The application conditions and procedures for postgraduate study in Japan

1. What is a “graduate student”

Since Japan’s education system is slightly different from China’s, what is called in Japan "Graduate students" are not "masters" in the domestic sense. In fact, they are just auditors or trainees in universities and graduate schools. Many times we also define "graduate students" in Japan as: pre-master's students. Japan's postgraduate establishment does not necessarily belong to the master's school. In fact, many Japanese universities classify "graduate students" into the undergraduate department. It is difficult to apply for scholarships and tuition exemptions at the "graduate" stage. In Japan, the official name of "master's degree" is "monk", which is also called "pre-doctoral degree".

2. What is the significance of setting up a "graduate student" establishment?

Setting up a "graduate student" establishment can allow tutors and students to get familiar with each other and assess the student's ability level at this stage. For undergraduate graduates who did not graduate from their own school or home country, this stage helps students master some basic knowledge and methods required for research (especially the majors of various schools, application for studying in Japan, how is the curriculum and current situation of studying in Japan in Tiandao When the research directions are inconsistent). For foreign students, the postgraduate stage can also help them adapt to life abroad as quickly as possible and overcome the language barrier.

3. Conditions for applying for postgraduate study in Japan

1. For international students who choose to study in Japan as a postgraduate (graduate school), they must first have an undergraduate degree diploma and have participated in Japanese language studies in China. , it is recommended that students who have a Japanese Language Proficiency Test (N1) level one certificate and a TOEFL test (IBT) score of 80 or above can also provide various award certificates and honorary certificates from school.

2. When applying to a Japanese university, you need to submit application materials such as academic certificates, foreign language proficiency certificates, and research plans.

3. At the same time, your guarantor must also provide bank certificates of time deposits and other relevant documents to ensure that students have sufficient funds to study and live in Japan, etc. used.

4. The research plan has become the key to applying for graduate school. Because in addition to preparing basic application materials, the personalized material that the professor you are applying for can see is the research plan. The focus of research proposal writing is to make a specific summary around your research purpose, research direction, etc. This requires students to have certain writing skills and professional knowledge, especially when applying to universities such as the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagoya University, and Kyoto University When waiting for a university, you must first understand the research field of the professor you are applying for to determine whether your research direction is similar to that of the professor. Then determine the research topic and make research preparations for specific courses. Only a high-quality research proposal can reflect your difference. Depending on the abilities of other students, applying to study in Japan, how can Tiandao study in Japan give you a chance to be recognized and accepted by professors at your favorite graduate school?

IV. Application process for graduate students in Japan

As a preparation stage for entering graduate school, many graduate schools in Japan adopt the postgraduate system. The graduate students mentioned here are not master's or doctoral courses. Regular students, graduate students in Japan are similar to auditor students in China. Graduate students usually enroll in school in April or October and prepare for about a year after enrollment. Graduate students study relevant content as auditors in their respective laboratories. And assist the instructor to conduct relevant research. After the instructor has grasped the student's research ability and character, he will decide whether to accept the student as a master's or doctoral student.

In order to obtain a study visa as a graduate student, you must study for more than ten hours in lectures every week at the university, whether it is an application for a graduate student, or an application for a master's or doctoral program, application for studying in Japan, studying in Japan in Tiandao The decision of the instructor plays a key role, so it is very important to obtain the consent of the instructor in advance.

To apply for graduate school, you must first obtain the approval of your supervisor. In Japanese universities, tutors have great power to decide on the admissions of graduate students or above. If the tutor does not accept it in advance, even if you apply directly to the admissions office of the graduate school, the graduate school will not designate a major or major for you based on your situation. Research room. In other words, the graduate school will not easily accept individual applications from students without the consent of the instructor. On the other hand, if you have already obtained the approval of your tutor and then apply for admission to a graduate school through your tutor, your success rate will be very high.

If the professor agrees to accept you as a student, you can successfully study for graduate school, and you can apply to multiple universities at the same time. Many will be admitted to several universities at the same time. You only need to choose the school or major you like to study for graduate school. That's it.

