Study Abroad in Japan and How
to Pay for It
- What study abroad programs does WMU have
to Japan?
- What is the process of applying to
study abroad?
- What scholarships are available to
support study abroad in Japan?
- Who are the contact people for these
study abroad programs?
- What should I do if I have general
study abroad questions ?
WMU has several
study abroad programs to Japan
for different lengths of time: nine months, a semester, or even just two
weeks. Each program has slightly different deadlines, paperwork,
requirements in terms of GPA, and costs.
Also, each university or program has a somewhat different
atmosphere. The following links will take you to the Study Abroad
webpage. See the quick comparison chart below. Click on the links of the names of the
programs and use the pull-down menu to get information about each individual
program.
Quick Comparison Sheet for WMU Programs in Japan
|
|
Japan Religion & Culture Seminar
|
Nihon University
|
Keiō University
|
Rikkyō University
|
Daitō Bunka University
|
Ritsumeikan University
|
Otaru University of Commerce
|
|
Where
|
Tokyo & Nikkō
|
Tokyo
|
Tokyo
|
Tokyo
|
Higashi Matsuyama
(Saitama, north of Tokyo)
|
Kyoto
|
Otaru (Hokkaidō,
northernmost main island)
|
|
Prerequisite
|
None
|
JPNS 1010
|
JPNS 2010
|
JPNS 1010
|
JPNS 2010
|
JPNS 2010
|
JPNS 2010
|
|
When
|
Summer 1
(2-week tour)
|
Spring or summer (one semester only)
|
Academic year (Fall & spring)
|
Academic year (Fall & spring)
|
Academic year (Fall & spring)
|
Academic year (Fall & spring)
|
Academic year (Fall & spring)
|
|
Main areas of study
|
Japanese religion (taught in English)
|
Intensive Japanese language program
|
Japanese language, Some Japanese studies
courses in English
|
Japanese language, four Japanese studies
courses in English per semester
|
Japanese language, any course (provided
student has lang ability)
|
Japanese language, numerous Japanese
studies courses available in English
|
Japanese language, Courses on business, management
& economics in English
|
|
Where most classes take place
|
On the road, temples, shrines, and
religious sites
|
In building for foreign students (separate
from main campus)
|
In building for foreign students on main
campus in Minato Ward
|
In classrooms for foreign students on main
campus near Ikebukuro
|
In classrooms on main campus in Higashi
Matsuyama in Saitama
|
In classrooms on main Kinugasa
campus in northwestern Kyoto
|
In classrooms on main campus in Otaru, Hokkaidō
|
|
Lodging
|
Arranged
|
Special housing for int’l students
|
Off-campus apartment bldg
|
Off-campus dormitories
|
Special housing for int’l students
|
Special housing for int’l students
|
Special housing for int’l students
|
|
Other benefits
|
Special chances to see rare treasures
|
Lots of language instruction in a short
time
|
Famous university, one scholarship each
year
|
Famous university, exciting Tokyo location
|
Great immersion experience since few
foreign students there
|
Famous university, superb location in
beautiful ancient capital of Japan
|
Stunningly beautiful location, skiing just
outside
|
|
Main contact
|
s.covell@wmich.edu
|
jeffrey.angles@wmich.edu
|
jeffrey.angles@wmich.edu
|
jeffrey.angles@wmich.edu
|
jeffrey.angles@wmich.edu
|
jeffrey.angles@wmich.edu
|
jeffrey.angles@wmich.edu
|
All of the
semester-long and year-long study abroad programs listed above have a central
core of language classes. Students will take a placement test on arriving
in Japan
to determine which level of language class they will enter. In almost all
cases, Japanese-language classes form the largest part of the student's
curriculum in Japan.
Certain
universities have other classes in English about Japanese studies or other
subjects. For instance, Ritsumeikan
University has the widest
array of classes in English about the arts, politics, and other subjects.
