Before you make your application, please refer to Programme Guidance 2027 for JULP to understand the details of the program.
Please also check the presentation slide of the Info Session.
Category of Questions
- Status/Life in Japan
- Eligibility
- Application documents and process
- Travel to Japan
- Support after arrival
Status/Life in Japan
Q: What will my legal status be in Japan during the program?
A: You will stay in Japan with a resident status of student for two years. Please note that you will not travel to Japan with “refugee” status.
Q: What will my legal status be in Japan after the program?
A: If you are a high school graduate, by entering university or a vocational school, you can extend your student until graduation. If you find employment after graduating from university/vocational school, you can apply for a resident status with work perm. The Japanese government does not issue work permits to foreigners without university or vocational school certificate (except for some designated skills status defined by the government.)
If you are a university graduate and you find employment after finishing the language school program, you can apply for a work permit. Alternatively, if you enter graduate school, you can extend your student status until graduation.
Q: What will happen if I am not able to attend university or vocational school, nor find employment?
A: If you are unable to enter a university or a school, nor find employment, you can apply for temporary protection status given to Ukranianians to continue your stay in Japan. PJ can give technical assistance but each student has to be responsible for one’s own legal status as the decision will be made by the government.
Q: Can I work with a student status?
A: As a student, you are legally allowed to work part-time up to 28 hours a week while school is in session, and 40 hours during school holidays. It will be necessary for you to work to pay your rent and living expenses, but your work will be also beneficial to improve your language skills and get accustomed to the local culture and people.
Q: What types of scholarships are there to attend university?
A: The tuition fee for universities and vocational schools in Japan normally costs USD50,000-150,000 per year, so it will be necessary to prepare and apply for a scholarship to make an access for higher education. Make some savings while being a language student is also important to partially cover the cost for higher education.The following are some scholarships that you can apply for.
a) Japan Education Pathways Program (JEP)
JEP offers scholarship opportunities for refugee-background youth living in Japan through its network of universities, Japan Education Pathways Network (JEPN). Previously, JEP offered scholarships of 5-6 universities per year with the full-support of tuition fee, accommodation and monthly stipend support.
https://www.reedjapan.org/jep
b)UNHCR Refugee Higher Education Programme (RHEP)
UNHCR Japan provides a programme called Refugee Higher Education Programme (RHEP) for refugees determined by GoJ or those who has a refugee-background living in Japan. After your arrival in Japan, you will be eligible to apply for some of the member universities in RHEP. RHEP is a full scholarship programme.
https://rhepalliance.org/en_home
c) Philoxenia Scholarship by JELA
Japan Lutheran Evangelical Association (JELA) offers a refugee assistance scholarship for those people with refugee backgrounds residing in Japan. After your arrival in Japan, you will be eligible to apply. A student will need to apply and pass the exam of any university in Japan on one’s own choice to get the scholarship. It is a partial scholarship to cover the tuition fee.
https://www.jela.or.jp/refugees/philoxenia/
d) Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship (TWIS)
PJ offers its own scholarship programme for refugee-background youth living in Japan to attain higher education since 2022, based on a generous donation by Mr. Toshizo Watanabe. An applicant can study at any universities in Japan by passing the exams on their own and winning a full scholarship of TWIS. Although TWIS targets all the refugee populations in Japan, Language School Pathways students can also apply for this program.
https://pathways-j.org/en/twis
e) Other scholarship opportunities
There are other organizations which provide scholarships to international students in Japan. It can be referred to in the site of Study in Japan below.
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/ja/planning/scholarships/
Q: Does the program allow us to enroll in a Japanese University before completing the Language School Program?
No, you cannot. In order to enroll in a university, you will need to master the Japanese language. Also, as a rule, you cannot be enrolled in two schools at the same timing. Although there are some universities offering English medium course, the number of course is very limited and the Japanese language proficiency is required when seek employment.
Q: If we have a relative in Japan are we allowed to live with them?
It depends on your school’s location and condition as our partner schools are located from north to south of Japan. If your school is closed to the residence of your relatives, you might live with them.
