blackbriar:
Admissions for Graduate school in Japan for September 2022 Enrollment will soon start.

1. Have you enrolled for IELTS
2. Have to contacted your prospective department and Professor in charge.
3. Have you familiarized yourself with the admission process ( most especially how to pay the 30,000 yen application fee).
4. Are you prepared for the Online Quiz/Test?


Please note Admission process is all paper based in Japan.
You have to download the application forms from the school admission webpage.
Fill the forms correctly
submit the form by post (dhl or most suitable) with accompanying documents required

Admission Schedule lasts only 2 weeks.

Goodluck.
My 2 cents

PLEASE WHO KNOWS HOW TO SEND MONEY YO JAPAN ? IT'S URGENT.

Gerrard59:


Exodora:

That was the post which gave me the confidence to apply. Before then, the aspect of travelling to Japan, write the entrance exam, returning to Nigeria and wait for the result deterred me. But you see that post? It triggered me. I applied, did research, had a notebook detailing the names of schools and professors' names etc. I called each professor's office by 9am Japanese time (1am Nigerian time) every week. I did every research. Maji just gave me assurances when I did not get an email. I never asked Maji to list schools or professors for me. I never asked him about the tuition fees. I did all the necessary research. So, it is your responsibility to do the same. In fact, all the African students I have met here did the same thing - they researched it by themselves. It includes Nigerians who are MEXT scholars, including a Nairalander.

There was no feeding bottle. Because to be honest, no one feeds you here. They expect you to know it from Day 1.

Thank you for this
I know about mext and very interested

Pls can u connect me with that Nairalander that is on mext

There are some things I will like to ask

Pls don't be offended

Gerrard59:


Exodora:

That was the post which gave me the confidence to apply. Before then, the aspect of travelling to Japan, write the entrance exam, returning to Nigeria and wait for the result deterred me. But you see that post? It triggered me. I applied, did research, had a notebook detailing the names of schools and professors' names etc. I called each professor's office by 9am Japanese time (1am Nigerian time) every week. I did every research. Maji just gave me assurances when I did not get an email. I never asked Maji to list schools or professors for me. I never asked him about the tuition fees. I did all the necessary research. So, it is your responsibility to do the same. In fact, all the African students I have met here did the same thing - they researched it by themselves. It includes Nigerians who are MEXT scholars, including a Nairalander.

There was no feeding bottle. Because to be honest, no one feeds you here. They expect you to know it from Day 1.

So you're in Japan?!

Interesting.

illicit:


Thank you for this
I know about mext and very interested

Pls can u connect me with that Nairalander that is on mext

There are some things I will like to ask

Pls don't be offended

The Nairalander and most Nigerians I know here came via the university-recommendation MEXT scholarship. Only one came in via the Embassy route, which is the most competitive. The same applies to other sub-Saharan Africans, and when I ask them for their profiles, na first class, already have a masters etc. The Nigerian girl I met is also a first class graduate. She said it is not strictly for first class, but go to LinkedIn and do your search, all MEXT scholars via the embassy route had a first class or masters and then applied for another masters.

So, just putting it out here so that future applicants know what they are up against.

Nairalander is Chaiks: https://www.nairaland.com/chaiks/posts

Gerrard59:


The Nairalander and most Nigerians I know here came via the university-recommendation MEXT scholarship. Only one came in via the Embassy route, which is the most competitive. The same applies to other sub-Saharan Africans, and when I ask them for their profiles, na first class, already have a masters etc. The Nigerian girl I met is also a first class graduate. She said it is not strictly for first class, but go to LinkedIn and do your search, all MEXT scholars via the embassy route had a first class or masters and then applied for another masters.

So, just putting it out here so that future applicants know what they are up against.

Nairalander is Chaiks: https://www.nairaland.com/chaiks/posts

Thanks bro

Good evening @Gerrard59
Bro, doing a tourist visa is COE obtainable?

iykejohnson:
Good evening @Gerr.ard59
Bro, doing a tourist visa is COE obtainable?

No. Just a stamp on your passport indicating a tourist pass. But note, it cannot be converted to a working visa while in Japan. Working or student visa requires the COE, which is exchanged for the residence card - an essential document with regard to life in Japan. Also, note that should the applicant be denied the visa, s/he cannot apply for any kind of visa to Japan for the next six months.

