April 7, 2011
This is a notice to inform you that the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) will be implementing support for international
students relating to the Great East Japan Earthquake as given below.
We
will also be continuing to consider further detailed measures in accordance
with the circumstances of the international students.
(Japanese government scholarship students)
- MEXT will be paying for the airline tickets to come back to Japan for
those international students who were studying in Japan as Japanese government
scholarship students and were forced to temporarily return to their home
countries owing to the occurrence of the Earthquake (out of those municipalities
to which the Act on Disaster Relief applies, international students residing
in those areas which continue to require relief). (Notice scheduled to be
sent to all of the applicable universities and educational institutes on
April 7 (Thursday). Contact: Japanese Government Scholarship Students
Section (03-6734-3052)).
Note: With regard to international students from Taiwan whose scholarships
are being paid by the Interchange Association of Japan, financial aid shall
be given for the airfare to come back to Japan via the Interchange Association
of Japan. (Information scheduled to be communicated to all of the applicable
students on April 7 (Thursday). Contact: The General Affairs Division of
the Interchange Association of Japan (Ext. 03-5573-2600, ext. 14)).
(Privately-funded international students)
- MEXT will be conducting additional recruitment for the study
grants of privately-funded international students for the first semester
(April through to July) for those international students showing excellent
academic performance who were studying in Japan as privately-funded international
students and suffered economic distress owing to this Earthquake (out of
those municipalities to which the Act on Disaster Relief applies, international
students residing in those areas which continue to require relief; the criteria
for the grades are the same as the criteria for the payment of study grants
for privately-funded international students). (To be implemented through
the Japan Student Services Organization.)
(Notice on additional recruitment
scheduled to be sent out on April 8 (Friday).
Contact: International
Scholarship Division, International Students Program Department, Japan Student
Services Organization (Tel: 03-5520 -6030)
Moreover, there are various systems relating to disaster victim support
such as a support system for reconstruction of the lives of disaster victims
which apply to those persons who have lost their place of residence owing to
the Earthquake.
This system also applies to international students.
(Todofuken
kaikan http://www.tkai.jp/shienjigyo/index.html)
(Reference: The key support policies implemented for international students
thus far)
(Transmission of information aimed at foreign nationals)
- MEXT provides information aimed at international students
through the Japan Student Services Organization website (links to the
websites of the Prime Minister’s Residence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Justice, and universities where necessary).
(1) MEXT website
Japanese: (http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/saigaijohou/index.htm)
English: (http://www.mext.go.jp/english/incident/index.htm)
Chinese: (http://www.mext.go.jp/english/incident/1303963.htm)
Korean: (http://www.mext.go.jp/english/incident/1303964.htm)
(Examples of provided information)
(2)Information is also provided through Japan Student Services Organization (http://www.jasso.go.jp/site/links_e_saigai.html)
and the various universities, and information is being provided in 17 languages
through the Osaka University Research Institute for World Languages (http://riwl-disaster.info/)and
the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Center for Multilingual Multicultural
Education and Research (http://www.tufs.ac.jp/blog/ts/g/cemmer/2011/03/post_172.html).In
addition, information is being provided in eight languages through the Keio
University “Wide Project” http://www.wide.ad.jp/).
(On the acquisition of visas for re-entry)
- A large number of international students temporarily returned
to their home countries owing to the Earthquake without acquiring re-entry
permission for Japan. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs announced to the effect that with regard to the re-entry of such
international students, simplified procedures and special measures have
been established.
(1) To the international students who returned home owing to the
occurrence of the Earthquake
http://www.moj.go.jp/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/nyuukokukanri01_00026.html
(2) To the international students who departed without acquiring
re-entry permission owing to the occurrence of the Earthquake
http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/saigai/pdfs/ryuugakusei.pdf
(Emergency relief)
- Emergency relief has been given to the approximately 1,000
international students of the applicable universities, who were affected
by the Earthquake (March 2011). (Undergraduate program: 125,000 yen, master’s
program: 154,000 yen, doctoral program: 155,000 yen)
(Regarding measures for international students and studies (various notices))
- Consideration for all students affected by this Earthquake,
including international students (flexible measures for the deadline for
payment of tuition fees, flexible handling of accreditation and appropriate
measures for mental health) (“Consideration for Students Affected by the
Tohoku Region Pacific Coast Earthquake”, issued by Kan Suzuki, Vice-Minister
for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and sent to the
presidents of the universities, March 14).
- With regard to Japanese government scholarship students,
Student Exchange Support Program (short-term acceptance,
short-term dispatch) and students who have qualified for the study grants
for privately-funded international students, flexible measures are being
implemented concerning the confirmation of enrollment owing to transfer
inside and outside of Japan and closure of the university offices, and changes
are being made to the payment period owing to temporary departure from Japan
and difficulties in returning to Japan (administrative notices sent to Japan
Student Services Organization
and other organizations (March 22, 25 and 31)).
(Others, support through Japan Student
Services Organization)
- Japan Student
Services Organization established an advice and guidance counter for international
students on March 19.
(International Students Advice and Guidance Counter
Relating to the Tohoku Region Pacific Coast Earthquake: Tel: 03-5520-6036)
In addition, with regard to the government-sponsored international students
who are due to arrive in April, please take note that the acceptance times
of the universities at which such students will study the Japanese language
have been changed as follows:
Undergraduate students of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and Osaka
University:
April 6 has been changed to April 17
Tokyo Japanese Language Education Center of the Japan Student Services
Organization:
April 4 has been changed to April 18
Bunka Institute of Language:
April 3 has been changed to April 16