Eligibility
Q: Can you explain more about refugee background, how can we provide it?
A: You can write a statement to explain about your situation. In addition, it is better to have a testimony of a thierd person as a referene letter. If you have an NGO or an expert to testify and explain your experiences, it gives more objective view for your statement.
Q: I am 35 years old now. Can I still Apply to this Program?
A: We have set age restrictions as follows.
“If you are a high school graduate, you must be 26 years old or younger; if you are a university graduate, you must be 33 years old or younger.”
This is because after graduation, we do not expect that you can return to your host country or home country under the current situation. Basically, you will need to live in Japan and find a job here.
However, if your age is above a certain limit, it will be harder to find a job. For people with a foreign background, it can be even more difficult.
Q: I have a Master/Doctor degree. Can I still apply?
Yes, if you meet all the criteria, including age 33 or less, you are eligible to apply.
Q: Am I eligible to apply if I completed 11 years of secondary education in Ukraine?
Yes, completion of 11 years of secondary education in Ukraine is eligible.
Application documents and process
Q: What is the selection criteria for the program ?
A: The committee will evaluate candidates based on their adaptability, motivation to learn Japanese, and clear career goals. Another criteria is whether applicants have already started learning Japanese and have basic Japanese language skills.
Q: About the documents proving or explaining the refugee background, can the statement by local NGO is acceptable?
Yes, explanation by any organizations, including local and international NGOs are acceptable. Also, you can explain the circumstances by yourself if there are no explanatory materials provided by a third party.
Q: Who should I ask to write a recommendation letter?
This person should know your academic or personal background well, such as a teacher, a manager, or someone from an NGO.
However, family members cannot write your recommendation letter.
Q: Should the transcript be translated with the stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or is the stamp of a certified translation agency sufficient?
A: It’s not required in this program. You can just submit the copy of it.
Q: My high school certificate has not yet been transcribed. Is it possible to upload my documents later?
A: You need to submit the high school certificates in your application. If you don’t have it with you now for any unavoidable reason, please submit a document explaining the circumstances preventing you from doing so. Also, if situation allows, you may submit any alternative documents that clearly explain your enrolement at the high school such as a photograph of your grade report, even if it is not an official document, or transcript until the Grade 11.
If you are shortlisted for an interview, you will be allowed to submit the high school certificate before the end of September. in case you cannot submit them by then, unfortunately you will be ineligible.
Q: I am expected to graduate from high school by March 2027. What kind of document should I submit as High school graduate certificate?
Please submit Expected Graduation Certificate, including the timing of the graduation.
Q: Will transcripts and graduation certificate outside Ukraine be accepted?
Yes, if applicants complete education outside Ukraine, transcript and graduation certificate in your country of residence is accepted.
Q: My English proficiency certificate is old and not valid now. Do I need to take another one？
English proficiency certificate is not mandatory and evaluated as a reference. Regardless of the test timing, if you have any, please submit what you have now.
Q: Can I submit GED as a high school graduate certificate?
Yes, you can use GED as a proof of completing 12 years of school education
Q: In the application form a question asks” Please describe what is your career plan after you complete your education in Japan?” Do you mean after the Japanese language or After my university studies ?
A: It means after you complete all the education in Japan, if you go to university, then after complete your university education, then what’s you gonna do in Japan.
Q: I am currently a university student. Do I still need to submit my high school transcripts, even though I am studying at university?
A: Yes, because we need a high school certificate or university certificates. You don’t have a certificate of university, then you have to have submit the high school certificates.
Q: How much do work experience and social activities affect your chances of being selected?
A: In the application form, there is a section to list your work history. If you have work experience, please describe the type of work you have done. This helps the committee understand your background, especially since you will be required to work soon after arriving in Japan.
Social activity experience can also be relevant. If you think an activity is related to the program, include it in your application.
Q: If someone is in a very difficult financial situation, can they still join the program? Also, how much money should a participant prepare before joining?