Gerrard59:


No. Just a stamp on your passport indicating a tourist pass. But note, it cannot be converted to a working visa while in Japan. Working or student visa requires the COE, which is exchanged for the residence card - an essential document with regard to life in Japan. Also, note that should the applicant be denied the visa, s/he cannot apply for any kind of visa to Japan for the next six months.

Thanks for the insight, Bro. God bless you abundantly.
It was an Agent I met yesterday at VFS who told me about Japan visa 3.5 meanwhile it's a tourist visa and she was saying it like it was convertible. I decided to do research and the research I did, made me understand that I can do it by myself, with ease seff. Then on second thought, I remembered you have told me about COE, which prompted me to ask if a tourist visa requires that.
But how can one get a work visa?


Thanks for always putting me through Bro.

Pls how do one apply for a university-recommended MEXT scholarship

iykejohnson:

Thanks for the insight, Bro. God bless you abundantly.
It was an Agent I met yesterday at VFS who told me about Japan visa 3.5 meanwhile it's a tourist visa

These are the issues. It is clearly stated in the Japanese embassy in Abuja (online and at the embassy itself) that applicants should steer clear of agents. That is clearly stated. No agent can issue anyone any sort of visa to come to Japan. It is not possible. That is an immigration law from the Ministry of Justice.

That agent would issue you a fake tourist visa, you get to Haneda or Narita Airport, where you would be detained and deported. Thus, you would be banned from entering Japan for ten years. Alternatively, you take it to the embassy, and you would be denied and effectively banned from every visa application for six months. Since the visa was fake, you are then technically shadowed banned from future visa applications even after the six months elapsed.

Also, you cannot work in the country with a tourist visa. It is mission impossible neither can you convert it to working visa.

and she was saying it like it was convertible.

I for Impossible. It cannot be converted. That is a lie.

I decided to do research and the research I did, made me understand that I can do it by myself, with ease seff.

Yes, you don't need an agent to run a visa application for entry into Japan. The embassy hates that agent thing. In fact, it is not possible as all applications must be submitted to the embassy by the applicant physically.

Then on second thought, I remembered you have told me about COE, which prompted me to ask if a tourist visa requires that.
But how can one get a work visa?

To get a work visa, apply to jobs in Japan via LinkedIn or Indeed. The issues with getting a job in Japan while outside are the language and skill set. Language in that most jobs that can work out the COE application at the prefecture immigration bureau require proficiency of the language since your colleagues would be Japanese. On the other hand, the jobs that are lenient regarding language proficiency tend to be mostly tech/IT jobs. So if you know how to code and pass leetcode tests, Japanese companies would go all the way to ensure you get the COE and come into the country. Then on, you begin to learn the language.

Alternatively, you apply to Japanese language schools (they are quite expensive), get a language student visa and come to study the language. You are eligible to work for 28 hours per week. There are jobs available. The student visa has a COE attached to it which is converted to the residence card. Without that card, you cannot apply for jobs or anything at all. See why tourist visas don't count? The issue with the language schools, especially regarding Africans, is that there is a rule that if the applicant is more than 30 years old, schools should not accept the person even if the person can pay. Or if it is five years since the person left the university or secondary school. Such an applicant would be denied admission into language schools. Why I am specific about Africans is because the majority of language school students came to Japan immediately after their secondary school or first degree. These are Chinese, Vietnamese or Indonesians. Some of them study Japanese in their home countries to N3 level before entering the country. That is another leniency - attain N3 level and the applicant's age or years after graduation is waived off.

N5 is the lowest while N1 is the highest.

Now, the best/surest route for an African anywhere between 25 - 32 is via graduate studies. Either the person comes in via graduate studies or as a research student. I already outlined both processes in previous pages. Please go through them.

whistoby:
Pls how do one apply for a university-recommended MEXT scholarship

You visit universities' websites and search for the departments and laboratories of interest. Check their admissions' portals, and read the requirements. Most universities, especially the top 10 - 15 universities, have MEXT university-allocated scholarships for foreign students. Then apply.

I must be honest, MEXT scholarships, both university and embassy, are highly competitive. But that of the embassy is more competitive due to sheer numbers. However, the standards remain almost the same - first class, high CGPA, research publications etc. As an African, your CGPA would be used as the primary determinant. All the MEXT university scholars I have met had first class from their undergraduate days. The one who had a 2.1 had a very high 2.1 and his masters was distinction. In Japan, he did another masters and is currently a PhD student.

However, there are many scholarships as a student. Just get into the system first. Scholarships brekete!

