Revised framework for the selection of candidates for the Refugee Higher Education Program (RHEP) conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) together with Kwansei Gakuin University, Aoyama Gakuin University, Meiji University, and Tsuda College. Important Notice Beginning in 2016 (for university admission in 2017), the UNHCR Refugee Higher Education Program will be revised. All applicants will be required to submit results from the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU). Please check the required examination subjects specified by UNHCR, for the school of study for which you wish to apply. All applicants are required to take EJU including those who received a middle school education, high school education, and/or secondary education in Japan, those who received 12 years of education abroad, regardless of the desired school of study. The EJU is a test organized by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), and is conducted annually. Though each course of study/school of study has different EJU exam subjects that you must undertake, note that you will not be able to sit the Science test and the Japan and the World test in the same examination period, as they are conducted simultaneously. Please check the date of the test on the JASSO homepage, and take the examination so that the results may be submitted by the deadline for the RHEP applications. Click here for more information on the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU). Guidelines for applications to each university through the RHEP will be published on the UNHCR website around June every year. As there may be changes in the criteria, EJU examination subjects, dates, and format of the application, please be sure to check the Application Guidelines for the relevant year. The revised structure for the RHEP program is outlined below. Please check the contents and prepare for the application process. Click here for more information on Refugee Higher Education Programme Contact Information of UNHCR Refugee Higher Education Programme (RHEP), Protection Unit UNHCR Representation in Japan Wesley Center 6-10-11 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062 Japan Tel: 03-3499-2075
What is the Refugee Higher Education Program? The RHEP is a project conducted by the UNHCR in conjunction with Kwansei Gakuin University, Aoyama Gakuin University, Meiji University, and Tsuda College. Through the support of the partner institutions, the aim of the program is to provide access to higher education for refugees in Japan who would otherwise have difficulty completing a four year undergraduate program. Currently, many of the refugees residing in Japan have no choice but to relinquish hopes of attending university, due to social or economic reasons. The RHEP, in addition to supporting higher education opportunities for refugees, also aims to provide them with opportunities to attain qualifications that will allow them to contribute to their adoptive or home countries. The applicants selected for this program must complete with satisfactory grades all the courses required for graduation within four years of full-time instruction. If there is unsatisfactory academic achievement, the university may choose to withdraw their support of the student. There are also additional requirements for participating in RHEP, such as the submission of academic reports to UNHCR, and the completion of other projects. Upon the continued fulfillment of these conditions, the student s tuition fees and other study expenses will be funded by the university. At the discretion of the university, the scholarship benefits may be paid to the student as an initial lump sum, or on a monthly basis. (The value of scholarship benefits and the conditions attached to their receipt may differ according to the university. )
Application Eligibility (1) Number of openings Kwansei Gakuin University Aoyama Gakuin University Meiji University Tsuda College 3 Positions (Japanese Degree Program: 2 Positions; English Degree Program*: 1 Position) 1 Position (Japanese Degree Program) 2 Positions (Japanese or English Degree Program*) 1 Position (Female candidates only, Japanese Degree Program) * Following faculties are open for those who wish to pursue degree program in English language Kwansei Gakuin University Department of Internaitonal Studies (1 Position) Meiji University School of Global Japanese Studies (1 or 2 Positions) Based on the discretion of the selection committee, regardless of the number of applicants, not all places may be filled. (2) Eligibility criteria To be eligible for the RHEP, the candidate: (a) Must be a refugee or a person recognized by the Japanese government to be a person in a similar position to a refugee, with a valid residency permit; (b) Must have successfully completed, or be due to complete by March of the admission year, a twelve year course of formal education in Japan or overseas, or be deemed by the relevant university to have an education level at least equivalent to that of a person who has completed such a program; (c) Must be a person who due to financial reasons would have difficulty in completing a higher education program in Japan; (d) Must be regarded as having the capacity to complete with satisfactory academic performance an undergraduate degree that is in principle, a maximum of four years in duration. The candidate also must have understood the objectives of the program and be committed to studying diligently. (e) Must and have Japanese or English language ability sufficient to take undergraduate classes at a university, and have ability to maintain sufficient academic performace. (f) Meet other criteria specified by the university (refer to Application Guidelines).
