Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
Application Guidelines for September 2013 Enrollment
Based on its agreement with the World Bank, Ritsumeikan University is recruiting
International Students for the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
(JJ/WBGSP) as explained below.
This application process will be conducted according to the application guidelines for the
2013 Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, to be released around December
2012; and will select successful applicants to be recommended to the World Bank. The World
Bank will conduct a separate evaluation of the applicants recommended by Ritsumeikan
University in accordance with its guidelines, to make the final determination regarding award of
the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program Scholarship for 2013. Accordingly,
passing the application screening conducted by Ritsumeikan University does not guarantee that
applicants will receive the JJ/WBGSP scholarship.
Please refer to the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program homepage for
detailed information concerning the scholarship system.
I. Recruiting Graduate Schools, Majors, Courses, Programs and Number of Students:
Graduate School
Major
Economics
International Relations
Policy Science
Graduate
School
Science and
Engineering
Economics
Master’s Program in Economic Development
International Relations
Policy Science
Major
Course
Advanced
Electrical,
Electronic, and
Computer
Systems
Electrical,
Electronic, and
Computer systems
Advanced
Mechanical
Engineering and
Robotics
Advanced
Architectural,
Environmental
and Civil
Engineering
Information
Science and
Engineering
Advanced
Information
Science and
Engineering
Life Sciences
Advanced Life
Sciences
Mechanical
Engineering
Robotics
Micro Systems
Technology
Civil and Disaster
Mitigation
Engineering for
Historic Cities
Environmental
Systems and Civil
Engineering
Architecture and
Urban Design
Computer Science
Human
Information
Science
Applied Chemistry
Biotechnology
Bioinformatics
Biomedical Science
Program
Name
Program
Enrollment
Cap
Recruited
Students
Master’s
50
A few
Master’s
Master’s
60
40
A few
A few
Program
Level
Enrollment
Cap
Recruited
Students
180
International
Program for
Science and
Engineering
140
Master’s
A few
80
International
Program for
Information
Science and
Engineering
Master’s
200
A few
International
Program for
Life Sciences
Master’s
150
A few
*The enrollment cap includes students admitted through all application processes.
*Actual number recruited may be lower, based on number of applications and entrance examination results.
II. Eligibility Requirements
Meet all eligibility requirements determined by the World Bank; be in possession of a “Student”
residence status for Japan, or intend to acquire that status of residence prior to enrollment, and
meet one of the following four criteria:
(1) Persons who have completed a 16-year education program outside of Japan.
(2) Persons who have graduated from a Japanese university.
(3) Persons who have completed a 15-year education program in a country outside Japan where
the bachelor's degree program is a three-year degree and who have demonstrated exceptional
academic achievement as demonstrated by course grades; and who have received individual
permission to apply by Ritsumeikan's graduate schools prior to the application period. (*1)
(4) Persons who have been recognized as having an academic ability equal to or higher than
university graduates by Ritsumeikan University’s graduate schools as a result of an individual
preliminary screening and who have reached 22 years of age. (*2)
*1 Applicants who believe they meet criteria (3), above, must contact the International Center at
BKC no later than the day before the application period begins in order to undergo an
individual review to determine whether they meet the designated academic achievement
standard.
*2 Applicants who believe they meet criteria (4), above, must contact the International Center at
BKC no later than the day before the application period begins in order to undergo an
individual review to determine whether their academic ability is equal to or higher than a
university graduate.
In addition to the requirements above, applicants must have sufficient English language
ability to understand course materials at their desired graduate school.
* Applicants who have any questions or concerns whatsoever about their years of study,
educational system, degree equivalency, eligibility according to the conditions above, etc., must
contact the International Center at BKC at the address below, prior to the beginning of the
application period.
Ritsumeikan University, International Center at BKC
1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
Phone: +81 (0)77-561-3946
Fax: +81 (0)77-561-3956
III. Selection Procedures
Applicants will be screened based on submitted application documents. However, foreign
language tests, written exams and interviews may also be conducted if determined to be
necessary by the desired graduate school.
* This selection process will determine admission to Ritsumeikan University. Ritsumeikan
will recommend applicants who pass this screening to the JJ/WBGSP for scholarship
consideration for 2013. Final determination of whether or not to award a scholarship to
individual applicants will be made by the World Bank following their evaluation.
IV. Application Procedures
1. Application Documents
Please submit the following documents in a single package.
(1) Application for Graduate Admission at Ritsumeikan University (University-designated
Form A)
(2) Field of Study and Study Program (University-designated form)
(3) Letters of Recommendation (2 academic, 2 professional; World Bank-designated
form)
(4) Scholarship Application Form (World Bank-designated form)
(5) Resume (Freeform, A4-size, less than 2 pages)
(6) Certificate of grades and certificate of graduation from most recent academic
institution.
(7) Certificate of employment for each full-time position held in the past.
(8) Copy of photo and information pages from passport (for applicants in possession of a
passport) or copy of birth certificate.
(9) Copy of objective, verifiable documents that show English language proficiency (e.g.
Score reports from TOEFL®, TOEIC®, etc.)
(10) Copies of objective, verifiable documents that display other relevant specialized
ability, if any.
(11) Certificate of Health (University-designated form or form with identical contents).
(12) PDF copy of 教育部学歴証書電子注冊備案表 (graduates of universities in China,
only).
(13) Three (3) photographs (must be taken within 6 months, be 4.5 cm high by 3.5 cm
wide, be taken from the front, and show applicant from the chest up, with no hat. All
photos should have the applicant's name and nationality written on the reverse).
2. Important Points for Application
(1) All application documents must be in English and, to the maximum extent possible,
should be typed in word processing-type software and printed on A4-sized paper.
Documents in any language other than Japanese or English must be accompanied by a
certified Japanese or English translation.
(2) Be sure to enter your name and birth date exactly as it appears in your passport on all
forms.
(3) All application documents must be sent together, by registered, express mail to the
address in number 4, below.
(4) Once accepted by the university, submitted documents cannot be returned for any
reason, even if it is later determined that the applicant does not meet the eligibility
requirements.
(5) If it is determined that your application documents contain any deliberate
falsifications or forgeries, your application will not pass the examination
3. Application Period
Monday, January 21, 2013 - Monday, February 18, 2013
(Applications will be accepted by mail only. Applications must arrive before the
deadline.)
4. Application Mailing Address:
Ritsumeikan University, International Center at BKC
1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
Phone: +81 (0)77-561-3946 Fax: +81 (0)77-561-3956
V. Notification of Results
Friday, March 22, 2013
* Successful applicants will receive a Letter of Acceptance from Ritsumeikan, sent to the
address on their application form, and will simultaneously be recommended to the World
Bank for the scholarship.
VI. Admissions Procedures
Detailed information on admissions procedures will be provided to successful applicants
after results are released.