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VISA Support & Student Services

About Student Visa

The applicant can apply for a college student visa when he/she receives a certificate of admission from the Shobi College of Music, which is recognised as an “eligible institution” that administers the required attendance supervision of foreign students. If the applicant lives overseas, he/she must apply for “Certificate of Eligibility” to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau to get a college student visa.
The following persons can apply for ”Certificate of Eligibility” on behalf of the applicant overseas.

  1. Staff at the Shobi College of Music
  2. A relative of the applicant living in Japan
  3. Guarantor living in Japan

As soon as the applicant receives ”Certificate of Eligibility”, he/she must apply for the college student visa at the Japanese consulate in his/her country.

Support for Students

Assignment of a faculty advisor

A faculty advisor is assigned to each student in every department. The advisor offers advice on the best course of study according to students’ individual interests and future professional goals in their fields. All other teachers in the department also monitor students’ progress and are available to give counsel on problems in students’ daily life such as health matters. At Shobi, each student is given much personal attention.

Assistance in obtaining professional qualifications/grades

Shobi helps students apply what they have learned in the classroom and student life, to their work in a real world, by providing assistance in preparing for various outside examinations for general competency, professional qualification/grades and certificates.

Rental of the facilities, equipment and research materials (free of charge)

Shobi makes efforts to create a conductive environment for self-studies. Students can rent facilities, various equipments and research materials from school for their self-studies and productions. Students can use lesson rooms, various studios, and production rooms. Books, sheet music, journals/magazines and CD are available to rent. In the control room, students can perform/input and generate,/record/edit DTM, visual productions, voice sampling, and web production. Equipments such as Digital videos, video cameras, DAT, microphones, mixers, speakers, equalizers, compressors, and effectors are also available to rent free of charge.

Library

Our library has books, magazines, and other resources like CDs and videos. Students can either view these materials in the library or they can borrow. Using the internet, they can collect audio and visual information on music. Shobi students can have an easy access to other music libraries of various music universities under mutual agreement.

Naxos Music Library

This is an internet music library capable of streaming and playing back sound sources (with concentration on classical music) from major labels. Shobi introduced this service around the same time as its introduction to Japan when Naxos Library had already a good reputation internationally. More than 210,000 pieces of music are available covering all periods and parts of the world. They can be used as course material. Students can also use them on their own.

Special assistance to students who compete in contests and competitions

Campus auditions are held regularly in various departments.

Professional school counsellor

A professional school counsellor is available to offer counselling on mental/physical health issues, personal relations, and other problems in the student’s daily life. Personal information is kept strictly confidential. This service is also suitable for those students who feel uncomfortable discussing these issues with their faculty advisers and friends.

Student dormitories (Female/Male)

Shobi has several designated student dormitories under special agreement with reduced rent relative to the general market rate.(Shobi subsidizes the discount.). For more information, please inquire the International Exchange Center.

The Japanese language classes for international students (free)

During the academic year 2011, the following three courses are offered to support students improve their Japanese language skills.

  1. Basic Course on Japanese Communication (For those students who are insecure about following the classes and are at the Level 2 equivalent of Japanese Proficiency Test.)
  2. Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 aim class
  3. Japan Circumstance Understanding class (A lecture which offers to only students who have high level of Japanese language, allow them to read articles to think about Japanese matters. It also includes essay-writing instruction)

Support for international students

Together with a professional counsellor and classroom teachers, the International Exchange Centre offers a comprehensive counselling service to international students so that they can concentrate on their study without any problems. Counselling starts during students’ preparation to enter Shobi, and continue (together with faculty advisers) throughout their student life at Shobi. The counselling includes academic and living advice, instructions and checking for the immigration procedures and assistances to the procedures of applying for scholarships and reimbursement for any medical fees incurred.