Selection Process (1) Applications open By end-june each year (2) Application deadline By August each year (3) Basis for selection Screening, written examination and interview a. Applicant screening: The application period is conducted from June to August each year. Documents should be submitted by the relevant deadline. b. Written exam: Date: August (tentative) Place: Depending upon applications received, it is planned that testing will take place in the Kanto and Kansai regions. Examination contents: Japanese or English language exam; Short essay composition. * Those who wish to pursue degree in English language are required to take English exam c. Interview: Date: September (tentative) Place: Offices of the UNHCR Representation in Japan * Decisions regarding candidates to be recommended by the UNHCR to the universities will be made by a selection committee consisting of UNHCR representatives, representatives from educational institutions, refugee assistance organizations and/or representatives from language education institutions. The final decision will be made by the relevant partner university. Conditions for RHEP Scholars The UNHCR selects candidates for the RHEP program and recommends them to the partner universities. The selection process involves a shortlisting of candidates based on the submitted application documents, followed by a test and interview. Students then chosen by the partner universities to receive the scholarship will be bound by the following conditions. More information will be given to the student upon acceptance into the university. 1. The student must submit a progress report and financial status report to the UNHCR twice yearly. 2. During the course of their studies, the student must complete at least one RHEP project. For example, the student may participate in a seminar as a speaker. 3. The student must participate regularly in RHEP follow-up meetings, and interviews following their graduation from university.
How to Apply Required documents: Please check your eligibility for application, and submit all the following documents. Please note that beginning from 2017 admission there are additional documents that require submission. A. UNHCR RHEP Application Form The RHEP application may be downloaded from the UNHCR Representation in Japan website from around June until the date indicated on the website. Please send the completed Application Form and relevant documents by post to the UNHCR Representation in Japan by the application deadline. Please note that the Application Form format may have changed from previous years. B. Identity Photo Please affix a passport photo to the first page of the UNCHR RHEP Application Form C. Academic Transcript (High school and university) Please provide an official transcript from the last formal educational institution in which you were enrolled. Please make sure that the official transcript includes the information below. If you are unable to submit an official transcript, please send us a statement of facts describing your educational background, including the items listed below (around 1 page, A4 size): Academic results from the last three years prior to graduation, including acquired credits, results, and a brief description of the course contents; Attendance record (indicate any reasons for long term absences); Notable extracurricular activities; Academic and/or student activity awards; Type of educational institution (public, private, NGO supported, etc.), location of the institution, and language of instruction. For those who have, or intend to graduate from a Japanese high school, the university may request that an official letter of reference (chousasho). Please prepare this document in advance. D. Results for the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students *Required from 2017 admission (2016 application) Results for the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) conducted by Japan Student Services Organization (Results must be from a test taken within 3 years of the application deadline). The EJU must be taken in the language in which the applicant intends to undertake their degree program. * Those who wish to pursue degree in English language are required to take EJU Japan and the World in English Applicants who wish to enter the following academic programs are required to undertake the following EJU exam subjects, designated by each university. Note that you will not be able to sit the Science tests and the Japan and the World test in the same examination period, as they are conducted simultaneously. Please check the date of the test on the JASSO homepage, and take the examination so that the results may be submitted by the deadline for the RHEP applications. Please submit a copy of the each subject result for your desired academic programs.
