The International Priority Graduate Program (PGP) is an initiative by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) which enables universities to provide priority allocation on certain degree programs for government-financed foreign students. For the five year program period commencing in 2007, 61 programs at 32 different universities were selected for inclusion; including seven programs at five private universities, of which Ritsumeikan is one.

At Ritsumeikan University, the following two programs have been selected as PGP programs:

• International Development Leadership Program （two-year master’s degree )
  Nine places on this program have been allocated for overseas students. Applicants can select any one of the following three programs: MPED, GCP, PAPPS.
• International Program for Advanced Industrial Technology ( two-year master’s or three-year doctoral degree）
  Eight master’s and three doctoral degree places have been allocated for overseas students on the PGP program.

*Independently funded students are also eligible to apply for these degree programs. Please see the web pages for each respective program for further details.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES (PGP) 2007

The Monbukagakusho offers scholarships to international students with recommendations from their host universities, under the following guidelines:

I. ELIGIBILITY AND CONDITIONS

1. Applicants must be graduate students who will newly enter Japan for the purpose of study.
2. Nationality
   Applicants must have nationality of a country that is recognized by the Japanese government as of April 1, 2007.
3. Age
   Applicants must have been born on or after April 2, 1972 .
4. Educational Qualifications
   Applicants must have at least an undergraduate degree.
5. Major Fields
   Applicants must specialize in the same or related field as their area of study in their home university. It must also be a field in which the applicant can receive supervision and guidance at the institution where the applicant has been admitted.
6. Language
   All courses at this program are conducted in English. Applicants must possess a sufficiently high level of English proficiency to be able to take classes in English.
7. Health
   Applicants must be in both good physical and mental health.
8. Arrival in Japan
   Applicants must arrive in Japan on the date designated by the host institution between October 1 and 7, 2007. Neither travel allowances nor lump-sums will be provided in cases where travel to Japan is not possible between the designated dates.
9. Application Deadline
   Ritsumeikan will undertake preliminary screening of applications prior to forwarding them to the Monbukagakusho (including other documents prepared by the university). Completed applications must be submitted with all necessary documents to the Ritsumeikan University Office of International Education, Biwako Campus (address written below) by March 2, 2007. Fax is also acceptable, however all original documents must arrive at the Office of International Education, Biwako-Kusatsu Campus by the above date.

   Application Mailing Address :
   Office of International Education at Biwako-Kusatsu Campus
   Ritsumeikan University 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577 JAPAN
   Tel. +81-77-561-3946
   Fax. +81-77-561-3956

*PLEASE NOTE:

1. Students cannot receive scholarships while maintaining the status of service personnel on active duty or an armed forces civilian employee.
2. Recipients will lose their eligibility for scholarship if they do not arrive in Japan between the designated dates.
3. Past recipients of Monbukagakusho Scholarship are ineligible for scholarship consideration if application is within 3 years of final scholarship payment.
4. Recipients of scholarships from organizations other than the Government of Japan, Ministry of Education, such as scholarships from the student’ own government or private organizations in Japan or overseas are not eligible for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship.
5. Students who have applied for the JASSO Short-Term Student Exchange Promotion (JASSO) Scholarship for 2007 may not apply. Further, students currently receiving a JASSO Scholarship may not apply.
6. Students are not eligible if already expected to enroll at a university in Japan in 2007.
7. Students intending to do field work outside of Japan during the scholarship period are ineligible to apply.

II. SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

1. Amount
   170,000 yen per month (subject to change). However, the stipend will be reduced to 160,000 yen per month (subject to change) on or after the 13th monthly payment.
2. Tuition Fees
   This scholarship does not provide financial assistance towards payment of tuition fees, however Ritsumeikan University will exempt students from tuition fees.
3. Travel Allowances
   (a) Travel expenses for coming to Japan
   An economy class air ticket from the international airport closest to the present address of the student to the Narita International Airport will be furnished (or to the closest international airport to the university where the student has been admitted, if this is financially more viable for Monbukagakusho). In the case that the student arrives at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, and the cost is more than that to Tokyo, the student will be required to pay the difference.

   (b) Travel expenses for returning home
   At the conclusion of the term of the scholarship, an economy class air ticket shall be provided from Narita International Airport (or from the closest international airport to the university where the student has been admitted, if this is financially more viable for Monbukagakusho) to the international airport closest to the place of the student’s residence ( in the country in which the student holds citizenship), in the case that the student plans to return home by the designated date.

4. Term of scholarship payment

III. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Please click the links to download forms.

1. 2007 Application form
2. 2007Application form (Titled as: Attachment)
3. Field of Study and Study Program ( Description of Major field of study and research planning. Additionally, within the Research plan column, summarize / outline a detailed plan for proposed theme of final thesis.)
4. Application Questionnaire
5. Certificates of completion or certificates/letters stating expected graduation date of programs and academic degrees awarded by undergraduate or graduate schools (copy)
6. Academic transcripts issued by undergraduate or graduate schools attended ( to be attached with a clear indicator, such as GPA or specific rank order.) (copy)
7. Copy of the student’s family or citizen register in the home country. If such a certificate cannot be obtained, a birth certificate is also acceptable (copy)
8. Recommendations by the dean or a person of higher position at the applicant’s school or institution (to be addressed to the President of Ritsumeikan University, Japan)(original)
9. Three (3) photographs of the student (taken within 6 months, 6×4 cm, from the waist up, full faced, no hats or caps on and including the student’s name and nationality on the reverse side, one to be pasted on the designated spot on each form)
10. Summary of thesis written for degree most recently completed (applicant to attach with application)
11. Proof of linguistic talent/practical expertise (e.g., TOEFL, TOEIC)

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

1. All documents must be written in English on A4 sized paper.
2. Documents submitted with the application will not be returned to the applicant.
3. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
4. Interviews (by Internet, e-mail) will be conducted by at least three instructors belonging to the applicant’s desired specialty / course and the interviews will be conducted about three times by each instructor.

In case a delay should be expected in the submission of the application, students are requested to contact the Office of International Education, Biwako-Kusatsu Campus in advance by email or by telephone or fax at the numbers indicated below.

Office of International Education at Biwako-Kusatsu Campus
Ritsumeikan University 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577 JAPAN
Tel. +81-77-561-3946
Fax. +81-77-561-3956
Email:
Web: www.ritsumei.ac.jp

Via: Official Announcement