Hello, I just saw this thread been planning to start a thread about Japan, for business class people mostly people who are into spare parts, electronic etc that was my aim, but now that I have seen this thread I will contributed to it. I think one easy way to enter Japan is to apply for Japanese language, you can chose 1yr, 1yr and 8months, and 2yrs etc.

Gerrard59:


The Nairalander and most Nigerians I know here came via the university-recommendation MEXT scholarship. Only one came in via the Embassy route, which is the most competitive. The same applies to other sub-Saharan Africans, and when I ask them for their profiles, na first class, already have a masters etc. The Nigerian girl I met is also a first class graduate. She said it is not strictly for first class, but go to LinkedIn and do your search, all MEXT scholars via the embassy route had a first class or masters and then applied for another masters.

So, just putting it out here so that future applicants know what they are up against.

Nairalander is Chaiks: https://www.nairaland.com/chaiks/posts

IN Plain man Terms

MEXT Embassy Scholar --- Longest and well connected person , Every Afircani hva emet in Japan from this group are either warss of thwe embassy staff or high ranking politicians.
MEXT University Scholar - Based on Merit and luck. If you do your reseaech and avoid very prestigous universities. You might just get this Schaolarship.

Now, the best/surest route for an African anywhere between 25 - 32 is via graduate studies. *Either the person comes in via graduate studies or as a research student*. I already outlined both processes in previous pages. Please go through them.
[/quote]



Hello

I’m confused. What’s the difference between a graduate student and a research student? Kindly explain please. Thanks.

Oge90:


Now, the best/surest route for an African anywhere between 25 - 32 is via graduate studies. *Either the person comes in via graduate studies or as a research student*. I already outlined both processes in previous pages. Please go through them.




Hello

I’m confused. What’s the difference between a graduate student and a research student? Kindly explain please. Thanks.

Some Universities and courses require you take a 6 months-1 year pre graduate studies before enrolling for graduate studies.
The Reasearch studies are on campus, after the stipulated period you take a test and interview before many professors and if you pass , you get direct enrolment into post graduate studies.

Why you may ask?
1.Because the universities are not so confident of what you studied back home.
2. If you do not have a background in the intended course of study e.g Nuclear Engineering or AI.


I have seen candidiate from Vietnam and Myanamar mess up their test.
The test are very simple, all what you learned in bachelors period.

I see. Thank you

JMG12:
Hello, I just saw this thread been planning to start a thread about Japan, for business class people mostly people who are into spare parts, electronic etc that was my aim, but now that I have seen this thread I will contributed to it. I think one easy way to enter Japan is to apply for Japanese language, you can chose 1yr, 1yr and 8months, and 2yrs etc.

Please sir, make the post for Spare parts abeg.
Cut Soap for us oooo, abeg.

Gerrard59 pls I sent you a pm. Planning on applying for tourist visa. Please I need your assistance. Thanks

blackbriar:


Please sir, make the post for Spare parts abeg.
Cut Soap for us oooo, abeg.

Gerrard59:


No. Just a stamp on your passport indicating a tourist pass. But note, it cannot be converted to a working visa while in Japan. Working or student visa requires the COE, which is exchanged for the residence card - an essential document with regard to life in Japan. Also, note that should the applicant be denied the visa, s/he cannot apply for any kind of visa to Japan for the next six months.

cc: idxtra

Every other process regarding visa application and issuance is on the Embassy of Japan, Nigeria's website.
https://www.ng.emb-japan.go.jp/

Gerrard59:


These are the issues. It is clearly stated in the Japanese embassy in Abuja (online and at the embassy itself) that applicants should steer clear of agents. That is clearly stated. No agent can issue anyone any sort of visa to come to Japan. It is not possible. That is an immigration law from the Ministry of Justice.

That agent would issue you a fake tourist visa, you get to Haneda or Narita Airport, where you would be detained and deported. Thus, you would be banned from entering Japan for ten years. Alternatively, you take it to the embassy, and you would be denied and effectively banned from every visa application for six months. Since the visa was fake, you are then technically shadowed banned from future visa applications even after the six months elapsed.

Also, you cannot work in the country with a tourist visa. It is mission impossible neither can you convert it to working visa.



I for Impossible. It cannot be converted. That is a lie.



Yes, you don't need an agent to run a visa application for entry into Japan. The embassy hates that agent thing. In fact, it is not possible as all applications must be submitted to the embassy by the applicant physically.



