2025 UNHCR-Refugee Higher Education Program (RHEP)
SOKA University (SOKA)
Requirements for Refugees Applying for RHEP at the Graduate School of International Peace Studies(For candidates with sufficient language skills for pursuing a degree in English)

1.

UNHCR Refugee Higher Education Program: RHEPUNHCR Refugee Higher Education Program (RHEP) is a program implemented by partner universities andcoordinated by UNHCR Representation in Japan and Japan for UNHCR (hereinafter referred to as “the RHEP
Secretariat”).

2.

Outline and Eligibility

The program will select up to one candidate for recommendation to MA in International Peace Studies of Graduate
School of International Peace Studies (English course).
1) Faculty and Department: Graduate School of International Peace Studies (MA in International Peace Studies)
2) Number of refugee candidates to be recommended: maximum one (for completion of the degree in English)3) Eligibility criteria: the candidate must a) be a refugee or a person in need of international protection with a residency permit granted by theJapanese authorities (excluding Japanese nationals);b) have no other means of support for university studies;c)understand that the objective of the program is for the selected candidate to commit to their studies
diligently;d) have sufficient academic capacity to pursue studies at either Master’s course;e) have English language skills sufficient for pursuing a graduate degree from any of SOKA’s schools thatoffer a curriculum in English; andf)

meet other criteria for applicants as stipulated by SOKA University.
*Please see the application guideline of Soka University for details.

4) Scholarship:
SOKA will waive the student’s tuition and other admission related fees.

5) Schedule:
Process for selection of candidates to be recommended for admission by UNHCR and Japan for UNHCR: Application period for RHEP

From Friday, July 5, 2024 to Tuesday, August 6, 2024

 Written test

Saturday, August 24, 2024

 Interview

Saturday, August 31, 2024

 Selection of candidates forrecommendation to SOKA

The beginning of September 2024

For the process for selection of candidates for admission by SOKA, please see the application guideline bySOKA University.

*The program selects candidates for recommendation to SOKA, but the final decision as to which candidates
are successful is made solely at SOKA’s discretion.

3.

How to Apply1) Required Documents
The link to the application will be available on the webpage of Refugee Higher Education Program fromA.

RHEP Application

5 July 2024(Fri). Forms may change each year, so those who have previously applied to RHEP willForm

need to send a new application with updated information using the forms specifically designed for theyear of application.

B. Passport Photo
C.

Certificate of(expected)
graduation/degreeand academictranscript

D.

Proof of English
language proficiency

Please affix a passport photo to the first page of the RHEP Application Form.
Certificate of (expected) graduation/degree and official transcript from the formal educational institutionof your last enrollment.

If you are unable to submit an official transcript, please submit a statement of facts describing youreducational background.

Official proof of language proficiency (e.g. the results of TOEFL , IELTS or TOEIC scores for English).
The letter should be about 1 to 2 pages (A4 size). Please have the referee enclose the letter in anE.

One Letter ofenvelope with his/her signature on the seal of the envelope. On the surface of the envelope, please have

Recommendation

the referee write the name of the applicant and “Recommendation Letter for the RHEP Application” andhand it to the refugee applicant. The referee must not be a relative of the applicant.
(Note: Please DO NOT send originals. Send only copies. )Applicants must submit BOTH documents a) and b), as well as ONE of the documents listed below fromc) to e).
a)Documents certifying your residency status; andb)

Residency card or resident registration form (juminhyo) which indicates the whole familyunit;andc)

Certificate of Refugee Status; ord)

The Certificate of Settlement Record by the Refugee Assistance Headquarters (forapplicants who are Indo-Chinese refugees); ore)
F. Proof of Legal Status

Proof of Refugee Statusa)

Other documents certifying refugee-like status (for asylum seekers who weregranted special permission to stay on the bases of humanitarian considerations, a letterfrom your lawyer, NGO or other third party who supported you or your family member
with the refugee-like status (e.g. your parent) during the time of the refugee application,
outlining the application history and describing the reasoning for the result of your/yourfamily’s refugee application).
b)

For those (explicitly or implicitly) provided international protection and never had

applied for asylum in Japan: official certificate from a government agency; identity
documents; or documents certifying the need of international protection issued by NGO orother third party who supported you and your family members at the time of arrival toJapan or at the time of processing residency in Japan, describing the reasoning for
your/your family's need for international protection. Additional certificate/document may
be requested in cases where the submitted documents do not fulfil the requirements.
c) Certificate of Complementary Protection

Applicants must submit documents indicating all the income of members of the family who contributeto the household finances, including his/her father, mother, and him/herself (e.g. tax-income certificate,
G. Proof of Family’s
Financial Situation

statement of earnings, etc.). This should be based on earnings from the year before the application.
Applicants should indicate the amount of financial support they receive from persons under a duty tosupport such as relatives (allowance etc.), and if relevant, the amount of scholarship, fellowship, private
support, livelihood protection and/or social security payments being received.