Kwansei Gakuin University School of Science and Technology:EJU Science (Physics, Chemistry), and Mathematics (Course 2) Aoyama Gakuin University College of Science and Engineering:EJU Science (Physics, Chemistry), and Mathematics (Course 2) School of Social Informatic:The Japan and the World, and EJU Mathematics (Course 1 or Course 2) Meiji University School of Science and Technology: EJU Science (Phsics, Chemistry), and Mathematics Course 2 Tsuda College Department of Mathematics : The Japan and the World, and EJU Mathematics (Course 2) Department of Computer Science: The Japan and the World, and EJU Mathematics (Course 2) E. Proof of English language proficiency F. Other information relating to education (vocational training and informal education) G. One letter of recommendation Applicants who wish to enter any other academic programs are required to undertake Japan and the World test, and must submit a copy of the results. EJU is an examination conducted by JASSO. Please be aware of both the date of the test, and the RHEP application deadline. Please be sure to take the EJU sufficiently in advance of the RHEP application deadline. Please include documents certifying that the applicant has sufficient English language ability to undertake university subjects. Certification may include the results of the The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC); Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or from an English language school. There is no fixed format for submitted documents. Please include the following information about informal education and vocational training that may be relevant to admission to university. There is no fixed format. A report about the subject content, acquired credits and results until the RHEP application deadline. Where such a report is difficult to obtain, please state as such and include as much information as is possible to obtain. Attendance record (indicate any reasons for long term absences) Awards, recognitions, extracurricular activities and volunteer activities related to the enrolled educational/vocational program. Type of educational institution (public, private, NGO supported, etc.), location of the institution, and language of instruction. The letter should be 1 to 2 pages (A4 size). Please have the referee enclose the letter in an envelope with his/her signature on the seal of the envelope. On the front of the envelope, please have the referee write clearly the name of the applicant, and the words Recommendation Letter for the RHEP Application. The referee should then hand the letter to the applicant for submission with the application documents. The referee must not be a relative of the applicant.
H. Proof of legal status Applicants must submit documents a) and b) as well as one of the documents listed below from c) to e). (Note: Please do not send original documents. Send only copies. ) a) Documents certifying residency status; and b) Resident card or resident registration form (juminhyo) which indicates the whole family unit; and c) Certificate of Refugee Status; or d) Certificate of Resettlement Record issued by the Refugee Assistance Headquarters (For Indo-Chinese Refugees); or e) Other documents certifying refugee-like status (For asylum seekers who are granted special permission to stay on the basis of humanitarian considerations, a letter by your lawyer or supporting NGO outlining the application history and describing the reasoning for the result of your refugee application). I. Indication of household finances For b), applicants may submit a copy of valid Alien Registration Cards in lieu of Resident Card. Applicants must submit documents indicating the income of all family members who contribute to the household finances, including the applicant s father, mother, and the applicant themselves (eg. tax-income certificate, statement of earnings, etc.) This should be based on earnings from the year before application. Applicants should indicate the amount of financial support they receive from persons under a duty to support such as relatives (allowance etc.), and if relevant, the amount of scholarship, fellowship, private support, livelihood protection and social security payments being received. Information and disclaimer To maintain fairness to all the RHEP applicants, UNHCR and the selection committee will not respond to inquiries about the application screening process, the content of the examination, and matters relating directly to the results. In addition, although the RHEP is operated in the association with partner universities, UNHCR is in charge of the selection of the students recommended for RHEP. Therefore, please do not contact partner universities for information about the RHEP. Applicants who are awarded a placement at a university far from their place of residence may be required to move from their place of residence in order to attend classes. In addition, depending on the academic year and desired school or faculty, the location of the campus may change. Applicants not yet 20 years of age should consult with their teachers about their choices following graduation. It is also recommended that all applicants consult carefully with their family and employers about their choice of university and academic program before applying to the RHEP. UNHCR will protect your personal information in conformity with its confidentiality policy. Information of applicants may be released partially upon request by the designated university in limited circumstances. UNHCR will only refer to the applicant s personal information when necessary in executing operations, such as determining scholarship, in reviewing the project and its practical accomplishments, gathering statistical data, and conducting publicity activities etc. The Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) is an examination conducted by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). TOEFL and TOEIC are examinations conducted by Educational Testing Service (ETS). These companies and institutions bear no particular relationship with UNHCR Representation in Japan.