Make the Most of your University with These Scholarship Opportunities!

For those looking to go abroad to study, there are many things to consider. Finance is an important part of that.

Tien Ce Joe is a Global Studies Major who enrolled in Fall 2016 at Ritsumeikan University. Come explore this series of articles with Joe that shares his experiences and tips for getting the most of your study here at Ritsumeikan University.

Studying abroad is an exciting experience, full of wonderful opportunities and unforgettable memories. However, studying abroad in a developed country can also be very expensive, especially if you are from a developing country like me.

Because of this, scholarship opportunities have always been a hot topic for students who are looking forward to studying abroad. Fortunately, Japan is a student-friendly country that is quite generous when it comes to scholarships. If you are reading this right now, you are probably one of those students who are looking for information about scholarships. And if you are, then you've come to the right place. Because in this blog series, I will be introducing you to some of the scholarships that you can get as a Ritsumeikan University student. To give you a brief idea of what I will be covering, here is an overview of the episodes in this series: (links will be updated when I post the next article)

• Episode 1: Ritsumeikan University Tuition Reduction Scholarship (This Article)
• Episode 2: Saionji Memorial Scholarship and +R Challenge Scholarship
• Episode 3: University-recommended scholarships

Ritsumeikan University Tuition Reduction Scholarship

If you have applied or are applying to Ritsumeikan University, you have most likely heard of the university’s Tuition Reduction Scheme which grants international students a tuition reduction of 20%, 50%, or 100% depending on academic performance (You have to have a student visa to be considered an international student). I will not be going into too much detail about the Tuition Reduction Scheme because you can already find a lot of information about this scholarship from the university website. 

But one of the questions that new or prospective students ask me most regarding this scholarship is whether or not it is competitive. Well, as you may already know, all international students are guaranteed to receive at least a 20% reduction as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. However, competition can be quite tough if you are aiming for a 100% reduction as it is only awarded to a limited number of applicants. To put it into a perspective, this is usually around 5-6 students per college every semester, at least at the College of International Relations. This is what I know, as of up until late 2019. As this might have changed you should check the websites or contact your specific college. 

However, bear in mind that Spring Semester enrollees generally apply for this scholarship in the Spring Semester, while Fall Semester enrollees apply in the Fall Semester, so they will be competing separately. But even though it's competitive, this is no reason to feel discouraged if you do not get a 100% reduction in your first try. Many students who only received a 20% reduction based on their admissions application managed to get the 100% reduction from their 2nd year onward. So if you only managed to get a 20% reduction from your admissions application, don't worry. Just do your best and hope for the best.

But, there are many other types of scholarships that you can get as an international student at Ritsumeikan University aside from the Tuition Reduction Scheme. And the great news is, it is actually possible to have more than one type of scholarship at once – but of course, there are conditions as well. In the next episodes, I will provide you with more details regarding these other types of scholarships.

All the coming episodes will be linked back to this article once they are out. Keep in mind, however, that I am writing this series based on my own experience and perspective as an undergraduate student from the College of International Relations. So, it is still important that you do your own research to make sure that the information you have is up to date and accurate based on your college affiliation.

Even so, I hope that this blog series will be helpful and informative for all of you who are interested in learning more about the scholarship opportunities at Ritsumeikan University. In the meantime, stay tuned.

The blog above is an opinion and thought provided by an individual student.

Detailed information about scholarships can and are subject to change. Please be sure to double-check with the International Admissions Office for up-to-date information.