5. E-mail skills for contacting professors and various certificates needed during the application process

If possible, you can discuss professional experiences, prospects and other topics with professors. You must confirm the following key issues to the professor in a timely manner:

(1) You have considerable language skills and can communicate normally with people around you. For example, provide proof of Japanese study hours, Japanese proficiency certificate, etc. (It is recommended to reach Japanese level 2 before going to Japan, otherwise you will encounter great difficulties in studying and working).

(2) The financial situation is good and you can bear all the expenses during your study in Japan. For example, income certificate, tax certificate, scholarships received while studying abroad, etc.

(3) Have a certain professional level. For example, transcripts during college, professional paper publications, research results, and letters of recommendation mentioned above, etc.

(4) A stable family and good physical condition will not affect your study in Japan, such as a health certificate.

(5) Clearly state your intention to return to China after graduation and contribute to Sino-Japanese friendship.

6. How to obtain tutor approval

If you have relatives and friends who happen to know the tutor you want to apply for, or happen to know other tutors in this school, then it is best to introduce them through their introduction. . If you don’t have a relationship, don’t worry, just follow the steps below.

(1) Search the websites of various universities in Japan to see if there is a major suitable for you.

(2) After finding a suitable major, go to the homepage of the research laboratory of this major or the staff introduction page of this college and find the contact information of the professor (email, phone number, mailing address, etc.).

(3) Check the school’s admission brochure and confirm that you meet the application qualifications.

(4) Send an email to the professor to introduce your major, expertise, study, work experience and other basic information, and express your hope that the other party will accept you as a graduate student. If possible, attach relevant supporting materials to the email. If you have research results or professional papers, attach the original text and search address.

(5) Ask your professors, professional celebrities or senior officials in China to write letters of recommendation for you. You can also ask the relevant person to write it in advance and send it to the other party together with the application email. The recommendation letter can be a printed copy, but it must be signed and stamped by the recommender.

(6) Waiting for the professor’s reply.

(7) When the professor expresses that he wants to know more about the situation, it means that the professor is interested in you. At this time, you should promptly obtain the mailing address from the professor and mail copies of various supporting documents to the other party.

(8) Obtain the "Admission Notice" -> Apply for residence status -> Obtain the residence status permit -> Apply for a visa -> Go to Japan. You must keep in touch with the professor during the application process and provide all required materials step by step under the guidance of the professor.

7. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Two Methods of Applying for Postgraduate Studies in Japan

When applying for postgraduate studies in Japan, there are generally two methods, "graduate student" and "language school". From the previous description, we already know that "graduate students" in Japan are not actually graduate students in China, but refer to master's preparatory courses (that is, Chinese postgraduate preparatory courses, or can be understood as audit students). During the "graduate student" period, you will join the normal master's students in taking courses taught by professors, participating in the school's scientific research activities, and taking the school's master's exam one year later. A "language school" is an independent school that teaches Japanese. Language schools for undergraduate graduates usually include Japanese language teaching and postgraduate entrance examination tutoring. Many students are torn between these two choices. Today I will summarize the advantages and disadvantages of applying to graduate schools and language schools in Japan.

1. Advantages and disadvantages of direct "graduate studies" in China

Advantages:

(1) Get it right in one step. In the words of many students, being a graduate student is a practical experience. After all, most graduate students can be admitted to the school's master's students with priority.

Although the graduate admissions brochure of a first-class university clearly states that "graduate students do not enjoy any priority in admission when taking the master's examination." But to be honest, after all, there are many opportunities to contact professors and get to know each other. The content of the audit is often the focus of the exam. First-come-first-served, the exam will naturally take advantage of it, which greatly increases the admission rate.

(2) Consolidation of professional knowledge. The teaching methods in China and Japan are really different. Although I have never attended graduate school or university in China, the thesis I graduated from a Chinese university is completely different from the research plan I wrote when I was admitted to the graduate school. Japan has higher requirements for the mastery of professional knowledge, and the description of academic theories is more rigorous and professional. Students who have attended graduate school for one year have an absolute advantage in terms of professionalism. They hear and see things every day and can learn a lot from their seniors.