To get a work visa, apply to jobs in Japan via LinkedIn or Indeed. The issues with getting a job in Japan while outside are the language and skill set. Language in that most jobs that can work out the COE application at the prefecture immigration bureau require proficiency of the language since your colleagues would be Japanese. On the other hand, the jobs that are lenient regarding language proficiency tend to be mostly tech/IT jobs. So if you know how to code and pass leetcode tests, Japanese companies would go all the way to ensure you get the COE and come into the country. Then on, you begin to learn the language.

Alternatively, you apply to Japanese language schools (they are quite expensive), get a language student visa and come to study the language. You are eligible to work for 28 hours per week. There are jobs available. The student visa has a COE attached to it which is converted to the residence card. Without that card, you cannot apply for jobs or anything at all. See why tourist visas don't count? The issue with the language schools, especially regarding Africans, is that there is a rule that if the applicant is more than 30 years old, schools should not accept the person even if the person can pay. Or if it is five years since the person left the university or secondary school. Such an applicant would be denied admission into language schools. Why I am specific about Africans is because the majority of language school students came to Japan immediately after their secondary school or first degree. These are Chinese, Vietnamese or Indonesians. Some of them study Japanese in their home countries to N3 level before entering the country. That is another leniency - attain N3 level and the applicant's age or years after graduation is waived off.

N5 is the lowest while N1 is the highest.

Now, the best/surest route for an African anywhere between 25 - 32 is via graduate studies. Either the person comes in via graduate studies or as a research student. I already outlined both processes in previous pages. Please go through them.

What about me that is 40 years

babakb:


What about me that is 40 years

Go to Chile. Use one year to learn Spanish, apply and enrol into the easiest course you can handle. Five years you collect citizenship. But this depends on why you want to emigrate. To me, anyone above 40 should remain in Nigeria and plan his retirement. Those above 35 but below 40 should emigrate only on a work visa into a structured company.

Gerrard59:


Go to Chile. Use one year to learn Spanish, apply and enrol into the easiest course you can handle. Five years you collect citizenship. But this depends on why you want to emigrate. To me, anyone above 40 should remain in Nigeria and plan his retirement. Those above 35 but below 40 should emigrate only on a work visa into a structured company.

Fair Enough

Gerrard59:


Go to Chile. Use one year to learn Spanish, apply and enrol into the easiest course you can handle. Five years you collect citizenship. But this depends on why you want to emigrate. [b] To me, anyone above 40 should remain in Nigeria and plan his retirement. [/b]Those above 35 but below 40 should emigrate only on a work visa into a structured company.

Nigeria is actually worse for elderly people.

Imagine you are in bayelsa state and a new governor decides not to pay your salary in a career you have been for 20 years, or your company folds up, if you are working in a private sector or the government refuses to pay your pension.

All in above paragraph has happened to my parents, my uncle and my grandma. I remember when I sent money home as a corper because one foolish Akeredolu delayed salary.

Make we just leave talk. Even if you are 70 and you have opportunity to go out and you have a plan, please go! I beg you!

A dog in the city is better than a lion in the dessert.

So 35yrs and above should not travel even via study route? Working visa is not easy to get and yes I know guys at that age range that travel to USA,Canada and Uk who are doing better now

Gerrard59:


Go to Chile. Use one year to learn Spanish, apply and enrol into the easiest course you can handle. Five years you collect citizenship. But this depends on why you want to emigrate. To me, anyone above 40 should remain in Nigeria and plan his retirement. Those above 35 but below 40 should emigrate only on a work visa into a structured company.

babakb:


What about me that is 40 years

Please search for better countries leave Asian countries alone oo...No future for blacks but you can easily work in korea if you can enter that country then migrate to English speaking country from there...

Pasca07:
So 35yrs and above should not travel even via study route? Working visa is not easy to get and yes I know guys at that age range that travel to USA,Canada and Uk who are doing better now

That can be recommended if the person has good work experience in Nigeria which can be transferable and goes to an OK university. Oluseun-Akinrinoye. To reduce any stress upon arrival, because at that age, body go don dey tire.

Pasca07:
Please search for better countries leave Asian countries alone oo...No future for blacks but you can easily work in korea if you can enter that country then migrate to English speaking country from there...

He would have to present an English teaching certificate for a school to employ him from Nigeria. Remember, he is in his 40s o. That can be a discouraging factor for these schools since there are a thousand and one much younger candidates (~20s). And to be fair, if he is to target Asian countries, Japan is better off for a black African job seeker, male or female, than South Korea.

