Contract-type Internships
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Before Applying
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.
Here are some questions to ask yourself before searching for an internship:
- What is my purpose for doing an internship? Do I have a specific goal in mind?
- What field(s) would I be interested in?
- Where do I see myself working after graduation (Japan, home country, 3rd country)?
- How much time do I have to commit to an internship?
- Am I looking for a paid internship or open to unpaid internship?
- Am I interested in receiving credits from the internship? Have I checked to make sure I’m eligible for the internship course I am interested in?
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.
Important things to look out for when researching companies on the Host Institution List:
| Location | For distant locations, how will I handle fees for transport, accommodation, visa, etc.? |
|---|---|
| Industry/Internship Content | Do these match my goals for the internship and/or my career? |
| Language | Do I meet the requirements for the internship? |
| Salary/Benefit | What does the company provide (or not provide)? |
| Time Commitment | Based on the dates and work hours, will I be able to fit the internship into my schedule? |
| Credits | Is this internship actually eligible for the course I am interested in? |
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.
Crafting a Quality 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).
Japanese Resume
There are various formats available, but for APU students, the university has its own format, which can be accessed through the APU Employment Support Web System (Caritas UC).
As a rule, students are asked to submit the APU Rirekisho when applying for Contract-type Internships.
On a Japanese resume, one of the first sections staff will look at is your reason for applying to the company/organization, your 志望動機（しぼうどうき）. This section explains information such as:
- Why are you interested in that industry and/or company/organization.
- What do you hope to learn during your internship, and what strengths would you like to demonstrate?
- How do you plan to apply the experience from your internship to your studies and future career?
A common mistake is to write something very general that can be used for multiple companies/organizations. But unfortunately, that only weakens your application because the vagueness displays your lack of research on the company.
English Resume/CV
A document showing your experiences to potential employers, ideally kept to a maximum of 1 page (for undergraduate students with no full-time work experience; for students with 5+ years of work experience, this can extend to 2 pages).
Generally speaking, there is no set format for an English resume/CV, but common sections include:
- Heading: Name, general location (e.g. Oita, Japan), contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)
- Professional Summary or Objective: A brief paragraph (3-4 sentences) outlining the most relevant skills/experiences that you have with regard to the company/job position and how you would like to use those skills to contribute to the company if hired
- Education: usually limit to bachelor's degree and/or higher
- Experience: out of the experiences you have (full-time or part-time work, internships, extracurricular activities, etc.), the most relevant to the company/job position you are applying for. Include company/organization you belonged to, name of position, dates of experience, and bullet points outlining your responsibilities and achievements
- Skills: soft skills (communication, time management, etc.), hard/technical skills (computer software, research skills, etc.), and language skills that you possess that would be relevant to the company
Internship Handbook
For further information about Cotract-type Internships and Independently-arranged Internships, please refer to the Internship Handbook below.
AY 2025 Internship Handbook
AY2026 Summer Contract-type Internships
The AY2026 Summer Contract-type Internships will be offered as described below.
Students wishing to participate must carefully review the program guidelines and complete the application process accordingly.
| Program Period | August 7 – September 20, 2026 | Application Period | May 14 – June 1, 2026, by 10:00 a.m. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Varies depending on the host institution | related Expenses | Varies depending on the host institution |
| Host Institutions | list of host institutions | Number of Participants | Varies depending on the host institution |
| Eligibility Requirements |
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| Important Notes | Applicants must carefully review the details of each host institution prior to applying. | ||
| Guidance Sessions | J: Thursday, May 14, 2026 — 6th period, @ F102 | E: Friday, May 15, 2026 — 6th period, @ F102 | |
| J: Video viewing | E: Video viewing | ||
| Application Method | Online application | ||
The above information provides an overview of the program.
Applicants must review the application guidelines below for full details before submitting their application.
