KWANSEI GAKUIN UNIVERSITY Exchange Program Fact Sheet Contemporary Japan Program Exchange Program

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1 KWANSEI GAKUIN UNIVERSITY Exchange Program Fact Sheet Contemporary Japan Program Address Website Staff Center for International Education and Cooperation (CIEC) Kwansei Gakuin University Uegahara Ichibancho, Nishinomiya JAPAN Tel: Fax: Ms. Amina Dante Ms. Kei Nakamura Mr. Ian Glidden, Exchange & Partnerships Coordinator Number of Incoming Exchange Fall 2015: 125 students Spring 2015: 175 Partner Institutions 129 in 32 countries and regions (As of Jan.14, 2016) Exchange Program Program Outline Requirements for Application CJP brochure p. 8 Language of Instruction Application Deadlines Available Period of Study Contemporary Japan Program (CJP) There are two tracks available within the CJP: the Japanese Language Track, for students who wish to focus on their Japanese language studies; and the Modern Japan Track, for students who wish mainly to learn about Japan via English-taught courses through a variety of subjects. Students can only choose one track. 1. Must be an undergraduate or graduate student nominated by a KGU partner institution. 2. Requirements will vary depending on student track selection; Japanese Language Track: Students must at least be able to fluently read, write, understand, and pronounce the two Japanese phonetic scripts( hiragana and katakana) before they arrive in Japan. Modern Japan Track: Students whose native language is not English are expected to have a minimum TOEFL ibt score of 71 or the equivalent English language ability. Note: Students in either track can register for all Japan Studies Courses Japanese Language Courses are taught in Japanese. Japan Studies Courses, School of International Studies Courses(undergraduate only), and Institute of Business and Accounting (graduate only) Courses are taught in English. All required hard copies of application documents must arrive at KGU by the following dates: Starting from Fall Semester 2016 April 15, 2016 Starting from Spring Semester 2017 November 30, 2016 Note: The deadline for students applying for the JASSO Scholarship is the same as the exchange application deadline for the relevant semester. The application period opens around two months before the deadline. One Semester or Two Semesters Start: Fall or Spring. Note: KGU offers the Winter Intensive Period to students who enroll at KGU for two semester beginning in the Fall. During this period, students are required to take at least 2 credits from the offered courses. Studying for one year from the Fall Semester to the Spring Semester only. 1 / 5

2 Program Dates CJP brochure p. 1 Application Process CJP brochure p. 31 Courses Offered CJP Tracks CJP brochure p Japanese Language Courses (JLC) CJP brochure p Elective Courses CJP brochure p Online CJP Syllabus Regular University Courses School of International Studies (SIS) Institute of Business and Accounting (IBA) Fall Semester 2016 Designated Arrival Date Second Week of September Orientation and Course Registration September First Day of Classes September 20 Winter Break December 23 January. 5, 2017 Classes Resume January 6 Last Day of Classes/Program Completion January 13 KGU Regular Class Examinations *1 January Winter Intensive Period* First Day of Classes February 8, 2017 Last Day of Classes March 10, 2017 *Winter Intensive Period is offered only to full year students staring the fall semester. Spring Semester 2017 (Academic calendar for the 2017 spring will be finalized in Nov. 2016) Designated Arrival Date Fourth/Fifth Week of March 2017 Orientation and Course Registration End of March-Beginning of April First Day of Classes April 7 Last Day of Classes/Program Completion July 15 KGU Regular Examinations *1 July 17 - Aug 1 Note: Classes may be held on some Japanese national public holidays. *1 Exams for courses not listed under Japanese Language or Japan Studies may take place during the period for KGU Regular Class Examinations. Application information can be found on the following webpage and is updated around two months before each deadline: Exchange students choose from two tracks in their application: 1. Japanese Language Track (5 credits of mandatory Japanese Language Courses each semester) 2. Modern Japan Track (2 credit mandatory Japan Studies Course, "Modern Japan Seminar" each semester) Note: Tracks cannot be changed after a student has submitted their application to KGU. The mandatory Japanese Language Courses are taught before lunch and are mandatory for students in the Japanese Language Track. CJP elective courses are conducted in English and taught in the afternoon. The JSC Modern Japan Seminar course is mandatory for students in the Modern Japan Track. There is also a selection of Japanese language elective courses. Students who possess an extremely high ability of Japanese can enroll in regular university courses conducted in Japanese if they meet the either following requirements: 1. Pass level N1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test before arriving in Japan (students who already have N1 are still required to take the RCA test) 2. Obtain a high score on the placement test, and then pass the RCA (Regular Course Aptitude) test held later during orientation. Undergraduate students can also take classes conducted in English at the School of International Studies. There are no International Studies courses offered at the graduate level. List of past courses: Graduate/Master students majoring in business or economics can take graduate level courses in English at the Institute of Business and Accounting. Interested students should contact CIEC during the orientation. List of past courses: 2 / 5

