Any FLVS Students available?

Is there any form of financial aid available for foreign students wanting to study in Japan?

• I am currently working on my AA in Engineering here in the United States, but I would like to attain my 4year degree in Japan, hopefully at the Tokyo University of Technology. I understand that on a student visa you are allowed to work a maximum of 28 hours a week. The issue is that even if I study on my own for the next two years I would not be able to speak fluently enough to get a job in Japan, I would probably spend my first year and a half to two years in language school. From my understanding the cost of living anywhere near Tokyo is quite high. Are there any financial aid programs or grants available to help with cost of living and tuition expenses in Japan until I am capable of securing a part-time job? Seeing that I would already have a 2year degree when I get there, finding a job hopefully wont be too hard once I can speak the language well enough. Does anybody know what options may be available for someone in My position? I would prefer to not take out any loans if possible. I am going to learn the language and complete my 4year in Engineering, are there possibly any scholarships available to foreign students in either case? or possibly any grants that could help along the way?

• Answer:

  If you don't currently have excellent Japanese, this is going to be very difficult. You will need to go to language school for probably a year to 18 months to study Japanese. That will cost in the region of $15,000 a year. You need about $20,000 in the bank to get a student visa. Essentially you are talking rich-man territory. You might be able to get the JASSO scholarship. ANother alternative is to try for the MEXT scholarship. They'll pay your fees, send you to Japanese school, and even give you a scholarship. Horrendously hard to get though. Your final option, as I see it, is to apply for an engineering program taught in English under the G30 program. Kyoto, Nagoya and Tohoku Universities all have engineering programs. You will be taught Japanese when you are enrolled in your course, but you can complete your coursework in English. Realistically, the best PT job for a native English speaker is English Teacher. You will earn probably 3 times what a Japanese speaking student will earn from working in a convenience store.