Japanese Studies Scholarships By Government of Western Australia

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN JAPANESE STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN / HYOGO PREFECTURE JAPANESE STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP

The Department of Education Services manages two Japanese Studies Scholarships:

• the Western Australian Japanese Studies Scholarship
• the Western Australian/Hyogo Prefecture Japanese Studies Scholarship.

These two scholarships are awarded each year to promising young Western Australian students or graduates who have training and/or experience in a professional discipline as well as an understanding of the Japanese language. The scholarships provide students with the opportunity to spend up to one year studying at a tertiary institution in Japan.

The long-term goal is for recipients to develop contacts and strengthen professional ties between Japan and Western Australia in ways that will benefit the state. Each scholarship includes a return airfare, an initial payment of $3,000 for fees and other expenses and a monthly maintenance allowance of 226,600 Yen.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Have Australian citizenship, or evidence that Australian Citizenship status will be approved prior to departure for Japan.
2. •  Be a student of a higher education institution in Western Australia, or an institution of equivalent standing, and have completed at least two years of full-time study (or equivalent part-time study) in an appropriate Japanese language course, by the end of this year. OR
   • Be a graduate from a university, having a reasonable command of the Japanese language and developed an interest in Japan through employment or further studies.
3. Be planning to attend a university or college of higher education in Japan in the 2017 academic year.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants must be able to:

1. demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the Japanese language to enable them to effectively carry out a study program in Japan. This will be assessed in an oral language test to be held on Friday, 29 July 2016 – please ensure you are available on this day;
2. in the case of a student applying for a scholarship to undertake postgraduate or research studies, demonstrate a high level of Japanese language proficiency equivalent to Level 1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test;
3. demonstrate a high level of academic achievement in their current or completed program of study;
4. provide details of the course they wish to study or research project they wish to undertake as well as demonstrate some knowledge of the university they plan to attend (including evidence that they have researched university and course offerings in Japan);
5. establish that the proposed study program can be completed in a twelve month period and guarantee that they will return to Western Australia on completion of the proposed study program;
6. satisfy the Scholarship Selection Committee that they are eligible for enrolment at the preferred university in Japan;
7. indicate how their experience gained in Japan could contribute to the Western Australian community on their return; and 8. satisfy the Scholarship Selection Committee that they will be a worthy ambassador for Western Australia.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

Scholarship recipients will receive the following:

• a return economy airfare from Perth to Japan;
• a maintenance allowance of 226,600 yen per month; and
• an initial allowance of $3,000 for fees and other expenses.

REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Scholarship recipients will be required to:

• sign a formal agreement with the Department of Education Services to complete their course of study within a twelve month period and to abide by the conditions of the scholarship;
• advise the Department of Education Services of their address and contact details whilst living in Japan;
• forward their academic results to the Department of Education Services at the conclusion of the course of study; and
• on their return from Japan, provide a written report to the Department of Education Services that provides details of the following: o course of study in Japan; o academic achievements; o cultural and social experiences during their stay; and o future career aspirations.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

The following items must be included with all applications:

1. a completed typewritten application form, including responses to the application criteria listed in the application form;
2. a transcript of academic record from all relevant higher education institutions in Western Australia, or institutions of equivalent standing, for completed and current courses; and
3. two written references inclusive of the following:
   • one reference which refers specifically to competency in the Japanese language; and
   • one personal reference. Applicants must indicate which scholarship they are applying for or whether they are applying for both.

The Western Australian Japanese Studies Scholarship is valid for studies at any university in Japan while the Hyogo Prefecture Scholarship is only valid for studies at universities in the Hyogo Prefecture.

REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS

The first part of the selection process consists of an oral interview conducted in Japanese. All applicants participate in this interview and are ranked according to their level of Japanese language proficiency. Applicants who demonstrate a level of Japanese language competency required to study at a university in Japan, are short listed and invited to participate in a second, more formal interview. This second interview is conducted in English and applicants are asked to expand on their written submission and to discuss their proposed study plans in Japan. Applications are reviewed by the Scholarship Selection Committee and rated against the selection criteria as outlined in these guidelines. The recommendation of the Committee is then forwarded to the Minister for Education for ratification. The Minister’s decision will be final.

APPLICATIONS FOR BOTH SCHOLARSHIPS CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2016.

Applicants should ensure they are available to attend a Japanese language proficiency test to be held on Friday, 29 July 2016. A short list of candidates will be interviewed by the Scholarship Selection Committee shortly thereafter.

This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

http://www.des.wa.gov.au/highereducation/scholarship/Japanese_Studies_Scholarship/Pages/default.aspx