Study in Japan - Singapore

Planning to pursue an English-taught undergraduate degree course in Japan? Look no further than 叡啓大学（Eikei University of Hiroshima） which specialises in a single English-taught undergraduate department- “Social System Design“.

Choose from a range of liberal arts subjects related to 17 goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by United Nations, such as Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences, and graduate with a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree!

✨ Highlights
• Find out the basic requirements to study in Japan
• Presentation by Eikei University of Hiroshima, Associate Professor (Psychology and Social Psychology)
• Sharing session by 3rd Year Singaporean student
• Q&A session

[FREE WEBINAR with Eikei University of Hiroshima]
WEDNESDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER 2024
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm (SG Time)

Cost: Free | Mode: Zoom
🔗 Visit link below to view event page & register for the webinar!
https://bit.ly/4cNUn0w

See you soon!

[Summer Vacation] Schools in Japan typically observe three semesters, separated by vacations. In general, summer vacation covers around 40 days spanning from 20 July to 31 August 31; winter and spring vacation both last around 10 days, from 26 December to around 6 January, and 25 March to around 5 April, respectively.

During summer vacation in July, many universities hold summer programs which are credit-bearing and can be credited back to the student’s home university. Many of these programmes are language-based, with some universities offering a wide variety of courses in a full-scale summer school programme.

Take for instance, many universities such as Waseda University, Tohoku University and University of Tokyo offer Short-term Japanese Program to international students studying in universities from around the world, especially to those who have an interest in the Japanese language and culture. Accommodation and meals may or may not be provided. Application period usually starts from January and ends in March.

Planning your student exchange programme soon? Do check if your university has any Japanese universities on the list of partner universities. Discover Japan through diverse learning experiences, Japanese classes topical seminars in Japanese culture and society, home-stays and other cultural activities including field trips!

In Japan, Mother's Day is also held on the second Sunday in May. In tradition, children give red carnations which symbolise love and gratitude, greeting cards and other gifts to their mothers.

💐 Show your gratitude to your mom with this Japanese phrase.
"お母さん、母の日おめでとう!　いつもいろいろ世話をやいてくれてありがとう。”
Okasan, haha no hi omedeto! Itsumo iroiro sewa o yaite kurete arigato!

Planning to pursue your Bachelor’s degree in Japan? Fret not, if you do not have adequate Japanese language proficiency, did you know that there are 100% English-taught courses available?

✅ Here’s a list of common fields of study/courses offered at universities in Japan. ⬅️ Swipe to view the various university degree courses offered in English.

Besides 100% English-taught courses, there are also hybrid English-Japanese courses whereby the programme is conducted in both English and Japanese, for instance, 80% English and 20% Japanese. The level of Japanese language proficiency required may vary according to course curriculum, hence do reach out to the respective universities directly.

🔗 Tap on link in bio to explore English-taught undergraduate courses in detail.

💟 14 March, one month after Valentine's Day is a 'reply day' for men who received gifts from the ladies on 14 Feb to return the favour and present gifts to their loved ones.

🤍 This day was so named because the colour white is considered to be a symbol of purity and is closely associated with an innocent kind of teen love in Japanese culture.

⚪️ White Day is also celebrated in China and South Korea.

🌸 Now's the season for 花見 hanami- “flower watching”. When cherry blossoms bloom in Japan, the young and old all gather under the trees for hanami: a time to gather and admire the beautiful cherry blossoms, as well as to celebrate the beginning of spring.

🤔 Besides "きれい kirei", what are some useful phrases you can use to describe the beauty of sakura blooms in Japanese?

⬅️ Swipe to find out!

If you are visiting Japan soon, enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms and the lively atmosphere of hanami! 🌸

Kyushu- the third largest island of Japan is famous for its tonkotsu ramen, hot springs, mountains and beaches. Explore this modern yet relatively slower-paced island which is bursting with spectacular nature, culture and cuisine.

📍Fukuoka, capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture
This is Japan’s 6th largest city as well as a centre of international commerce and startups. Hone your language skills and discover your entrepreneurial spirit in Fukuoka, Iroha Japanese Language School which offers both short and long-term courses specialized in equipping students with the Japanese level necessary for higher education, career, travel or JLPT exams. Did you know that students from over 30 countries have studied Japanese language at their school?

📍Beppu City, Oita Prefecture
The steaming hot spring area is collectively known as Beppu Onsen. It is home to Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, one of the highest ranked universities in Japan for high quality education, and in Asia for international education. Bonus: They offer three 100% English-taught undergraduate programs- College of Asia Pacific Studeies, College of International Management and College of Sustainability and Tourism.