Disadvantages:

(1) There are no Japanese courses. After all, graduate students study in graduate schools. Even if they can attend some Japanese courses such as those in the Japanese language education major, it is not systematic learning. The foundation is not solid, and it is difficult to improve their Japanese level in a short time. What's more, it is not systematic learning. , unable to keep up with the teacher's teaching progress, and quit learning midway.

(2) The threshold is high. Applying directly for graduate studies from China is not as simple as everyone thinks. Because when applying for graduate students directly from China, professors judge the students entirely based on their materials. For example, they usually graduate from 211 or 985 colleges and have Japanese language level 2 or above (some require Japanese language level 1). TOEFL score above 80, university average score above 80, etc. Therefore, sometimes students who are very good send a lot of emails to their tutors, but in the end they hear nothing from them. Many times very outstanding students are eliminated, and some even have to wait half a year before they can apply again.

2. Advantages and disadvantages of applying through a language school

Advantages:

(1) Receive systematic Japanese language education, which is a stage and phase in learning. Systematic learning and planned learning are the most effective learning. In language schools, it is usually divided into 8-10 stages of teaching methods. Generally speaking, students with elementary level can reach the first level of Japanese within one year. Students starting from 0 can reach at least level 2 within one year. During the period of study in a language school, students can acquire the basic conditions for survival, which is smooth language communication skills.

(2) Provide transitional pathways for students who want to change majors. Many students want to change their major when they are studying for a master's degree, but if they do not have enough professional knowledge, they will definitely not be admitted to a graduate school. This requires entering a language school first. During the study period, contact professors, attend professors' seminars, publish senior papers, read more professors' books, etc... In fact, there are many tips that can help students pass the professor's approval as soon as possible. , master the necessary professional knowledge.

(3) Accept admission guidance courses. Guidance courses for further studies usually include: how to write research proposals and project reports, how to choose majors and mentors, etc. Japanese research proposals have their own unique format, and there will be some time for impromptu expression during Japanese interviews, which are not found in our Chinese graduate examinations. If you want to successfully adapt to life as a master's student in Japan, you must do enough preliminary preparations.

Disadvantages:

The biggest disadvantage is a waste of time. It takes at least half a year to study in a language school. Many students argue that their youth is limited and cannot bear to waste this year.

Extended reading: Guide to preparing materials for studying in Japan

1. Transcripts

As the focus of the hardware review, your transcripts are materials that must be presented , and will directly affect everyone's first round of review, and you must ensure that you have a relatively good transcript to pass smoothly. Of course, the requirements will be different at different stages.

Moreover, the rankings of target schools are different, which will directly affect everyone's preparation. However, I believe that going abroad is definitely a rush, so everyone should improve their usual test scores as high as possible. Your efforts will also be effective.

2. Notary Certificate

The official certificates you obtain, especially the certificates of academic qualifications, will only be recognized by the school after they are notarized, so you must first ensure that you can pass Completion assessment, obtaining official academic certification, and confirming the qualifications for application.

Then you need to receive notarization. You need to bring your proof of identity to the notary office for review. The specific materials include your graduation certificate and degree certificate. If you have not graduated yet, you can Prepare a pre-graduation certificate first.

3. Recommendation letters

As other people’s evaluation of the applicant, its importance far exceeds everyone’s understanding of this material, from the recommender to the relationship to the specific details of the document. The content will be carefully reviewed. The higher the status, the more helpful it will be for everyone’s application, and it will also help everyone improve their competitiveness. Of course, the content must be true.

IV. Language certification

It is indispensable to apply for a school Japanese language certification certificate. You need to take a standard exam to get the certificate. You can choose the N2 exam first. After passing, you can take the N1 exam, or you can choose the JTSET exam, which are all recognized.

Preparation in English is also necessary. If you can handle good IELTS or TOEFL transcripts, you will be more competitive.