Rikkyo University has four classes per semester in English about
Japan,
usually in history, culture, literature, and economics. Otaru University
of Commerce has a wide array of classes in English about economics, business,
management, and so on. The exact classes that are available differ from
semester to semester and, therefore, are sometimes difficult to determine in
advance.
In addition, we
work with two other programs. The following programs are handled slightly
separately than the other programs. To apply to them, you apply directly
to the sponsoring organization then fill out the paperwork in the study abroad
office for a "Non-WMU Program." Ask Dr. Angles for details.
- Japan
Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU) (Hikone,
Shiga Prefecture): One semester or full
academic year (Relatively inexpensive program, good support system)
- Japan
America Student Conference (JASC) (Month-long study tour in Japan):
Takes a group of American students to Japan each year, allows students to
see a lot of Japan while learning about Japanese culture & society,
involves a lot of contact with Japanese students.
If you are interested
in applying for a WMU study abroad program to Japan, here is what you need to do.
·
Think about how long you want to study abroad in Japan (one
semester or one academic year). Be advised that most scholarships for
studying abroad in Japan
only support year-long study. The reason is that most organizations feel
like they get more bang for their buck with with a student who will be there for a year.
·
Read through the information above about the various
programs. Use the links in the above
section or go to the study abroad office on the second floor of Ellsworth
Hall to read about the various programs.
·
Contact Jeffrey Angles (518 Sprau Tower, TEL 269-387-3044) to tell him about your
interest. He can answer your general questions about individual programs,
universities, procedures, and deadlines.
·
After talking to Jeffrey Angles, make an appointment with Gaby Peschiera-Carl (2nd
floor, Ellsworth Hall, TEL 269-387-5890) in the Study Abroad
office to let her know that you are planning to study abroad. She
will instruct you how to fill in the online application form. As part of
the application, you will need to write a brief essay and provide information
about yourself and why you want to go to Japan.
·
You will also need to provide the e-mail address of two people who
are willing to write letters of recommendation for you. At least one of
them should be a Japanese teacher. (It is a good idea to let your teachers know
you want a letter before you submit their names as references.)
·
As part of your application, you will need to meet once more with
Jeffrey Angles in order to talk more specifically about the courses that you
might be taking in Japan.
At that time, he will help you fill out online the “course pre-approval
form." When you come to see Dr.
Angles, please bring your online application ID and link to the "blue
sheet" form.
·
Submit your application to the study abroad office by the deadline
listed on the individual
webpages for the different schools in the above
section.
- For a year-long
study abroad program, the deadline is usually in DECEMBER of the previous
calendar year.
- For a spring
semester study abroad program, the deadline is usually in early OCTOBER of the previous
calendar year.
o For a summer semester
study abroad program, the deadline is usually in JANUARY of the same calendar
year.
·
Be aware that if you are applying for an academic year in Japan, you only
need to have a GENERAL idea of which university you would like to attend.
(You do not need to have pinpointed which one exactly.)
·
The Study Abroad Office and Japan studies faculty will convene
a committee to screen applications. Potential applicants for
academic-year programs, will be called in for a
one-on-one interview. (Students going on summer-only programs do not
usually come for an interview.) Some of the questions will be in
Japanese, some in English. One of the reasons for the interview is to
help determine student need and to help match them to potential universities.
·
The Study Abroad Office will contact students about their
acceptance to the programs. At this point, the Study Abroad office and
Japanese studies faculty will have matched students with an individual
university or program in Japan.
·
The Study Abroad Office will help students with any additional
paperwork needed for their individual program. Also, the Study Abroad
Office will help students with the visa application process. Students
MUST arrange to get a passport on their
own. Click here for information
about how to apply for a passport.
·
During the last several steps of this process, students should be
applying for scholarships to help support their study in Japan.
·
At some point AFTER the student is accepted to a specific program
in Japan and BEFORE the student departs, the student should see Dr. Angles
again to fill out a "blue sheet" that will determine how the credits
earned in Japan will transfer back to WMU.
