Expressions of interest for New Zealand high schools to host Japanese students for the 2028 academic year

Programme requirements

• Each student must be hosted for the full 2028 academic year, from January to December.
• Only New Zealand high schools outside of Auckland will be considered.
• Students will enrol in Year 12. They will be 16 or 17 years old when they begin the programme, which is equivalent to the first year of high school in Japan.
• One student will be placed at each successful host high school.
• Students need to be placed with host families; boarding will not be considered.
• Host schools must provide an official academic transcript or record of achievement at the end of the academic year. Students do not need to complete a particular course or qualification, including NCEA.
• Successful schools should arrange for a Japanese-speaking education agent or international student coordinator to liaise with Ritsumeikan Uji High School.
• Around two representatives from Ritsumeikan Uji High School are likely to visit each of the 20 successful New Zealand schools informally before January 2028.

Expressions of interest (EOI)

High schools interested in this opportunity should email the Ritsumeikan Uji High School representatives below by close of business on Friday 8 October 2026.

Note: Ritsumeikan Uji High School will select the schools it considers suitable. Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao will not be involved in the selection process.

In your EOI email, please include:

• a contact name, contact job title, school name, school full address, contact email and contact phone number
• an explanation about why your school would like to host a Ritsumeikan Uji High School student in 2028
• confirmation that your school can meet all the programme requirements listed above.

Send your completed EOI to:

MIZUGUCHI TAKAYUKI, Director of International Education Center: mizuguti@ujc.ritsumei.ac.jp

HEADON JOHN PAUL, Oceania Division, International Education Center: john1010@ujc.ritsumei.ac.jp