2025UNHCR-Refugee Higher Education Program (RHEP)
Meiji Gakuin University (MGU)
Requirements for Refugees Applying for RHEP at the Department of Global and Transcultural 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 MGU’s Department of Global and TransculturalStudies (English course).
1) Faculty and Department: Department of Global and Transcultural Studies, Faculty of International Studies2) 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 either successfully completed or is scheduled to complete by March of the admission year, a twelveyear course of formal education in Japan or another country, or is deemed by MGU to have an educationlevel equivalent to that of the average person who has completed such formal education;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 their studies
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 MGU’s schools that offer acurriculum in English; andf)

meet other criteria for applicants as stipulated by MGU.

4) Scholarship:
MGU will waive the student’s tuition and other admission related fees. MGU will also fund a scholarship which
may be paid to the student on a monthly basis as per internal regulations of the university.

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

From 5 July (Fri) to 6 August (Tue) 2024

 Written test

RHEP assesses candidates' English written proficiency with English
test scores.

 Interview

31 Aug (Sat) 2024

 Selection of candidates for

The beginning of September 2024

recommendation to MGU
Process for selection of candidates for admission by MGU
 Submission of Application to

From 1 November (Fri) to 5 November (Tue) 2024

MGU*

(please refer to the application procedure of MGU for details)

 Interview

24 November (Sun) 2024
(please refer to the application procedure of MGU for details) Final results**

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

3.

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

RHEP Application(http://rhep-japanforunhcr.org/en) from 5 July 2024 (Fri). Forms may change each year, so thoseForm

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.
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):
C. Academic transcript

(High School andUniversity)

Academic results from the last three years of enrollment, including acquired credits, results, andbrief 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, andofficial 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.
All applicants must sit the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International
Student (EJU), operated by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), and submit a Score Reportas follows.
D.

Academic transcript

One copy of the Score Report for the EJU on the subject of “Japan and the World” is requiredof Examination forJapanese University
Admission forInternational
Students(EJU)(essential).
The date of the examination must be within three years from the date of application.

Applicants must sit the examination in the language in which the applicant aims to complete thedegree (English).

*The EJU is operated by JASSO.
Please pay close attention to the dates of the EJU and the application deadline of this program, andtake the EJU well in advance. In cases where the applicant has not yet undertaken the EJU
examinations and cannot provide the required EJU Score Report with their application materials, theapplicant should individually contact RHEP Secretariat prior to submitting their application.

E.

Proof of English
language proficiency（Mandatory）

Official proof of language proficiency (e.g. the results of TOEFL and/or TOEIC scores for English). There
are no specified formats for this requirement.

Official transcript of results from non-formal educational/vocational institutions where suchstudies/training have been undertaken. Please ensure that the official transcript includes the information
below
F.

Performance reportPerformance results from the last three years of enrollment, including acquired credits, results,of non-formaland brief description of the course contents. If the course is shorter than three years, the reporteducationmust cover the entire period from admission to completion.

(Vocational training,

No submission is required where such report is difficult to obtain.

and others) where

Attendance record (indicate reasons for any long term absence from classes)

applicable

Extracurricular activities and other volunteer activities linked with the objectives of the enrolled
educational/vocational program.

Performance and/or student activity awards and other recognitions.

There are no specified formats for this requirement.
The letter should be about 1 to 2 pages (A4 size). Please have the referee enclose the letter in anG. One Letter ofRecommendationenvelope with his/her signature on the seal of the envelope. On the surface of the envelope, please havethe 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 (for IndoChinese refugees); ore)
H.

Proof of Legal Status

Proof of Refugee Statusa)

Other documents certifying refugee-like status (for asylum seekers 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 with therefugee-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/your family’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
I. Proof of Family’s
Financial Situation

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,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, privatesupport, 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 should be postmarked on or before the below deadline. 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 to 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 (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 MGU

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
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 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 MGU will be made by the selection
committee, consisting of UNHCR and Japan for UNHCR staff, individuals with educational backgrounds/NGOstaff 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 MGU and selection by MGU

Information regarding the selection process by MGU 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 MGU’s discretion.

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