A: There is no financial requirement to join the program. Ideally, it is recommended to have about 1,000 to 1,500 US dollars when you arrive in Japan to help cover housing and initial living expenses. However, this is not mandatory.
In the past, some students from various countries arrived in Japan with less than 500 US dollars and were still able to start their lives, partly because we provide some accommodation support after arrival.
You do not need to worry if your financial situation makes it difficult to prepare cash before coming to Japan.
Q: How will the interview conducted and what kind of questions will be asked?
The interview will be conducted online, and we will ask questions based on the documents you have submitted. Please prepare for the interview by referring to the selection criteria written in the programme guidance.
The main medium is English but we will ask some questions in Japanese to check your proficiency.
Q: I don’t have A1 level of Japanese now. Can I still apply?
To apply for the program, the applicant must have studied or been studying Japanese. And from recruitment 2027, A1 level will be more strictly required for the visa application.
So it is highly reccommended to study by yourself and improve your Japanese proficiency as much as possible before the interviews by the program and by the school.
Q: If I cannot reach to A1 level by the required timing, what will happen?
If some applicants are shortlisted for the school interview but cannot pass the interview due to the Japanese proficiency level, they will need to continue studying Japanese and may be asked to postpone their enrollment until July 2027 or April 2028.
Q: Does Duolingo scores would also be accepted as proof of Japanese level?
It can be a reference for the consideration, but will not be regarded as a proof by the government.
Please refer to the “Programme Guidance” about the approved Japanese language tests
Q: Will students who have applied in the past be prioritized for this program?
No, previous applications are not considered, and the selection is made solely based on this year’s application.
Q: I was instructed to “submit” in the middle of the application. Why?
Applicants who do not meet eligibility, which are checked by answers, are instructed to “submit”. So, please check the note of each question and review your answer.
If your situation changes to meet eligibility for our program, please fill the form from the beginning.
Q: I don’t have a passport yet, but can obtain one newly by October 2026. What document should I submit when applying?
Please submit the letter to explain your situation regarding the passport issuance.
Q: Would it be possible to submit more than one recommendation letter from different teachers?
Yes, but two at maximum will be sufficient.
Q: Can you provide any sample questions or scenarios that might be covered in the interviews?
Do you have specific requirements to be choosen into interview process?
How can I become an ideal candidate?
How are candidates evaluated, what are the the most important factors for success?
Will my city of residence (as Lviv is comparably safe) affect my chances to get a place?
No, we do not provide sample questions, but we will ask you following our criteria. One of the criteria is that you are ready or determined to learn Japanese language. This is very important point. Japanese society could be really hostile and hard if you fail to master the language. Even if your Japanese level is low. you can get a job. But you can get better and more opportunities if you can do a daily conversation in Japanese. So, you have to make sure it and explain your motivation to master the language and a clear career plan after completion of the program including your life goal to us at an interview. Another criteria is adaptability. You need to explain how you are ready to move to a different culture and society. We might ask if you have any similar experience to move to a different environment, and how you prepare for that. If you face any difficult situation or a particular reason that you need to leave where you are and to join in this program. Those points become key at your interview.
Q: Participation in trial Japanese language classes
Could you please specify the exact hours when the online preparatory lessons take place for both the beginner and later stages?
The detailed schedule of online preparatory lessons will be announced once it is decided. Each lesson is 90 minutes.
Q: If I don’t have a score of EIT, what should I do?
If you had any reason not taking EIT in the past, just submit a document to explain your situation and upload it. Please make sure to upload your high school transcript with English interpretation. If you have any other documents to show your academic achievements, it is preferable.
Travel to Japan
Q: Will the students accepted in this program, travel and stay together in Japan or not?
It depends on departing locations of students and mostly several students travel to Japan together. After the arrival, we will have orientations which all students stay together. After that, students will move to each school’s location.
Support after arrival
Q: After the two years of language study, what kind of support is provided to help us apply for university or find a job in Japan?
A: While you are a language student, his program offers regular counseling on scholarships, university application plans, and preparing to find a job.
If you have any questions, please contact us here.