How to Apply
Application Period
Please refer to the “Application Timeline” page for the Nomination and Application Periods.
Application Procedure
Our application procedure consists of three parts:
Step 1: Online Nomination *submitted by home institutions.
Step 2: Online Application *submitted by nominated students.
Step 3: Application Submission
Please click here for the Application Timeline.
Step 1: Online Nomination
Students from Partner Institutions:
Please contact your home institution’s study abroad office for information about your institution’s nomination procedures. After you are officially nominated by your home institution, AIU will send you and your home institution a username and password for you to access the Online Application Portal.
All Other Students:
Please contact AIU by email at international@gl.aiu.ac.jp and send us the name, title, and email address of your study abroad advisor to begin the nomination and application process.
Step 2: Online Application
After you receive your username and password, you must complete the Online Application Form from the Online Application Portal.
The information in your application form must match that of your passport exactly as it will be used for your immigration documents, acceptance letter, and AIU registration.
Step 3: Application Submission
After completing the online application, please scan all application documents and email them to international@gl.aiu.ac.jp
When submitting your application documents*, please:
● Scan each document as its own separate file (do not send all the documents together as one data file).
● Attach the files directly to the email (do not share a link to your documents).
● Send all files in a single email.
*All documents must be in English.
| Submission Deadline (Documents must arrive before the deadline) | |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester Admission: | April 1 |
| Spring Semester Admission: | November 1 |
Applications that arrive after the deadline may not be processed.
| Document (Submission file format) | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1. Completed, signed Application Form (pdf) (ALL PAGES must be submitted.) | ・Complete the online application after receiving your username and password following your nomination by your home university. ・Print the entire completed online application. ・Click the “Submit” button to finalize your online submission. ・On the printed application, complete, sign, and date the “Certification and Consent” section on the last page. ・Ask your study abroad advisor to review your printed application form and to complete, sign, and date the “Study Abroad Advisor” section on the last page. (The last page will print with the form. If your home institution does not have an International Office, your academic advisor must complete this section instead.) ・Submit ALL PAGES of the application form, completed and signed by both you and your study abroad advisor, via email. |
| 2. Official academic transcript in English (pdf) | ・Applicant Enrollment Status and GPA must meet our requirements. ・Academic Transcript showing course titles, credits, and grades for each semester. |
| 3. Reference Form from an instructor at your university (doc) (2 pages) (Please click to download) | Students from Partner Institutions: Submit 1 Reference Form Students from Non-Partner Institutions: Submit 2 Reference Forms written by 2 different professors The Reference Form needs to be filled out by your academic advisor and/or the professor who best knows your academic abilities. Both pages of the form must be completed and it must be either physically or digitally signed and dated by the Referee. |
| 4. Reference Form from Home Institution (pdf) (1 page) (Please click to download) | ・The Reference Form needs to be filled out by the sending university staff (e.g. Study Abroad Advisor) to confirm that the nominated student meets AIU eligibility requirements. It must be either physically or digitally signed and dated by the Referee. |
| 5. Proof of English Language Proficiency (pdf) (Non-native speakers, only) | ・TOEFL, IELTS™, TOEIC scores that meet our requirements. ・AIU-Approved Alternative: Ask your study abroad advisor to contact AIU for details about alternatives before application submission |
| 6. Digital ID-style photo (jpg or png) (To be submitted to the Immigration Services Agency for Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) application.) | ・Taken within 3 months of submission ・At least 800 px x 600 px, jpg or png format ・Front-facing, showing from the shoulders up ・Clear, high resolution ・No hats ・Must be unedited photo with no image manipulation or processing ・Must not show a smile with visible teeth ・Plain white background ・Color or grayscale is acceptable ・No shadows *The Immigration Services Agency has VERY STRICT photo requirements. Please submit a photo that meets the conditions listed on this webpage. |
| 7. Photocopy of passport (pdf) (To be submitted to the Immigration Services Agency for Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) application.) | ・A valid passport that covers the entire duration of your study abroad program ・Information page(s): photo, name, etc. ・Entire page, including all edges ・ALL information must be clearly scanned and readable ・The copy of your passport will be used for verification and visa preparation at the Immigration Services Agency and so must meet the Immigration Services Agency criteria. As such, we will NOT accept any passport copies that do not meet all of the above requirements. |
| 8. Bank Account Balance Statement in English as Proof of Financial Resources (pdf) (To be submitted to the Immigration Services Agency for Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) application.) | ・Be sure to submit a Bank Account Balance Statement that meets the following conditions ・Insufficient documents will NOT be accepted by the Immigration Services Agency. |
Proof of Financial Resources
Acceptable Bank Account Balance Statement
- Must include an issue date or show the balance as of a specific date.
- Must be dated no more than 1 month prior to submission.
- Account must belong to you or your financial sponsor.
- Must show account holder’s full name (as it is registered to the account) and balance on the same page. *Internet-printed statements are acceptable only when the account holder’s full name and account balance are shown on the same page.
- All submitted statements must be visible in their entirety. A screenshot or image of only part of the bank account balance statement is NOT acceptable.
- Bank Name, Account holder’s full name, Date and Final balance amount must be highlighted.
- Must be in English or accompanied by a translation.
- If you do not wish to disclose the balance, a letter from the bank certifying that you have at least the minimum amount of funds, according to the table below, with an original signature or bank official stamp is acceptable. The amount from the table must be specified in the letter.
The Following Documents are Not Acceptable
- Salary letters or statements of income
- Tax records
- Credit card statements
- Stock certificates, real property, or corporate assets, which may lose value, or property that cannot be converted into cash
Minimum Amount
To meet Immigration Services Agency standards for student visa processing, your Proof of Financial Resources must show at least the minimum amount listed in the chart below. Please be sure to convert your local currency into Japanese Yen (JPY).
| Exchange Students | Fee-Paying Students (Including from Partner Institutions) | |
|---|---|---|
| One semester | 700,000 JPY | 1,000,000 JPY |
| One semester + Winter Program | 1,000,000 JPY | 1,300,000 JPY |
| Two semesters | 1,200,000 JPY | 1,800,000 JPY |
| Two semesters + Winter Program | 1,500,000 JPY | 2,100,000 JPY |
Alternative Financial Documentation
If you are unable to submit a Bank Account Balance Statement that meets the minimum amount requirement, you may alternatively submit Proof of Financial Aid (such as scholarships, grants, or student loans). However, the document MUST meet ALL of the following requirements, and additional information or documentation may be requested by the Immigration Services Agency if needed.
- Must show the amount and period of disbursement.
- Must show that you are the recipient and that the disbursement decision is final.
(Preliminary statements or conditional letters will NOT be acceptable.) - Recipient’s name, Total amount, and Period of Disbursement must be highlighted.
- The disbursement period must cover the semester(s) you will be at AIU.
*Certification of disbursement periods that do not include ALL the semesters you will be at AIU CANNOT be accepted. - Must be in English or accompanied by a translation.
If you have any questions about the validity of the financial documentation that you plan to submit, please contact AIU in advance.
For more information about the visa application process, please see our Visa and Entry to Japan page.
Tel. +81-(0)18-886-5927, +81-(0)18-886-5937
Fax. +81-(0)18-886-5853
Inbound Students：[mail international]
Outbound Students：[mail studyabroad]
Office Hours (Mon – Fri) 9:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00