Annual Events for International Students

□ Orientation for International Students
In order to help international students get accustomed to school life in Japan, an orientation is held in the beginning of academic year.
□ Luncheon Party for International Students & Mini Concert
In May, a luncheon party is held for international students to get to know each other and associate with instructors. Through this party, students start to communicate with other international students in different majors and different grades. Management staff members for the international student concert are also decided during the party. A mini concert by international students and several instructors follows the party.
□ International Student Concert
The International Student Concert is held in October every year. Students play various roles in the concert such as singers, musicians, dancers, PA and lighting staff, MC, time keeper, floor director, and public relations director. Through planning for the international student concert, they improve their knowledge and skills in their major fields. Through these ensembles, they come to associate with other students in different departments. Last year, they gave a three-hour International Student Concert under the theme “We Global”. All the participating international students and the audience were satisfied very much with this concert. This year, our nineteenth concert will be given in Studio BUCA (located B2F of the main building) on the 23rd of October.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

Scholarship Programs for International Students

□ Honours Scholarship for Private Foreign Student accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
※Amount of Grant was ￥48,000/month in 2010 and is intended only for 2nd (or upper) year students with recognized financial needs. Applicants should be excellent in both personality and academic records.
□ Kyoritsu International Exchange Scholarship
This scholarship is for students from Asian countries and regions. Students from Hong Kong with British passports cannot apply for this scholarship. Applicants should have obtained a certificate of admission from Tokyo Music & Media Arts Shobi by the end of January. Applicants should submit recommendation from their current or former schools, including Japanese language schools. Applicants should be excellent in both personality and academic records. In addition, applicants should be in good health and take interest in international understanding and friendship. Kyoritsu International Exchange Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship because the grant is 100,000 yen/month provided for two years. So only those students registering at school for two or more years are eligible.
□ Kyoritsu Maintenance Foundation Scholarship
To be eligible, the student should satisfy the same conditions as the above Kyoritsu International Exchange Scholarship. ￥60,000 per month will be provided for one year. Those planning to be registered students for more than one year may also apply. The school can recommend a total of only one student with Kyoritsu International Exchange Scholarship and Kyoritsu Maintenance Foundation Scholarship combined. We had students got this scholarship in the past.
□ Hashiya Scholarship
Only students with Indonesian citizenship are eligible. Provides 100,000 yen/per month until graduation. (Depending on the number of applications, the amount may be subject to change. There will be a review every year to continue receiving this support.) Only a small number of students receive this support.

SHOBI SCHOLARSHIPS

There are 2 kinds of scholarship for applicants, such as “Honour Student Scholarship” and “Unique Scholarship”. Applicants can apply for these scholarships before applying for admission to Shobi.

1) Honour Student Scholarship

This scholarship is for applicants who have already had experience, knowledge, or techniques in their major fields. In other words, applicants should show evidence that they have won prizes in competitions or auditions, or have excellent knowledge and skills. There are two types of Honour Student Scholarship named “Challenge” and “Selection”. “Challenge” is the self-recommendation type, and Selection“ requires recommendation by someone who has professional knowledge, skills and experience in applicant’s major field. Application forms for this scholarship are attached in the brochure of Application Guide. Full tuition or half tuition will be exempted from the annual tuition and fees.

  • Application Period/ October 1, 2010 (Fri) to March 4, 2011 (Fri)
  • Screening will be done by audition or presentation during the campus visit days. The last day for the screening is March 13 (Sun.).
  • Result/
    • “SA” Recognition ( Full tuition will be exempted)
    • “A” Recognition (Half tuition will be exempted)
    • “B” Recognition (200,000yen will be exempted)

※Unique Scholarship cannot be applied together

2) Unique Scholarship

This scholarship is given more widely than the Honor Student Scholarship. Applicants should write on the application form what they gain from their experiences and what they are going to achieve. The application form for this scholarship is attached in the brochure of Application Guide. Part of the tuition will be exempted from annual tuition and fees.

  • Screening will be done by evaluating what the applicants wrote.
  • Application Period/ June 6, 2010 (Sun) to March 18, 2011(Fri)
  • Result/
    • ⅠRecognition ( 200,000 yen will be exempted )
    • ⅡRecognition ( 100,000 yen will be exempted )

3) Special Entrance Scholarship for International Applicants (Only for new students)

International Students are given a special 100,000 yen exemption from their enrollment fee at the time of registration. They must submit “International Student Application Documents” and must be interviewed by staff at the International Exchange Centre.

4) Advancement Scholarship for International Applicants

Upon recommendation by their department heads, students with high standings are eligible for Advancement Scholarship that allow for reduced tuition as they are promoted to the new school year level. Amount will be either 100,000 yen or 50,000 yen.