Study In Japan

Government: Parliamentary with constitutional monarchy
Capital: Tokyo
National language: Japanese
National Scripts: Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana
Ethnic Groups: 98.5% Japanese, 0.5% Korean, .04% Chinese, 0.6% others
Religions: Shinto and Buddhist 84%, Other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

AN OVERVIEW

A. GEOPOLITICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Japan is an island country that sits in the Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Asia and is also known as the ‘land of the rising sun’. Its closest neighbours are Taiwan, North and South Korea, China and Russia. It consists of four large islands and 6,852 (yes, 6,852!) total islands. The country is divided into 47prefectures in eight regions. The population of 126 million is the world’s tenth largest. Japanese people make up 98.5% of Japan's total population. Approximately 9.1 million people live in the core city of Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, which is the sixth largest city proper by population in the OECD and the fourth leading global city in the world. It is the world's fifth largest donor of official development assistance, donating US$9.2 billion in 2014 according to OECD.

The country has the world’s third-largest economical by nominal GDP and the world’s fourth-largest economy by purchasing power parity. Japan is a developed country with a high standard of living and Human Development Index whose population enjoys the highest life expectancy.

B. CULTURAL OUTLOOK

Japanese culture has evolved greatly from its origins. It still has its vast influence of traditional cultural going hand in hand with the contemporary culture. Contemporary culture combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America. 

C. LANGUAGE SPECIALTIES

More than 99 percent of the population speaks Japanese as their first language. Which are traditional Japanese languages according to their prefecture but now days, standard Japanese Language is mostly in practice. Japanese writing uses Kanji (Chinese characters) and two sets of Kana (Hiragana and Katakana). Public and private schools generally require students to take Japanese language classes as well as English language courses.

D. EDUCATION

Primary schools, secondary schools and universities were introduced in 1872 as a result of the Meiji Restoration. Since 1947, compulsory education in Japan comprises elementary and middle school, which together last for nine years (from age 6 to age 15). Almost all children continue their education at a three-year senior high school and, according to the MEXT, as of 2005 about 75.9 percent of high school graduates attended a university, junior college, trade school, or other higher education institution. The two top-ranking universities in Japan are the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University. The Program for International Student Assessment coordinated by the OECD currently ranks the overall knowledge and skills of Japanese 15-year-olds as sixth best in the world.

Top Five Reasons to Study in

1. You can explore new and interesting sports like karate, judo and sumo wrestling or enjoy old favorites like surfing, diving and baseball when you study abroad in Japan.
2. There are approximately 30 million people living in Japan’s largest city, Tokyo. Living in a large Japanese city will expose you to its dynamic culture, heritage and world-renowned cuisine.
3. Studying in Japan will afford you the opportunity to engage in the art of Miyabi, study the art of the Samurai, and practice the arts of origami, calligraphy and woodblock printing.
4. Japan is decorated with stunningly beautiful scenery and architecture. Simply opening your eyes while you’re studying abroad in Japan will make for a breath-taking experience.

Education System in Japan

Japan has not declared any formally governing NQF System yet, however, it has certain frameworks that control and measure the educational standards of the academic institutions and the course of studies as per the need which are frequently amended and consolidated since1946 which was introduced as New System of Education in the post WW II circumstances. Japanese school education and university degree and in some cases the professional degrees are universally recognized. Japanese degrees are accredited by the countries in their own NQF system. Normally, Japan has the following legal organs which endorse the education quality or regulate in accordance with the basic articles which are fully authorized and systematized by MEXT (Ministry of Education):

1. Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA)
2. National Institution for Academic Degrees and University evaluation (NIAD-UE)
3. Japan Institution for Higher Education Evaluation (JIHEE)
4. Japan Association for College Accreditation (JACA)

Besides Japan’s Education institutions for the native students, this country has vigorously created the space for the international students aspiring to take the higher graduation from Japanese universities with the core concentrations on quality education. So, international students can have the followings options while approaching Japan for higher education.

A. Language Schools (Culture Schools)

These schools are basically designed for Japanese Language Preparation for international students before to join:

1. University
2. Vocational Institutions
3. Employment
4. Business

International students must have the proficiency in Japanese for getting the enrolment at the universities for any course in higher level since the courses are taught in Japanese, so there are schools run across Japan offering the Japanese language preparation courses as per the requirement of the universities/vocational colleges. Not only that, students planning to join any vocational trainings or doing business or joining any Japanese organization for the employment are expected to have strong command over Japanese language, so learning Japanese ensures a great platforms to explore the self. It ensures the multiple choices in career related issues to an international student. That is why; in most cases students from developing countries like Nepal go for the study of Japanese language so that they can pave their educational pathways to universities or of their choice.

B. University (Higher Education)

There are more than 783 world class universities in Japan. Among them 33 top universities are in Japan out of top 100 leading universities in Asia. Universities in Japan offer majorly all types of courses from IT to Cultural Studies. Especially, Japanese universities are famous for Computer Engineering, Bio-Technology, Environment Science, Industrial and Management Studies, Information Technology, Geopolitical Studies and many more.

1. National Universities (Founded, Governed, Administered, Funded, Functioned by Government of Japan)

These universities are highly preferred by both native and foreign students for their timely quality, academia, lectures, cheaper fees, practical approaches of teaching etc. Other attractive characteristics of these universities are universal recognition, salability and high level research activities.

2. Open Universities of Japan

Opened for the native students with the purpose of providing them opportunities to graduate who miss the opportunities to get the formal universality education.

