Admission Guide （International Research Student System）

It is possible to spend some time (six months to one year) in the graduate school as an “international research student” to lay the foundation for graduate studies prior to entering the graduate school as a regular student. To be accepted, proficiency in Japanese equivalent to that required of regular students is necessary. Please contact the Admissions Office for the details of this system and the application process.

　　　For further information, please contact:
　　　Entrance Examination for International Students,
　　　Admissions Office, Otani University
　　　Tel. +81-(0)75-411-8154　　
　　　Fax. +81-(0)75-411-8160

An International Research Student ID Card is issued to any international research student who has paid the required academic fees and submitted the required documents. The International Research Student ID Card is your identification and should be handled with due care. In the event of loss, your ID card will be reissued at a cost of 2000 yen. 

International research students must take at least five classes (10 hours) per week. Consult your supervisor and select your subjects from those provided at the Faculty of Letters. If you are in the post-graduate international research program, choose from those provided at the Graduate School of Letters.
Fill out the Course Preference Sheet for International Research Students and submit it to the Office of Academic Affairs.
Absence is not tolerated, as a general rule. 

During orientation on the first day, the supervisor and international student will:

1. Check on the student’s research theme and formulate a research plan
2. Make decisions regarding which subjects to enroll in
3. Review the explanation of course credits 

In general, no course credits are granted to international research students. However, if desired, a student may make arrangements to earn course credits, as long as there is consent from the supervisor and the level of Japanese proficiency is taken into consideration. If you are interested in making arrangements to earn course credits, apply at the Office of Academic Affairs. 

Each international research student must submit a research report at the closing of each academic research period. An official cover sheet for the report is available from the Office of Academic Affairs. Once this is obtained, the finished report must be submitted to the office by the given due date. The Office of Student Affairs will issue certificates to international research students who have completed the research period and have submitted their research reports. 

Extensions may be granted if a student desires to continue with his/her research beyond the scheduled research period as an international research student of Otani University.
Conversely, if a student wishes to terminate the research for some reason at a date earlier than originally planned, shortening of the designated research period can also be granted.
In either case, consult your supervisor and submit a form letter to the Office of Student Affairs. The University will examine the documents and make a decision based on the Request for Research Period Adjustments submitted.
The total research period is limited to two years. Extensions should be requested keeping this timeframe in mind. 

In the event that a student wishes to leave Japan temporarily, the Confirmation for Length of Overseas Stay form must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs, along with a consent form from the supervisor. Upon re-entry into Japan, re-entry must be reported and the student’s passport must be shown to the Office of Student Affairs (to check that the passport has a re-entry stamp).