When you say "easily work in Korea", what kind of visa would this be on?

Karleb:


Nigeria is actually worse for elderly people.

Imagine you are in bayelsa state and a new governor decides not to pay your salary in a career you have been for 20 years, or your company folds up, if you are working in a private sector or the government refuses to pay your pension.

All in above paragraph has happened to my parents, my uncle and my grandma. I remember when I sent money home as a corper because one foolish Akeredolu delayed salary.

Make we just leave talk. Even if you are 70 and you have opportunity to go out and you have a plan, please go! I beg you!

A dog in the city is better than a lion in the dessert.

OK, I see. I stated the above judging from my experience and family background.

Gerrard59:


That can be recommended if the person has good work experience in Nigeria which can be transferable and goes to an OK university. Oluseun-Akinrinoye. To reduce any stress upon arrival, because at that age, body go don dey tire.

We have a lot of 35 yrs and above that are very active and stronger in terms of hustling both mentally and physically than those below that age. Yes the younger the better but if the opportunity surface for people above 35 yrs we should not denigrate such. They should go for it

Gerrard59:


He would have to present an English teaching certificate for a school to employ him from Nigeria. Remember, he is in his 40s o. That can be a discouraging factor for these schools since there are a thousand and one much younger candidates (~20s). And to be fair, if he is to target Asian countries, Japan is better off for a black African job seeker, male or female, than South Korea.

When you say "easily work in Korea", what kind of visa would this be on?

Student visa to korea. They can do some menial job then after graduation they can still work for a year or more then migrate from there to English speaking countries.

Gerrard59:


That can be recommended if the person has good work experience in Nigeria which can be transferable and goes to an OK university. Oluseun-Akinrinoye. To reduce any stress upon arrival, because at that age, body go don dey tire.

thanks for your update what hope do I have at 38 for a post graduate course in Japan ....can I hustle pls

Uyigue12:
thanks for your update what hope do I have at 38 for a post graduate course in Japan ....can I hustle pls

Although I don't know your end game for wanting to relocate, but I'll drop my nuggets based on my experience (how the society works, what I have read and what I think).

As a 38-year-old man, you will find universities to admit you but might not be the top 15 or Imperial Universities (Japan's version of the Ivy League). Universities will admit you because there are few students to pick from, as birth rates are declining rapidly. Japan has many universities, so I implore you to do your research starting from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_universities_in_Japan

Why national universities? They are cheaper, just like Federal Universities in Nigeria. Public universities exist, but cost slightly higher than national universities, aka state universities in Nigeria. Then private universities, just like dem Covenant and Madonna.

Depending on your program and finances, I recommend you opt for a research student (研究生) position in a national university outside the Kanto and Kansai regions. You spend six months learning the nitty-gritty of your eventual research theme, then apply officially to be admitted into the MSc program. You will be allowed to work part-time (28 hours max per week). Part-time jobs are plentiful. As your Japanese improves, your options widen, and salaries increase. Preferably head to the Kyushu region as it has jobs (Fukokoa and Kyushu itself) or Chugoku (Hiroshima and Tottori).: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_of_Japan

Why outside Kansai and Kanto? Those regions have the major cities in the country and are expensive. Also, because of the high number of foreigners in both regions, you will use English occasionally. Due to your age, language school is out of the question as none will admit you without an N3 certificate. Since you are coming in as a graduate student and also advanced in age intending to "hustle", you need to be in an environment with minimal English usage and more Japanese.

All things being equal, you will graduate by 42, depending on the route you enter (research student or graduate student) and when you commence your studies. However, upon graduation, due to your age, don't expect plum jobs because there are way many young people (foreigners, homegrown and foreign-grown Japanese) with superior degrees, skills and experience who will be preferred. But you will get jobs, but not the best of them. If you choose any areas outside Kanto and Kansai, you might get a factory job depending on your network and Japanese ability. Factory jobs pay pretty well, depending on the industry, but you will work very hard and long hours (it is a tradition here). Your options within those non-Kanto and Kansai areas will increase if you have technical skills like tech. Salaries won't be as high as in Kanto and Kansai, but the cost of living would be low.

As a graduate student, you can bring dependents, which is subject to your proof of finance submitted to immigration authorities. Ultimately, it depends on what you intend to achieve out of the process and long-term goals. Finally, searching for schools and following the entire process depends on you.

Best wishes!