2025 UNHCR-Refugee Higher Education Program (RHEP)
Meiji University (MU)
Requirements for Refugees Applying for RHEP at the School of Global Japanese Studies, MU(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 two candidates for recommendation to MU’s School of Global Japanese Studies(English course).
1)

Faculty and Department: School of Global Japanese Studies

2)

Number of refugee candidates to be recommended: maximum two (for completion of the degree inEnglish)

3)

Eligibility criteria: the candidate must a)

be a refugee or a person in a refugee-like situation recognized by the Japanese authorities witha residency permit (excluding Japanese citizens);b)

have either successfully completed or is scheduled to complete by March of the admission year,
a twelve-year course of formal education in Japan or another country, or is deemed by MU tohave an education level equivalent to that of the average person who has completed such formaleducation;c)have no other means of support for university studies;d)understand that the objective of the program is for the selected candidate to commit to theirstudies diligently, and agree to maintain a satisfactory academic performance in their chosen
undergraduate study course (the course duration will be a maximum of four years);e)have English language skills sufficient for pursuing a degree from any of MU’s schools that offer
a curriculum in English;f)meet other criteria for applicants as stipulated by MU.

4) Scholarship:
MU will waive the student’s tuition and other admission related fees. MU will also fund a scholarshipwhich may be paid to the student on a monthly basis as per internal regulations of the university.
In addition, if a student who has enrolled in this program wishes to continue to study at MU Graduate
School, and passes the entrance exam with satisfying designated conditions, there is a possibility toreceive the scholarship continuously. For details, please contact the RHEP Secretariat.

5) Schedule:
Process for selection of candidates to be recommended for admission by UNHCR and Japan for UNHCR: Application period for RHEP
 Written test Interview
 Selection of candidates forrecommendation to MU

From 5 July (Fri) to 6 August (Tue) 2024
RHEP assesses candidates' English written proficiency with English testscores.
31 Aug (Sat) 2024
The beginning of September 2024

Process for selection of candidates for admission by MU
From 15 October (Tue) to 17 October (Thu) 2024
 Submission of Application to MU*(please refer to the application guidelines of MU for details)
30 November (Sat) 2024
 Interview(please refer to the application guidelines of MU for details)

10 December (Tue) 2024
(please refer to the application guidelines of MU for details)*After review, RHEP Secretariat will forward the required application form to MU within the agreed time-frame**The program selects candidates for recommendation to MU, but the final decision as to which candidates are
successful is made solely at MU’s discretion.
 Final results**

3. How to Apply1) Required DocumentsA.

RHEP ApplicationFormThe link to the application will be available on the webpage of Refugee Higher Education Program(https://rhep-japanforunhcr.org/en) from 5 July 2024 (Fri). Forms may change each year, so
those who have previously applied to RHEP will need to send a new application with updated
information using the forms specifically designed for the year of application.

B. Passport Photo

Please affix a passport photo to the first page of the RHEP Application Form.

C. Academictranscript(High School andUniversity)

Official transcript from the formal educational institution of your last enrollment.
Please ensure that the official transcript includes the information listed below. If you are unable tosubmit an official transcript, please submit 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 of enrollment, including acquired credits, results,
and brief description of the course contents.
 Attendance record (indicate any reasons for a long term absence from your classes).
 Notable extracurricular activities.
 Academic and/or student activity awards and other recognitions.
Type of academic institution (Public, private, NGO run institution, etc.), location of the institution,and official language used during the course.
Depending on the university of your choice, an official school report (chosasho) may be requested
if you have graduated from a Japanese school. Please prepare in advance.

D.

E.

F.

Academictranscript of
Examination forJapaneseUniversity
Admission forInternational
Students (EJU)

Proof of English
language
proficiency（Mandatory）

Performance
report of nonformal education(Vocationaltraining, andothers) whereapplicable

