Overview
Yokohama National University has for many years been instrumental in providing university graduates with opportunities to further their post-graduate work.The University’s special emphasis on the promotion of international exchanges with overseas universities has been stimulated by the role of Yokohama, a major port and the second largest city in Japan, as a point of contact with other countries. Yokohama is the vibrant heart of a civilization which has received direct influence from the West and then integrated these influences into the development of present-day Japan.
The City of Yokohama has a well-developed infrastructure network. Because of its central location, Yokohama has had excellent access to theoretical and practical information available through various international agencies of the government, and Yokohama National University has been closely involved in issues of infrastructure management. Much of this experience and knowledge is applicable to the infrastructure development needs of developing countries.
The Infrastructure Management Program is formally administered by the International Graduate School of Social Sciences’ International and Business Law Department, but it is in fact jointly planned and conducted by all of YNU’s graduate schools. In working toward a Master’s Degree through the Infrastructure Management Program, students will study in areas associated with the International Graduate School of Social Sciences, the graduate schools of Education, Engineering, and Environmental and Information Sciences as well as the International Student Center.
This Program 2009-2011 is the eighth cohort under the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program which began in April 1995. YNU welcomed 113 graduate students so far under the program from all over the world and 110 students obtained the Master’s Degree in March 2009.
Eligibility
The applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree at the time of his or her enrollment (April 1, 2010). The applicant should also possess outstanding academic ability. The deadline for applications for the 2007-2009 program is August 13, 2010.
When applying, the following documents must be submitted to the International Graduate School of Social Sciences:
* Signed checklist with completed return address labels, showing applicant’s current mailing address.
* Completed application form.
* Official transcripts showing the applicant’s academic performance in his or her undergraduate program.
* Two confidential letters of recommendation. Each letter should be sealed in one of the envelopes provided with this application form. The recommender’s signature must appear in the space over the flap of the envelope. All two letters should be mailed confidentially and directly by recommenders to the International Graduate School of Social Sciences.
# Complete application packages, with all required materials (application form, return address label, official transcripts), must be postmarked no later than August 13, 2010. Late applications will be disregarded.
# Please do not send applications by fax or e-mail.
# Each applicant must use the forms provided by YNU for 2011-2013 program when submitting his or her application and letters of recommendation.
Note: Completed applications and supplementary materials
(i.e.: official transcripts and recommendation letters) cannot be returned.
Selection Process
Thirty candidates for the YNU program will be selected from among all applicants. These thirty nominees will be further screened by the World Bank and fifteen candidates will be awarded scholarships by the World Bank, subject to final approval by YNU. (Note: The thirty semifinalists will be required to submit a certificate of health signed by their doctor.)
Application and entry requirements
1. Interested persons should apply for admission to the International Graduate School of Social Sciences, Yokohama National University, by August 13, 2010. After screening the records of qualified candidates, 15 prospective participants will be selected for final admission to the program and will receive World Bank scholarships. Successful candidates will be notified by mid-December 2010.
In applying for admission to the program, applicants should note the following:
The Master’s Program in Infrastructure Management is oriented to training government officials with present or future management responsibility and an academic background in the field of engineering. Women are encouraged to apply. Applicants must:
* have completed undergraduate work in engineering or an equivalent field of study;
* be 35 years of age or under as of April 1, 2011;
* have at least 4 years of practical experience involving responsibility for infrastructure development; and
* be in good health (semifinalists will be required to submit a health certificate signed by their doctor.)
2. Because the entire program is carried out in English, applicants must provide evidence of a satisfactory level of English competence, either by enclosing the result of the official TOEFL/IELTS (or an equivalent English proficiency examination) or by proving that they have completed a university program conducted mainly in English. TOEFL institution code for Yokohama National University is 0410 and department code for Infrastructure Management Program is 88 (International Relations).
3. Letters of reference or recommendation from two different people must be provided to support the application. One of these must be from a person who has supervised the applicant in a work situation and the other from a professor at the university from which the applicant graduated.
4. It is preferred that successful candidates arrange for a leave of absence from their employer for the two-year period during which they are to participate in the program. This leave should assure their re-employment after completion of the program.
Scholarship
Approximately fifteen scholarships are allocated to the YNU program by the World Bank. Each scholarship provides a monthly allowance of JPY157,000 and a round-trip air ticket to Japan plus a travel allowance of USD500. The scholarship also covers tuition fees, the entrance examination fee and the admission fee.
Citizens of low and middle income World Bank member countries are eligible for the scholarships. Applicants must be age 35 or under as of April 1, 2011. Applicants must have at least four years of practical experience involving responsibility for infrastructure development and must also intend to pursue a career in the field of development.
How to apply
http://www.igss.ynu.ac.jp/imp/ynu_t/houto/index.htm
Applicants can either download the application form, check list and two recommendation forms or request an application package from the address noted below. Applications will only be accepted via postal mail--no applications will be accepted online.
Infrastructure Management Program
International Graduate School of Social Sciences
79-4, Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
Phone: 81-45-339-3604 81-45-339-3604
Fax: 81-45-339-3610
E-mail: jwbimp14@ynu.ac.jp
