accepted to the School of Global Japanese Studies are required to participate in the MLP Japanese-language course offered on the Surugadai Campus if they have only passed level N2 or lower on the JLPT.
(7)The number of exchange students allowed annually into the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies is 10. If 10students are admitted in April 2013, and these students want to study for a full year,the program will not acceptexchange students in September 2013.
(8)A maximum of 28 students per grade are allowed each year into the International Program in Architecture and Urban Design of the Graduate School of Science and Technology. If the number of students accepted for a particular grade level has already reached the maximum, exchange students will not be accepted into that grade for the 2013 academic year.
4Application Period
Enrollment Period / Application Period / NotesApril 2013 / Sep. 3 (Mon.) through Oct. 31 (Wed.), 2012 / Be sure the university receives your application materials by the application deadline; submissions made after the deadline will not be accepted.
September 2013 / Jan. 15 (Tue.) through Mar. 8 (Fri.), 2013
5Application Procedures
(1) Application Methods
All application materials must be submitted by the exchange studyprogram coordinator at your university to the Meiji University admissions office via Express Mail Service (EMS).
Notes regarding Application
- Applications will not be accepted from applicants who do not meet the qualifications or whose materials are incomplete.
- Changes may not be made to an application once it has been submitted.
- Application materials submitted will not be returned to the applicant.
- If the application materials submitted are found to contain any fraudulent information, the application will be rejected and/or the offer of acceptance rescinded.
6Application Documents
(1)University-Prescribed Forms
Note: All items should be printed single-sided. When submitting two or more pages, bind them with a paper clip in the upper left corner.Do not use a stapler.
1.Applicant Information Form (standard form 1, with color photo attached)
2.Statement of Intent (standard form 2)
Note: Please use standard form 2 as a cover sheet and preparepapers that fulfill the following criteria:
(a)State the reasons you want to study in your chosen undergraduate/graduate school.
(b)Describe any preparations you have made to study in your chosen undergraduate/graduate school.
(c)Please write your statement of intent in Japanese unless you are applying to the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies, the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies, the International Program in Architecture and Urban Design of the Graduate School of Science and Technology, or will be taking classes in English in the School of Business Administration. In those instances, please write this statement in English.
(d)Your statement should be about 1,000 to 2,000 characters longin Japanese (400–800 words in English).
(e)Text should be printed horizontally, on one side only,and on A4 paper.
(f)Include page numbers on each page other than the cover page (centered, written as the current page number/total number of pages).For example, the first page of a two-page statement of intent would read “1/2.”
(g)Use standard form 2 as your cover page and attach it to the other pages at the upper left corner with a paperclip.
(h)Applicants to the School of Global Japanese Studies (non-English Track) should submit two statements: one for submission to the School of Global Japanese Studies, and one for submission to the undergraduate school they have selected as analternative.
(i)Since this document will be used when evaluating your admission application, be sure to writein detail. You may submit English-language materials as supplemental materials to the statementyouwrite in Japanese.
3.Study Plan (standard form 3)
Note: Please use standard form 3 as a cover sheet and prepare papers that fulfill the following criteria:
(a)Write an essay in Japanese explaining what you want to study or research at Meiji University.
(b)Please write your study plan in Japanese unless you are applying to the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies, the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies, the International Program in Architecture and Urban Design of the Graduate School of Science and Technology, or will be taking classes in English in the School of Business Administration. In those instances, please write your study plan in English.
(c)Your study plan should be about 1,000 to 2,000 characters longin Japanese (400–800 words in English; however, the study plan of applicants to the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies and the International Program in Architecture and Urban Design of the Graduate School of Science and Technology should be 1,000 words or more in English).
(d)Text should be printed horizontally, on one side only, and on A4 size paper.
(e)Include page numbers on each page other than the cover page (centered, written as the current page number/total number of pages).For example, the first page of a two-page study plan would read “1/2.”
(f)Use standard form 3 as your cover page and attach it to the other pages at the upper left corner with a paperclip.
(g)Applicants to the School of Global Japanese Studies (non-English Track) should submit a total of two study plans: one for submission to the School of Global Japanese Studies, and one for submission to the undergraduate school they have selected as an alternative.
(h)Since this plan will be used when evaluating your admission application, be sure to write in detail. You may submit English-language materials as supplemental materials to the study plan written in Japanese.
(i)Students applying to the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies cannot take classes conducted in Japanese. The classes conducted in English can be found on the following website:
(j)Applicants to the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies will be assigned an academic advisor by the graduate school, and thus should leave the “Preferred Academic Advisor” field blank.
4.Japanese Language Proficiency Certificate (standard form 4)
Note: This form does not need to be submitted by applicants to the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies, the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies, and the International Program in Architecture and Urban Designof the Graduate School of Science and Technology, or by applicants who will be taking classes in English in the School of Business Administration.
5.Health Report (standard form 5)
6.Statement of Financial Responsibility (standard form 6)
Attach the following documents:
(a)A certificate showing your bank balance or a copy of your bankbook.
(b)Income certificate, bank balance certificate, or a copy of the bankbook of the person responsible for payment(if someone else will be paying the fees).
(c)Certificates of scholarships received (only required of those who have been awarded a scholarship)
7.Housing Request (standard form 7; please see p. 14 for housing information)
8.Application for Certificate of Eligibility (please see p. 17 for detailed instructions on completing this form)
Note: Be sure to submit the electronic data as well via e-mail. Send to:
9.Checklist (standard form 8)
Note: Place this on top of all your other application materials.
(2) Other Items the Applicant Should Prepare
Note: When submitting two or more pages, bind them with a paper clip in the upper left corner.Do not use a stapler.
1.Academic transcript
Note: This may be prepared in either English or Japanese. Submit the most recent version of your transcript,including grades from the most recent academic year (or semester) prior to application.
2.Letter of recommendation
Note: May be prepared in either English or Japanese.
3.Copies of your JLPT Score Report and JLPT Certificate of Proficiency(N1–N4; must be of an exam taken during either the 2011 or 2012 academic year, exceptfor those who have passed the N1 level.)
(a)Only required of those who have such a document. Applicants who cannot submit this document must take the JapaneseLanguage Online Test.
(b)Applicants to the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies, the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies, the International Program in Architecture and Urban Design of the Graduate School of Science and Technology, or will be taking classes in English in the School of Business Administration do not need to submit this form.
4.A valid official score on the TOEFL® iBT (71 points or higher), TOEIC® (710 points or higher), IELTS (5.5 points or higher), or Cambridge ESOL (FCE or higher), from a test taken no earlier than September 2010.
Note: Only required of applicants to the English Track of the School of Global Japanese Studies. However, applicants who have spent three years in high school or three years in college taking regular classes in English do not need to submit a score.
5.A valid official score on the TOEFL® iBT (76 points or higher), TOEIC® (710 points or higher), IELTS (5.5 points or higher), or Cambridge ESOL (FCE or higher), from a test or tests taken no earlier than September 2010.
Note:Only required of applicants to the English Track of the Graduate School of Governance Studies and the International Program in Architecture and Urban Designof the Graduate School of Science and Technology. However, applicants who have spent three years in high school or three years in college taking regular classes in English do not need to submit a score.