3. Public Universities (Founded by Prefectures and Municipalities)

Comparatively affordable but basically targeted for the native students of the respective prefectures and municipalities. These universities are funded and resourced by the prefecture and municipalities to promote the access of all the citizens to university education with the core objectives of producing the quality human workforce.

4. Private Universities

There are now a growing numbers of privately owned universities with the commercial purposes. These universities are by structures providing the education in American and European manners. Comparatively, they are more expensive. They are admissible by both national and international students.

5. Training Schools (Vocational Schools)

Established by the private investors to provide special vocational and professional trainings, skills for all level students who tend to join certain job. Basically, these types of schools are focused to train the high school graduates for helping them start a career in the early stage of life who do not want to go for university education but want skills in certain work areas.

6. Diploma (Professional Degree: Short Term)

Training Colleges or schools give the professional degree which has the equivalent certification to 2 years undergraduate education but it does not approve for the study of Master level study. However, there is a high demand in the job market of vocational graduates because of their special skills and trainings.

3. Types of Courses

1. Language Schools

a. Intensive Japanese Language Programs (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening)

INTAKES:

1. January Intake: 15 Months
2. April Intake: 24 Months
3. July Intake: 21 Months
4. October Intake: 18 Months

All intakes are framed under full time learning and they are formally recognized as the foundational course for qualifying to joining university for the foreign students upon the graduation.

Classes:

A Day: 4 hrs 

A week: 5 days

Graduation: February

2. University (Higher Education)

            a. Undergraduate (Associate level)

2 years nominal duration: this degree does not certify to join for the Master's Degree but designed for skills oriented learning.

            b. Advanced Diploma

4 or 3 year’s nominal course duration that certify for the admission in Master's Degree.

           c. Bachelor’s Degree

4 years nominal course duration and permits for the admission in Master's Degree.

            d. Graduate (Master’s Degree)

2 year’s nominal course duration that permits for the PhD and Research Studies.

e. Post Graduate (PhD and post Doc)

PhD is basically known as the research studies and is eligible after the proper graduation of Master's Degree. Post Doctoral Degree is possible to do only after the achievement of the PhD.

f. Training Schools

These are also known as Vocational Schools or professional schools which have the equivalent recognition to Associate Level Degree course being taught for 2 years.

1. Junior College Courses (Productions and Service related courses are basically taught at this level)
2. College of Technology Courses (Technical courses are basically taught at this level)
3. Professional Training College Courses (General Skills Development Courses are  basically taught at this level
4. Required Documents for COE
   1. Application form
   2. An Essay (purpose of study in Japan)
   3. Photocopy of Passport (Optional)
   4. (4*3 cm) Sized Photos: 12 Copies with white background taken within three months
   5. Academic Certificates
      1. Character Certificate (10+2 and/or above
      2. Academic Transcript (10+2 and/or above)
      3. Gap related Certificates (Work Experience Letter or In-Campus Letter)
      4. Japanese Language Certificate (Minimum 150 Hours of study, NAT, JLPT etc are optional)
   6. Official Documents
      1. Birth Certificate
      2. Relationship Certificate
      3. Sponsor's Income Certificate of consecutive three fiscal years
      4. Sponsor's Occupation Certificate
      5. Sponsor's Tax Clearance Certificate of consecutive three fiscal years 
   7. Sponsor's Documents
      1. Bank balance certificate or
      2. Bank statement of 3 years
      3. Education Loan Sanction Papers  
   8. Japanese Translations of all the submitted Documents
5. Immigration Rules and Regulations
   1. Applicant must have the sound academic and Financial  status
   2. Applicant must have basic knowledge of Japanese language
   3. Applicant must not be convicted of any crime or offence in any country
   4. Applicant must not be deported or removed from Japan or any other country for overstaying visa or violating any law or regulation.

MIND MAKE-UP:

When You Think Of Japan, What Comes To Your Mind?

1. Mt. Fuji
2. rice cookers
3. electronics
4. anime / animation / manga (comic books)
5. sushi (raw fish on rice)
6. excellent cars
7. kimono (traditional clothing)
8. ninjas
9. sake (Japanese rice wine)
10. temples and shrines
11. cherry blossoms in spring, hanami* (*cherry blossom viewing picnic)
12. raw fish (sashimi)
13. trains and subways (metros)
14. crowded venues
15. seafood of all kinds
16. the Japanese New Year (Oshogatsu)
17. historical cities such as Kyoto, Kamakura and Nara
18. Sumo wrestling and wrestlers
19. J-pop music
20. Harajuku fashion
21. traditional theatre: Kabuki, Bunraku, Noh, etc.
22. martial arts: karate, judi, aikido, kendo, etc.
23. traditional pottery
24. festivals such as carrying portable shrines
25. beer
26. the big Buddha of Kamakura
27. beautiful parks and gardens
28. bonsai (miniature trees)
29. shopping of all kinds
30. samurai
31. Japanese castles
32. Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea
33. hot spring resorts (onsen)
34. Universal Studios Osaka
35. noodles of many kinds
36. the leaves changing colours in the autumn season
37. JAPAN IS A COUNTRY WITH FOUR SPECIAL SEASONS AND EACH ONE IS UNIQUE.

 ENTRANCE PREPARATION:

Our Intensive IELTS preparation classes in Nepal.

Why prepare for IELTS examination at Paurakhi?

1. 72 hours of intensive preparation by highly qualified instructors
2. Small groups with individual focus
3. State of art infrastructures for your IELTS preparation
4. Adequate preparation materials and individual support from instructors outside the classroom
5. Support and advise for IELTS examination registration

In a nutshell:
Course duration: 6 weeks
Instruction hours: 72 Hours (2 hours per day from Sunday to Friday)
Course starts: every week