All applicants must sit the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International
Student (EJU), operated by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), and submit a
Photocopy of Score Report as follows.
One copy of the Score Report for the EJU on the subject of “Japan and the World” is required(essential).
 The date of the examination must be within two years from the date of application.
 Applicants must sit the examination in the language in which the applicant aims to complete
the degree (English).
*The EJU is operated by JASSO.
Please pay close attention to the dates of the EJU and the application deadline of this program,and take the EJU well in advance. In cases where the applicant has not yet undertaken theEJU examinations and cannot provide the required EJU Score Report with their applicationmaterials, the applicant should individually contact RHEP Secretariat prior to submitting theirapplication.
There is no English language requirement in applying for the English Track (English course) at
the School of Global Japanese Studies. However, it is preferable that applicants have sufficient
English skill of either of TOEFL iBT score of 80 or above, IELTS score of 6.0 or above, orCambridge ESOL Exam169 above to understand lectures conducted in English.
Official transcript of results from non-formal educational/vocational institutions where suchstudies/training have been undertaken. Please ensure that the official transcript includes theinformation below
 Performance results from the last three years of enrollment, including acquired credits,results, and brief description of the course contents. If the course is shorter than threeyears, the report must cover the entire period from admission to completion.
 No submission is required where such report is difficult to obtain.
 Attendance record (indicate reasons for any long term absence from classes)
 Extracurricular activities and other volunteer activities linked with the objectives of theenrolled educational/vocational program.
 Performance and/or student activity awards and other recognitions.

There are no specified formats for this requirement.

G. One Letter ofRecommendation

The letter should be about 1 to 2 pages (A4 size). Please have the referee enclose the letter inan envelope with his/her signature on the seal of the envelope. On the surface of the envelope,please have the referee write the name of the applicant and “Recommendation Letter for theRHEP Application” and hand it to the refugee applicant. The referee must not be a relative of theapplicant.
(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 belowfrom c) to e).
a)Documents certifying your residency status; andb)

Residency card or resident registration form (juminhyo) which indicates the wholefamily unit;
andH. Proof of Legal
Statusc)Certificate of Refugee Status; ord)

The Certificate of Settlement Record by the Refugee Assistance Headquarters (forIndo-Chinese refugees); ore)

Other documents certifying refugee-like status (for who were granted special
permission to stay on the bases of humanitarian considerations, a letter from yourlawyer, NGO or other third party who supported you or your family member withthe 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 ofyour/your family’s refugee application).

I.

Proof of Family’s
Financial
SituationApplicants must submit documents indicating all the income of members of the family whocontribute to the household finances, including his/her father, mother, and him/herself (e.g. taxincome certificate, 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 frompersons under a duty to support such as relatives (allowance etc.), and if relevant, the amount ofscholarship, fellowship, private support, livelihood protection and/or social security payments beingreceived.

Please send the required documents to the following address by Simplified registration (kanni-kakitome).
On the front of the envelope, please write in red “RHEP Application Enclosed”.
Applications should be postmarked on or before the below deadline. Application forms that arrive after
the due date will not be accepted. Interested candidates are advised to send the package well in advanceto avoid late applications.
Note that application packages will not be returned.
Please refrain from sending numerous applications.

2) Application Deadline: 6 August (Tue) 2024 (postmarked)
3) Please submit applications by Simplified registration (kanni-kakitome) to:
c/o Japan for UNHCR
6F Minami Aoyama HY Building, 7-3-6 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062

4. Selection of candidates to be recommended to MU
The process for the selection of candidates to be recommended will include screening of application materials,
examination, and interview.

1) Application Screening:
Application period:

5 July (Fri) and 6 August (Tue) 2024

Please note that applications that arrive after the due date will not be accepted in principle.
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 and Time: 31 August (Sat) 2024
■Location: Online（For details, see the admission ticket for examination that will be
distributed to applicants 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 will be available at the beginning of September via mail.
Inquiries regarding admission result will not be accepted under any circumstances.
The final decision as to the candidate who is to be recommended to MU 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
may be filled.

5. Recommendation to MU and selection by MU
Information regarding the selection process by MU will be provided to the selected candidate of RHEP at alater date. The final decision as to which candidates are successful is solely at MU’s discretion.
Accepted students will be asked to fulfill their commitment and responsibilities set by UNHCR as RHEP
scholarship students. The students will be required:① to submit progress reports to UNHCR 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 oftheir studies.
*Details of the abovementioned-reports/assignments will be provided by UNHCR after students are accepted bythe university.

6. Notice and Disclaimer
For the purposes of equity, UNHCR / Japan for UNHCR and the selection committee will not respond toinquiries 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 Meiji University regarding the program and selection process.
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 theacademic year and desired 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 andacademic program before applying to this 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 isnecessary for carrying out operations, including reviewing the program and its outcomes, and gathering
statistical data for conducting publicity activities. Applicants’ personal information will only be shared withpartner universities as and when it is necessary, in order for candidates’ recommendation to the relevantuniversity.
*From 2016, the program is coordinated by UNHCR Representation in Japan and Japan for UNHCR.