Please send the required documents to the following address by simplified registration (kani-kakitome). On
the front of the envelope, please write in red “RHEP Application Enclosed”.

Applications are required to arrive on/by the due date below. Application forms that arrive after the due date
will in principle not be accepted. Interested candidates are advised to send the package well in advance toavoid late applications.

Note that application packages will not be returned.

Please refrain from sending numerous applications.

2) Application Deadline: 6 August (Tue) 2024 (Must arrive at RHEP Secretariat no later than this date)
3) Please submit applications by simplified registration (kani-kakitome) to:
c/o Japan for UNHCR
Secretariat of UNHCR Refugee Higher Education Program
6F Minami Aoyama HY Building, 7-3-6 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 107-0062

4.

Selection of candidates to be recommended to SOKA

The process for the selection of candidates to be recommended will include screening of application materials,
examination, and interview.
1) Application Screening:
Applications will be accepted between:
5 July (Fri) and 6 August (Tue) 2024
Please note that applications that arrive after the due date will in principle not be accepted.
A notification letter, indicating whether or not they have been short listed, will be sent
by RHEP Secretariat by the middle of August via mail.
2) Examination:
RHEP assesses candidates' English written proficiency with English test scores.

3) Interview:
Date: 31 August (Sat) 2024
Location: Online（For details, see the admission ticket for examination that will be distributed toapplicants who have passed the document screening.）
The interview date stated above is yet to be confirmed. For the exact date, please refer to theconvocation letter and the admission ticket for examination.
The final results are scheduled to be available at the beginning of September via mail.

Inquiries as to the result will not be accepted under any circumstances.

The final decision as to the candidate who is to be recommended to SOKA will be made by the selection
committee, consisting of UNHCR and Japan for UNHCR staff, individuals with educational backgrounds/NGO
staff and affiliates from language schools. (TBC)

Based on the discretion of the selection committee, regardless of the number of applicants, not all places maybe filled.

5.

Recommendation to SOKA and selection by SOKA

Information regarding the selection process by SOKA will be provided to the selected candidate of RHEP at a later
date. The final decision as to which candidate is successful is solely at SOKA’s discretion.

Accepted students will be asked to fulfill their commitment and responsibilities set by UNHCR as RHEP scholarshipstudents. The students will be required:①

to submit progress reports to RHEP Secretariat twice a year;②

to regularly participate in follow-up meetings and interviews after graduating from the university; and③

to undertake at least one RHEP project (e.g. participate in a seminar as a speaker) during the time of
their studies.
*Details of the abovementioned-reports/assignments will be provided by RHEP Secretariat after students
are accepted by the university.

6.

Notice and Disclaimer

For the purposes of equity, UNHCR / Japan for 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 result.
Furthermore, as the RHEP selection is undertaken by UNHCR and Japan for UNHCR, please do not contact SOKA
University regarding the program and selection process. Please make sure to contact professors at the university ofyour choice in advance, to confirm that you will be able to study the research theme of your choice.

For candidates who have applied for a university located far from your residence, you may need to move at your own
cost from your current place of residence at the time of application. In addition, depending on the academic year anddesired school or faculty, the location of your campus may change. Please consult carefully with your family(especially if you are a minor) and/or employer when choosing a university and academic program before applying tothis program.

UNHCR and Japan for UNHCR will protect personal information in conformity with the relevant confidentiality policies.
UNHCR and Japan for UNHCR will only refer to the applicants’ personal information when it is necessary for carryingout operations, including reviewing the program and its outcomes, and gathering statistical data for conducting
publicity activities. Applicants’ personal information will only be shared with partner universities as and when it isnecessary, in order for candidates’ recommendation to the relevant university.

*From 2016, the program is coordinated by UNHCR Representation in Japan and Japan for UNHCR.