5. Passport

Don’t forget your passport when you go abroad. You need to go to the Immigration Bureau of the police station to apply for this document. Just bring your ID card. After filling in the form, it will be reviewed by the staff and you will get the complete certificate soon.

Extended reading: Introduction to key points in applying to study in Japan

1. Japanese language learning

Although Japan is also highly internationalized, and the coverage of English here is also very However, Japanese is still widely used in teaching in colleges and universities, and language learning requires long-term continuous stimulation, so everyone should start preparations after confirming that they will go abroad.

As a language that is inextricably linked to Chinese, learning Japanese is not as difficult as you think, but you still need to participate in professional training to ensure that you can successfully pass the standardization For the exam, it is recommended that you directly show your N1 transcript.

2. Information collection

You should have a relatively familiar understanding of the country and the school. This will help everyone develop a sense of belonging, and the focus should be on what the school can do for students. The resources and service providers provided, of course, the professional teaching mode and course arrangements are also closely related to studying abroad.

On the other hand, everyone is sorting out the materials to be submitted for application. This part will require everyone to make complete preparations. The preparation of academic transcripts and documents must not be missing, and they must also meet the requirements. The major requirements of the school you are applying for will take a relatively long time.

3. Fund preparation

The deposit is proof of your financial support for studying abroad. You need to deposit it into the bank in advance as required, and ensure that you can successfully obtain the funds issued by the bank. There are strict requirements on the length of deposit and the amount of deposit.

Therefore, after everyone decides to go abroad, it is necessary to understand the funds to be prepared and ensure that the procedures and sources of funds flowing into the account are proper. You can prepare more funds, but they must not be lower than the minimum. Quota.

IV. Entrance Exam

Basically, international students must take an exam prepared separately by the school. This score will not affect everyone’s normal admission, because only those who have Only qualified students are eligible to take the exam, which exists as a preliminary test and will have an impact on students' subsequent learning.

This is an important way for schools and teachers to understand students. The test questions are all compiled by professional tutors. The purpose is to have a more comprehensive understanding of students. Everyone can familiarize themselves with previous test questions, so that they can It is easier to get good grades.

Extended reading: How to increase income and reduce expenditure while studying in Japan

1. Increase income

There are two ways to make money, working and applying for scholarships.

1. Work-study program

The government’s requirements for students to work part-time are relatively loose. Basically, as long as everyone is willing, they can engage in legal work. After everyone obtains the certificate of legal part-time work, as long as It can ensure that study will not be affected and you can work up to 28 hours a week.

As for the jobs you can choose, except for illegal crimes and custom industries, basically as long as you can pass the recruitment review, you can join the job. The government has complete safeguards for everyone’s rights and interests in part-time jobs. You don’t have to worry about being deducted or cheated when it comes to salary.

2. Application bonus

Distinguish between conditional and unconditional projects. Unconditional scholarships are generally awarded by schools. You can apply directly through your academic test scores. Some The project does not even require additional application, as long as the requirements are met, it will be automatically issued.

Conditional projects generally have larger bonuses. The conditions here refer to the obligations that everyone has to bear after winning the award. It is usually a job requirement. You need to work in Japan for a period of time or go to the award. enterprises to work.

2. Saving money

International students can start with food, clothing, housing and transportation. There are many ways to save money.

For daily shopping, whether it is daily necessities or clothes, it is recommended to go when there are discounts in the mall, and remember to apply for a credit card. You can enjoy certain discounts by swiping the card, and you can also accumulate points, which can be used later. exchange.

For catering arrangements, it is recommended to choose a canteen or cook it yourself. Generally, the place you live will have cooking facilities. The cost of buying food is not high. It is much more cost-effective than going to a restaurant, and it is also more expensive. Suit your own taste.

Before spending money on purchases, you can make a list, so that everyone can shop with goals and reduce the possibility of spending money randomly; secondly, you need to write down your daily expenses. On the one hand, you can understand Expenditure status, on the other hand, can wake you up.