Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

University Application Guidelines for September 2015 Enrollment

Ritsumeikan University is recruiting International Students for 2015 enrollment with
recommendation to the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) as below.
This application process will be conducted according to the application guidelines for the 2015
JJ/WBGSP established by the World Bank Institute and applicants who pass this evaluation will be
admitted to the university and recommended to the World Bank for scholarship selection. 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 JJ/WBGSP for
2015. Therefore, passing the application screening conducted by Ritsumeikan University does not
guarantee that applicants will receive the JJ/WBGSP scholarship in 2015.
Please refer to the JJ/WBGSP homepage for detailed information concerning the scholarship
system.

I. Recruiting Graduate Schools, Majors, Courses, Programs and Number of Students:

Graduate
School
International
Relations
Policy Science
Graduate
School

Science and
Engineering

Major
International Relations
(Global Cooperation Program)
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

Program

Advanced
Information
Science and
Engineering

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

Program
Name

Enrollment Recruited
Cap
Students

Masters

60

A few

Masters

40

A few

Program

Enrollment Recruited
Cap
Students
180

International
Program for
Science and
Engineering

140
Masters

A few

80

International
Program for
Information
Science and
Engineering

Masters

200

A few

Applied Chemistry
International
Biotechnology
Life Sciences
Program for Masters
150
A few
Bioinformatics
Life Sciences
Biomedical Science
*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.
Advanced Life
Sciences

II. Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must 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 each of criteria (1) through (2) below:
(1) Meet one of sub-criteria 1) through 4):
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 Universitys 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.
(2) Based on the research plan submitted to the university, commit to making use of the research
conducted at Ritsumeikan University to contribute to the development of the applicants home
country for a period of at least 3 years following completion of studies at Ritsumeikan
University.
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. 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 JJ/WBGSP for 2015.

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 JJ/WBGSP Application-use form)
(3) Letters of Recommendation (2 professional, 2 academic; 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, professional position currently or previously held
(8) Copy of photo and information pages from passport (for applicants in possession of a passport) or
copy of birth certificate
(9) Copy of documentation showing objective proof of level of linguistic ability
Submit a grade certificate from an English Language Ability Test (Score reports must be from one of
the following: TOEIC, TOEFL-iBT, TOEFL-PBT, TOEFL-CBT, or IELTS TM. Copies are
acceptable).
*Test must have been taken in the two-year period preceding the application deadline to be
acceptable.
Applicants who cannot submit a score certificate from one of the tests above must submit an original,
formal certificate of English language ability level, or a formal letter stating as much, issued by their
alma mater.
*Certificate must have been issued within the two-year period preceding the application period start
date to be acceptable.
*In principle, applicants who intend to submit this form of certificate must consult with the
Ritsumeikan University International Center at BKC in advance.
(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) (Graduates of universities in China, only) PDF copy of
(13) Three photographs (must have been taken no more than 3 months prior, be 4.5 cm high by 3.5 cm
wide, be taken head-on, 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 English must be accompanied by a certified 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.
(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
Tuesday, January 20, 2015 - Tuesday, February 17, 2015
(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
Thursday, March 19, 2015
*Successful applicants will receive a Letter of Acceptance from Ritsumeikan, sent to the address on
their application form, and will 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.