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fromtoronto
Joined: 01 Oct 2007
Posts: 18
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 Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 2:22 pm Post subject: Student Visa study Japanese/Tokyo School recommendations? |
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I have just learned that I can get a student visa to study Japanese in Tokyo.
-Has anyone here done this, and are there schools people recommend? I need to apply to the school and get a 'certificate of eligibility' from the school, and then it takes just one week to get the visa. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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You realise that the visa processing may take only a week (or less depending on the embassy in question) but the COE application can take upto 2 months for processing and that you have to prove you have enough money in the bank (or in the bank of whoever is funding your trip) to survive... I've seen posts that suggest about US$20,000 per year.
And not only must you enroll before a school will sponsor you (which may mean upfront tuition payment) but I've read that you actually have to attend classes and if it is reported that your attendance drops below a certain percentage, you risk losing your student status. |
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kathrynoh
Joined: 16 Jul 2009
Posts: 64
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:54 am Post subject: |
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I am on a student visa and the process took months - I think maybe 4 months from start to finish. I had to prove I had the funds to support myself at the beginning of the process (ie. you can't apply then start saving) but you can also be supported by your family and provide all the tax records etc that show they have the income to support you.
At my school (and I figure most schools are the same) the attendance is 80% minimum.
I can't recommend any schools but make sure you find out the nationality mix of the students. If you are at school that is mainly Chinese students you will struggle with kanji. Also, try to find out what the focus of the school is. My school has never said as much but I think they are really focussed on getting students into Japanese universities. That means the students tend to be very young (I'm not) and the study is theory based with very little conversation practice. |
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fromtoronto
Joined: 01 Oct 2007
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks both for your replies, which are very helpful. I have called the Japanese consulate to get information, and they hadn't told me about the financial aspect, needing to have proof of funds to support me.
I'm still in search of schools... |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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ironclad80
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:15 am Post subject: |
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Any college directory? I feel that if I'm going to pay I should receive college credits that can be transferred if I go for a masters in something such as East Asian Studies in the U.S. |
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spidr245
Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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Not to sound negative, but college is a joke here. At least, what I've seen so far anyways. Students sleep in class and don't even pay attention. (I'm not talking from a teacher's viewpoint. I sat in on a few classes just to see what it was like.)
If you're gonna come here to study, better do your research and make sure it's a reputable school. Otherwise, you'll be wasting valuable money and time here. I'm not sure how to properly put it, but schools will make themselves sound really good to make you come here, and then it's not like that once you're ACTUALLY here.
I'm not saying don't do it. I think it's great to want to travel and study abroad. I'm just giving you a warning. |
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ironclad80
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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| spidr245 wrote: |
Not to sound negative, but college is a joke here. At least, what I've seen so far anyways. Students sleep in class and don't even pay attention. (I'm not talking from a teacher's viewpoint. I sat in on a few classes just to see what it was like.)
If you're gonna come here to study, better do your research and make sure it's a reputable school. Otherwise, you'll be wasting valuable money and time here. I'm not sure how to properly put it, but schools will make themselves sound really good to make you come here, and then it's not like that once you're ACTUALLY here.
I'm not saying don't do it. I think it's great to want to travel and study abroad. I'm just giving you a warning. |
well i for one won't be sleeping in class! i'm very serious about learning.
i'm here on vacation this week. i was talking to a guy who was here for just about a year "studying" japanese. he was very low beginner. my japanese friend said he doesn't even make the effort to speak japanese.
as far as reputable, i think it doesn't get much better than waseda in tokyo. that's the school i've had my eyes on, but i was just wondering if there were some less expensive schools with quality classes. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
I am going to assume your level of Japanese is not high enough to read a textbook or understand a lecture spoken in academic language all in Japanese. Correct me if I'm wrong.
If I'm right, you need to seek out the few English-language unis here. What sort of major did you have in mind? Start with that.
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I thought this whole thread was about coming to Japan to study Japanese, and in that case, an English-medium university probably isn't what they are looking for (though such universities might also have JSL classes).
Many universities in Japan offer JSL courses, even some very small colleges. Sometimes, you need to be on a gov-approved program, be coming from a university in a different country, or be an international student enrolled as a normal student at the university where you will be taking courses, but many allow direct enrollment to language programs also. If you are looking for Japanese language programs at universities in Tokyo, you could try:
Int'l Christian U.: http://subsite.icu.ac.jp/jlp/index.eng.html
Tokyo U. of Social Welfare: http://www.tokyo-fukushi.ac.jp/english/japaneselanguage.html
Tokyo U. of Foreign Studies: http://www.tufs.ac.jp/english/intlaffairs/international_student/
Sophia U.: http://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/jlc/aujp2011
Tokyo Int'l U.: http://www.tiu.ac.jp/jsp/
Takushoku U.: http://www.takushoku-u.ac.jp/english/program.html
U Tokyo: http://www.nkc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/course_info/info02_02_e.html (but you have to be enrolled at the univ.) |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:33 am Post subject: |
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| rtm wrote: |
| I thought this whole thread was about coming to Japan to study Japanese |
That is how fromtoronto started the thread, yes. However, ironclad has asked an additional question not about studying Japanese, so I responded in kind. |
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ironclad80
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:27 am Post subject: |
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sorry for the confusion, I was in fact inquiring about Japanese language study. I didn't elaborate on the East Asian studies thing.. I mean Japanese language courses would be beneficial because most programs I've seen in the U.S. require proficiency in Japanese, Korean or Chinese.
Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time finding a school that fits my needs. It seems only Waseda can provide what I need, 1 year program, a visa, and credits. |
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YujiKaido
Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 49
Location: ? Hong Kong ?
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:28 pm Post subject: KCP |
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I've studied 3 semesters at KCP in Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan. I really liked its location and the studies and I met a lot of Koreans, as most of my classmates were from Korea, along with some Americans and people from UK as well. Check it out at
http://www.kcpinternational.com/ |
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ironclad80
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: KCP |
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| YujiKaido wrote: |
I've studied 3 semesters at KCP in Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan. I really liked its location and the studies and I met a lot of Koreans, as most of my classmates were from Korea, along with some Americans and people from UK as well. Check it out at
http://www.kcpinternational.com/ |
It says it's only $6300 or less per semester? According to Waseda's website the cost is about 800,000 yen per year.
Also, they only offer college credit to students who come as exchange students from just 3 universities.
Do they offer a visa?
[/u] |
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YujiKaido
Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 49
Location: ? Hong Kong ?
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: KCP |
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| ironclad80 wrote: |
| YujiKaido wrote: |
I've studied 3 semesters at KCP in Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan. I really liked its location and the studies and I met a lot of Koreans, as most of my classmates were from Korea, along with some Americans and people from UK as well. Check it out at
http://www.kcpinternational.com/ |
It says it's only $6300 or less per semester? According to Waseda's website the cost is about 800,000 yen per year.
Also, they only offer college credit to students who come as exchange students from just 3 universities.
Do they offer a visa?
[/u] |
Yes I took the course only route with credit so it cost me around $2600 per semester I think per semester and it since i got credit I was able to use financial aid to pay for my tution, I went through University of Idaho. They do offer a student visa, it was a pre-collge visa If I remember correctly and I did plan on applying for student visa at the time but ended up taking to long and as I was only studying there 6 months. I ended up doing a short trip to Taiwan and back on break between semesters to get another 90 days. Don't know if you can do that anymore haven't been back to Japan since 2007. |
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