Ryozo Ohnishi Fellowship

Objectives

The Ryozo Ohnishi Graduate Fellowship Program is designed to support the continued strategic partnership between OHIO and Chubu University. The purpose of the fellowship is to offer participants the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree program at Chubu University while immersing themselves in a deeper level of cultural and linguistic experiences.

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Description of Award

Chubu University will fund up to two (2) graduate fellowships to OHIO graduates annually for a maximum period of two academic years. Awards will include the following:

Tuition waiver for intensive Japanese study for a semester prior to beginning of graduate study
Full tuition waiver and annual living stipend of 1,000,000 yen (currently approximately $7,100 USD) for 2 years to pursue a graduate degree program
- Includes admission fee, facility fee, and library and learning center fees
- Does not provide for required Japan National Health Insurance, personal accident insurance, or application fee

Prospective fellowship students are able to take Japanese classes in the Japanese Education Center at Chubu University in the fall semester prior to the start of graduate study. During this period, students are exempted from paying the tuition for the Japanese language study but are responsible for all the other living expenses.

After successfully completing the language program, the prospective students must take and pass the International Student Graduate School Entrance Examination for the desired program of admission at Chubu University. The examination is held in February.

Eligibility

An applicant must:

Demonstrate, with clarity, a clear motivation and plan to pursue a graduate degree at Chubu University, through the Statement of Purpose;
Have graduated from OHIO no later than June, prior to the fall semester in which the intensive Japanese study begins at Chubu University;
Be within 5 years of their OHIO graduation date when the intensive Japanese study begins;
Have studied Japanese (preferably for two years or more) in the Department of Linguistics at OHIO; and
Have passed Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level N2 by March 31.

Deadlines & Selection Process

December 2025: Latest opportunity for interested applicants to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. You can learn more about the test by visiting the American Association of Teachers of Japanese webpage . Please note that the registration for the test traditionally opens in August.
January 23, 2026: Completed applications must be submitted by 12:00 noon to the Office of Global Affairs, globalaffairs@ohio.edu
January 30, 2026: Preliminary selection decisions will be announced
February 2026: Oral Interviews with the selection committee will be held at OHIO or virtually
March 2, 2026: The selection committee will make the final selection decisions.
March 30, 2026: OGA will send the formal recommendation letters and the graduate school application materials to Chubu University
May 2026: Chubu University will make a decision on approval of nominations
June-September 2026: Once the candidacy of the applicants is finalized, the fellowship candidate proceeds with the visa application and finds accommodation near Chubu University. Candidate then departs for Japan to start Japanese language education in the fall semester
February 2027: The fellowship candidate should take and pass the International Student Graduate School Entrance Examination for the desired program of admission to be able to start the graduate program in Chubu University

Materials to Submit

2 Resumes (one in English and the other in Japanese).
Statement of Purpose (800 – 1200 Japanese letters) that details the applicant's academic background, reasons for application, study plan, and future career plan.
3 Letters of Recommendation (either in English or Japanese; at least two of them should be academic references).
A copy of the most recent academic transcripts (in English).
Up to 3 graduate programs for which admission is sought at Chubu University in the order of preference.

Contact Information

Office of Global Affairs globalaffairs@ohio.edu

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