📍Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
Go south to Okinawa where diverse islands await you with cultural treasures, outdoor adventure, and world-class diving experience. Naha City is the perfect destination for an unforgettable Okinawa experience, complete with a quality education journey at IT College Okinawa. Equip yourself with essential and practical It skills and knowledge. The school also offers Japanese Business Course, whereby you can up IT knowledge and business etiquette, suitable for anyone who wishes to find employment in Japan.

🔗 Tap on link in bio to find out more about these schools!

Q: I would like to study at a Japanese university in Japan. When and how should I start planning?
A: Here’s a rough timeline to guide you. It will take at least 12 months, and there are mainly 6 stages which you need to take note of.

(1) 12 months prior to your target admission intake
Research on study options and gather all essential information. Decide a list of prospective school(s) to apply to.

(2) 9 months prior to your target admission intake
This is usually the START of the application period. Start on the application procedure and prepare all required documents. Prepare to pay the application fee as well.
Tip: Include non-academic achievements in your portfolio as well, such as CCA leadership position and major competition awards.

(3) 1 month after the end of application period
The school would notify you of your application result.
If successful, you would need to make payment for enrolment fee.

(4) Application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
The school will apply for COE at the Immigration Bureau in Japan on your behalf. Once the COE is approved and issued, the school will notify you and mail it to you.

(5) Successful application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Upon receiving your COE, you will need to visit Embassy of Japan in Singapore (country of residence) to apply for your student visa.

(5) 1 to 3 months before admission
Pay your tuition fees, material fees, facility fee etc. Get ready to make your move to Japan.

Most university admission offices have English-speaking staff so you would be able to receive adequate guidance throughout the application process. We wish you all the best in your Study in Japan journey ✨

Did you know that it is recommended to possess some basic knowledge of the Japanese language prior to moving to Japan? If you are interested in enrolling in a Japanese language school in Japan, some schools require students to possess JLPT N4 to N5 level proficiency or minimum 150 study hours of the language , especially for a study term of less than 2 years.

If you have the time and budget, you may want to consider signing up for short-term courses with local Japanese language schools in your home country. In addition, there are plenty of online courses and platforms available, you can even interact and converse with natives.

Fret not, you can also self study the language at your own pace. Here are some study tips.

(1) Learn the Japanese alphabet (hiragana and katakana).
(2) Learn grammar by getting a Japanese dictionary.
(3) Learn some key daily conversion phrases.
(4) Use apps to learn vocabulary and make use of flashcards.
(5) Chat online with native speakers or other learners.
(6) Listen to Japanese podcasts to hone your listening comprehension skills.
(7) Set up a schedule.

Familiarise yourself with the basics and you will find it much easier to adapt to living and studying in Japan when you get there.

Q: I would like to study at a Japanese language school in Japan. When and how should I start planning?
A: Here’s a rough timeline to guide you. It will take around 9 to 12 months, and there are mainly 5 stages which you need to take note of.

(1) 9 to 12 months prior to your target admission intake
Research on study options and gather all essential information.

(2) 5 to 7 months prior to your target admission intake
You should have decided on a list of prospective school(s) to apply to.
Start sending application and required documents to the school(s). Prepare to pay the application fee as well.
Note that the school will inform you on the application deadline for each intake. Also, application may close earlier if slots are taken up.

(3) Once documents are received/verified by the school
The school will apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the Immigration Bureau in Japan on your behalf. Once the COE is approved and issued, the school will notify you and mail it to you.

(4) 2 to 4 months before admission
Upon receiving your COE, you will need to visit Embassy of Japan in Singapore (country of residence) to apply for your student visa.

(5) 1 to 3 months before admission
Pay your tuition fees, material fees, facility fee etc. Get ready to make your move to Japan.

Most admission offices of the schools have English-speaking staff so you would be able to receive adequate guidance throughout the application process. We wish you all the best in your Study in Japan journey ✨

あけましておめでとうございます! Happy New Year! Wishing you and family good health, prosperity and happiness in 2024!

New Year (正月, shōgatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan. 1st January is a very auspicious day, the Japanese start the day by viewing the new year's first sunrise (hatsu-hinode). This day is supposed be full of joy, free of stress and anger, everything should be clean and no work should be done.

It is a tradition to visit a shrine or temple during shogatsu (hatsumode). The most popular temples and shrines, such as Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, attract millions of people during the first three days of the new year. In celebration of the new year, the Japanese also enjoy special dishes such as osechi ryori (a selection of dishes with auspicious names representing wishes for future fortune), otoso (sweetened rice wine) and ozoni (soup with rice cakes).

メリークリスマス。今年は大変お世話になりありがとうございました。Wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Thank you for all your support this year!

It has been an exciting year for us, meeting many students through June and December webinars, guiding them in planning their Study-in-Japan journeys and connecting them to their choice of schools.

Enjoy the holidays and best wishes for the new year! We look forward to meeting more students in 2024!