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Last modified on August 1, 2016

FLY Program (Freshers' Leave Year Program)

 The University of Tokyo launched the FLY Program (Freshers' Leave Year Program) in the spring of 2013.

The FLY Program enables new undergraduate students to apply for one year of absence, in which they are able to pursue activities outside the University for a self-directed journey of self-discovery such as volunteering, interning, or international exchange. Although referred to as a program, the University does not provide any plans for students; rather, the students take the initiative themselves in choosing the content of their activities.

In Europe and the United States, taking such a 'detour' before entering university is known as a 'gap year' and is a system that is well recognised and established. The FLY program is a pioneering effort to establish a Japanese equivalent. As an important part of the University's educational reform to develop students to be 'more global, more resilient', the FLY program is being held in high anticipation, not only from our supporting businesses and organisations but also from a variety of sectors.

By participating in the FLY Program, we hope that students will be liberated from the exam-focused, reactive problem-solving mindset, and instead experience a world different in values and principles from their own in order to reflect on what and why they have chosen to study at university. The University in turn will continue to support such proactive challenges and activities that these students choose to undertake.

We eagerly await applications from motivated students.



Important Information please read (updated 1st April 2013)

Application dates for the FLY Program

Sample FLY Program plans
About the program
Sponsorship

1. Program Objective

To support and provide an opportunity for newly enrolled undergraduate students to experience self-selected activities outside university life, in doing so challenging their existing values and beliefs to discover the purpose and significance of studying at university.

2. Eligibility and Numbers

1) New students entering the Junior Division of the College of Arts and Sciences (only April entrants for the academic year)
2) A few

3. Basic Requirements

1) Plans for the year must be in accordance with the objectives of the program mentioned above, must be feasible, and must not contain any matters considered educationally inappropriate.
1) Students must submit a request for a special leave of absence.
2) Students must acknowledge that participation in the FLY program will delay their graduation.
3) Students must take an insurance policy that will cover disasters, accidents, liability etc. as needed for their plans.
4) Students must submit a report as prescribed upon completion of the program.

4. Program Duration

1. The program duration is to be one year, and return to university during that period is not permitted. (The FLY Program year does not count as part of the regular leave of absence system.)
2. The program duration cannot be extended. However, students may be able to continue their activities by taking a leave of absence under the regular system.

5. Evaluation

1. Participants are chosen following a selection process. Applicants will be notified of the result before the course registration period.
2. The selection process and final evaluation of the activities will be based on the following criteria:

Evaluation criteria
Evaluation of both the student's plans and final report will be based on the following criteria:

(1) Long-term and continuous: whether activities are long-term, conducted continuously over a period of several months or more, and otherwise difficult to conduct alongside academic study.
(2) Social and international: whether activities are different from everyday student life, enable students to challenge their existing values and beliefs, and have enough impact for students to reexamine themselves.
(3) Cooperative and compliant: whether activities enhance public welfare and contribute to society, and enable students to strive for the goal to become 'elite citizens with a global vision'

6. Communication, Advice and Safety Management during the Program

1) Accepted students will be assigned a faculty member with whom they can contact and seek advice regularly.
2) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Overseas Safety Website and the Overseas Safety Guidebook will be used as a guide for students taking part in activities overseas.
3) Contacts for during an emergency will be given separately.

7. Financial Assistance

The University will provide partial financial assistance to students accepted on to the program undertaking productive and constructive activities.

8. Application Process

1) The application process to the FLY Program will take place in two phases: pre-application before entrance to the university (during enrollment), and main application after entrance (after the program information session).
2) Program application guidelines will be distributed together with the main university enrollment forms to all students taking the university entrance exams. Students who pass the entrance exams and wish to apply for the program must return the pre-application form with the other enrollment forms.
3) Students who wish to apply to the program after attending the information session (scheduled at the start of April, immediately after entrance to the university) must submit an application form with a detailed plan of their proposed activities to the Student Support Section at the College of Arts and Sciences. 4) Successful students must submit a request for a special leave of absence promptly to the Head of the College of Arts and Sciences.
5) The duration of the special leave of absence will be from April 1st of the academic year to March 31st of the same year.

Notes:
(1) Students applying to program who have also been accepted on to the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship Loan Program must wait for the result of the FLY Program before submitting their proof of university enrollment to JASSO.
(2) Students accepted onto the FLY program will have their JASSO scholarship cancelled.
(3) Between enrollment and the notification of selection results, students must register for randomly-assigned courses such as English as normal.
(4) Due to issues with residence status, it is possible that international students may not be accepted to this program.

9. Name of the Program

English Name: Freshers' Leave Year Program(FLY Program)

10. Contact Information

Student Support Section
E-mail: fly-program [at] ml.adm.u-tokyo.ac.jp
* Please replace [at] with an "@"

11. Important Information

Internal university regulations regarding the FLY Program are currently under development.
For important information regarding the FLY Program, please check the Important Information page.

Sample FLY Program plans

Sample 1: Single activity

March: pre-application

April: program information session, main application submission, review and selection, submission of contract and request for a special leave of absence.

May: finalisation of plan, social event with other participants

June-January: internship in Japan

February-March: preparation of report

Sample 2: Combining a single activity with related activities

March: pre-application

April: program information session, main application submission, review and selection, submission of contract and request for a special leave of absence.

May: finalisation of plan, social event with other participants

June-August: preparation for activity (part time job, language study)

September-February: overseas travel/volunteering work

March: return to Japan, preparation of report

April: return to university, submission of report

Sample 3: Combining multiple activities (and related activities)

March: Pre-application

April: program information session, main application submission, review and selection, submission of contract and request for a special leave of absence.

May: finalisation of plan, social event with other participants

June-August: volunteering with an NPO (in Japan)

September: preparation for activity (language study)

October-January: internship overseas

February: return to Japan, preparation of report

April: return to university, submission of report

Sample 4: Combining multiple activities (and related activities)

March: pre-application

April: program information session, main application submission, review and selection, submission of contract and request for a special leave of absence.

May: finalisation of plan, social event with other participants

June-August: participation in a university summer program

September-January: participation in a university extension program

February: return to Japan, preparation of report

April: return to university, submission of report

 

About the Program

FLY Program press release (English version) PDFアイコン

 

Sponsorship

List of supporting organizations

General Information