Contract-type Internships

To apply for a contact-type internship, you need to decide what companies/organizations you are interested in. Students can have a maximum of two applications at any time, so please choose carefully. If one of your applications does not proceed to the next step, you may apply for another internship if there are any openings. Please note that if you are accepted to both internships, you need to attend both. Students cannot turn down (withdraw) internships once the final results have been announced. So, if you are applying to multiple internships, be sure to check the internship periods to make sure they do not overlap.

Just like any other step of career planning, pursuing internships needs careful thought.

Once you can answer these questions, it will be easier to search for an internship that fits your situation. Students can go to the Host Institution List to see what companies/organizations are recruiting for contract-type internships.

Once you have carefully read the recruitment details of the internship and find a company/organization you are interested in, you can move on to preparing your application.

Your application is your first impression to companies/organizations, so it is important to spend time making a quality application to leave a good impression. For contract-type internships, the application needs to be submitted in the same language as the internship you are applying for (either Japanese- or English-basis).

Students are eligible to apply for contract-type internships if they meet the following requirements:

• 1. Semester enrollment
  Undergraduate students: 2 – 7 semester students
  Graduate students: 1 – 3 semester students
• 2. Enrollment status
  
  • A) As a rule, only students with regular student status are eligible to apply.
    *Students who are taking leave of absence are not eligible to apply.
    *Students who are on exchange should consult with the Student Office in advance.
  • B) Exchange students who are currently enrolled in APU are eligible to apply. However, the students are required to meet all requirements such as attending screening interviews and classes which will be held at APU.
  • C) A student whose student status is currently suspended is eligible to apply if the period of their suspension will end before the program’s application deadline date.
• 3. GPA
  Cumulative GPA should be 2.00 or above.
• 4. Meet the language requirements for the desired internship company.
  • A) English-basis students: For internships conducted mainly in Japanese, JLPT N2 (or BJT Level J3) is generally the minimum required proficiency. As part of the application, you will be asked to submit Japanese-language certification.
    *English-basis students do not need to submit proof of English language proficiency.
  • B) Japanese-basis students: For internships conducted mainly in English (or in another language), we ask that students submit appropriate certification showing their proficiency. For English, the general requirement is IELTS 5.5 or TOEIC 584 or above.
• 5. Other requirements set by each host institution
  There may be other requirements in addition to the above sent by the host institution. Students should check the details of their desired internship before submitting their application.

The application process for contract-type internships is divided into two rounds of screening. Round 1 is the primary round of recruitment for companies offering internships. In round 2, the recruitment will be for slots remaining from round 1. Occasionally, some new companies may be added to round 2. In this case, an announcement will be made on Campus Terminal.

Once accepted, students will need to complete various procedures in preparation for their internship.

• 1. Submission of a Pledge
  Students are required to sign and submit 2 pledges (1 for APU and 1 for the internship company).
• 2. Attend the mandatory Business Manner Seminar
  The Business Manner Seminar for students participating in the AY 2025 Winter Contract-type Internships is scheduled to be held in mid-January 2026. The details will be announced to successful applicants.
• 3. Enroll in a university-designated insurance
  Students will be required to enroll in internship insurance (in-person internships only).
  • A) Domestic (Japan) Internship: Internship / teaching qualification activity liability insurance AKA Intern Insurance
  • B) Overseas Internship:
    • ① Internship / teaching qualification activity liability insurance AKA Intern Insurance
    • ② Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. Overseas Travel Insurance
    • ③ Risk and health management support and health issues support, and helpline
    *Students completing overseas internships in their home country may waive 2. and 3. Instead, we ask that you sign a waiver and complete an overseas internship information sheet (provided by the Office).

ALL students who participate in contract-type internships are required to evaluate their internship experience and submit the post-internship documents.