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The Study Abroad
office is very good at helping WMU students get scholarships to study
abroad. Most students receive some support from one or more of the
following scholarships, meaning that for many students, it is cheaper to study
abroad in Japan than to
study on WMU's campus in Kalamazoo!
There are several
major categories of scholarships to help support study abroad programs in Japan.
Each one of the following scholarships requires a separate application, and
each has its own deadlines. Students should use the following links and
carefully read the information they find there. Information about additional
study abroad scholarships can be found on the "Scholarships"
page of the Study Abroad website or in the binders of scholarship
opportunities kept in the Study Abroad office.
- Scholarships offered through the Study
Abroad Office
- President's
Grant for Study Abroad: For WMU students who apply to WMU-sponsored
programs. BE SURE TO APPLY FOR THIS! This is one of the biggest and
easiest scholarships you can apply for. The application is only one
page long and is available through the link above. To be considered
for one of the bigger awards, be sure you have a FAFSA on file with the
university. If you do not have one, ask the Study Abroad office how
to go about putting one on file.
Forms are downloadable from this page.
- One-Year Scholarship
to Keio University:
One full scholarship (covering tuition and major expenses) is given to
one student each year to attend Keio
University, WMU's oldest sister
institution in Tokyo.
All applicants for year-long programs are automatically considered for the Keio University scholarship. No extra paperwork is necessary.
- Summer Study
Abroad Scholarship for WMU Faculty-Led Programs: For WMU students who
are going on short-term programs sponsored by WMU. (People participating in Dr. Covell’s excellent Japanese Religion & Culture tour are eligible for this.) Forms are downloadable from this page.
Scholarships offered by other parts of the university
Scholarships offered by organizations outside of the university
- Bridging Scholarship
for Study Abroad: National scholarship competition sponsored twice
per year by Association of Teachers of Japanese, located in University of Colorado. WMU has had
several students win this scholarship in the past! Forms are downloadable by clicking the
link above.
- West Michigan
World Trade Association Scholarship: This scholarship is to promote international
knowledge among people living in Western Michigan. Preference is given to students who
participate in SHORT-TERM (semester-long) programs, like the one at Nihon
University. Preference is also
given to people who are interested in and/or studying business.
- Gilman International
Scholarship: Prestigious national scholarship awarded by Institute of
International Education. The application process is difficult, but
WMU has had several students win this scholarship in the past! Forms
are downloadable by clicking the link above.
- Freeman-Asia: Very
generous national scholarship that helps support WMU students going to
study in Asian countries. Again, a good number of WMU students have
won this scholarship in the past!
Forms are downloadable by clicking the link above.
- National Security
Education Program (NSEP): A government grant
for people studying less commonly taught languages, including
Japanese. Recipients must spend some time working in the public
sector after their return. Forms are downloadable by clicking
the link above.
Scholarship offered by the host universities in Japan --> Once students are placed with a
specific host institution in Japan,
the host university in Japan
may apply on the student's behalf for one of the following scholarships.
(The student may need to fill out some additional paperwork to help this
process along, but the student will not initiate this process.)
- Association for
International Education, Japan
(AIEJ)
- Japan Student Services
Organization (JASSO) Scholarship
The Study Abroad
office has additional information about other scholarships in a binder in its
office. Students are encouraged to go to the office and examine the
binders with information at their leisure.
Be aware that
applying for scholarships to support study abroad in Japan is somewhat
nerve-wracking. Because the notification dates for many of the
scholarships is very late, students usually have to apply to go to Japan
first, then wait until late spring or early summer
before they will learn exactly how much scholarship money they will have to
support their study abroad experience. For this reason, it is important
to plan ahead and think carefully about finances.
The following
people are your main contacts for the study abroad programs in Japan.
For the Japan Religion & Culture
Seminar, the following is your main contact.
Contact
Dr. Angles at jeffrey.angles@wmich.edu
or the Study Abroad Office at study-abroad@wmich.edu. They can point you to the
appropriate authority.