3 Required Credits Fall / Spring Semester credits per semester Winter Intensive Period 2 credits *The Winter Intensive Period is only offered to exchange students enrolled at KGU from the Fall semester for two semesters. Note: Students can take more credits if required by their home university, but credits is considered a full credit load at KGU. Accommodation KGU guarantees accommodation to incoming exchange students who request it, but not all students will be able to be placed in the accommodation of their choice. Accommodation Options 1. Homestay CJP brochure p Dormitory 3. Stay with relatives, rent own apartment, etc. (own arrangement) Note: Students who want to find their own apartment should arrive in Japan 1-2 weeks before the designated arrival date to make the necessary arrangements. Please understand that if a student wishes to find their own accommodation, KGU has no responsibility to help them with any of the procedures involved with renting an apartment in Japan - this option is hence not recommended for those without at least a high level of Japanese reading comprehension and general conversational skills. Costs Accommodation Office Supplies Fee Insurance Billing and Payment Students who request KGU accommodation will be placed in either a homestay or dormitory. Please note that in Japan, it is not uncommon for students to commute one hour or more to school. Homestay 2,200 JPY/day Includes 2 meals/day on weekdays, 3 meals/day on weekends/ holidays, and utilities Dormitory approx. 45,000 JPY/month Excludes meals and utilities This fee covers general costs for postage, brochure printouts, copies, etc. Fall: 8,000 yen Winter: 2,000 yen Spring; 7,000 yen Health Insurance Japanese law requires all residents staying in Japan for more than three months to enroll in Japanese National Health Insurance soon after arrival in Japan. This costs approximately 2,000 yen per month, depending annual income and area of residence. Please note that this insurance is not travel insurance, and will not cover a student s medical expenses during travel overseas; only in Japan. Mandatory KGU Insurance ALL students must enroll in Fire, Personal Liability, and Solatium/Rescuer's Expenses Insurance through KGU. These will be included in your Program Fees and billed to you before arrival. One Semester: approx. 8,000 yen Two Semesters: approx. 14,000 yen Students are required to pay their Program Fees (accommodation fees, KGU insurance, etc.) for the first semester before they arrive in Japan. This payment must be made by credit card or international wire transfer. Students will receive the payment and deadline information via . Program Fees for the following semester(s) will be billed before each semester starts and students can pay by credit card, international wire transfer or in cash. Scholarship Opportunities JASSO Scholarship Exchange students can apply for the JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) scholarship along with their application to KGU. Monthly stipend: 80,000 yen per month transferred to a Japanese bank account that is created for the students during orientation. 3 / 5

4 Other Scholarships Applicants will be informed if they will receive the scholarship roughly a week before arriving in Japan. However, there are circumstances in which students may not be informed until after their arrival in Japan. Notice: Please be informed that the number of recipients has decreased over the last several years, and that applicants should not expect to receive the JASSO scholarship. All students must plan for financing their exchange without the help of this scholarship. US-Japan Bridging Foundation (US students only): Visa Information Obtaining Visa Procedure CJP brochure p Fill out the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) Application online as part of the KGU application process. 2. Receive acceptance package with admission certificate, CoE, and other documents from KGU through home university. 3. Apply for a student visa at your local Japanese consulate/embassy, using the CoE and admission certificate. All students should contact the consulate/embassy directly to find out what other documents might be necessary. Note: * The CoE is NOT a visa. Students must apply for a visa at a local Japanese consulate/ embassy (outside of Japan). * Students should apply for their visa as soon as they receive the CoE. * Students must apply for the visa in their home country, and it must be ready before they leave for Japan. * It is not possible to arrive in Japan on a tourist visa and then change to a student visa. Part-time Work Exchange students are permitted to do part-time work for a maximum of 28 hours per week in Japan if: 1. They have permission from KGU (permission will not be given for the first 2 months of the stay, and only after that if the student shows satisfactory academic performance). 2. They have the necessary permit. Students who are considering doing part-time work can and should get this permit at a nearby Immigration Bureau in Japan. Note: Several restrictions apply, and breaking rules or working without a permit might lead to deportation. More information will be given during orientation. Other Information Nihongo Partner Global Student (GS) Network Transcripts Acting as language partners the exchange student s first semester, KGU local student volunteers assist the exchange students in their practice of Japanese. Only students who are enrolled in Japanese Language Track and apply in advance are able to be assigned Nihongo Partners. The GS Network is the official student group endorsed by CIEC and provides various supports to exchange students during orientation. They also plan and hold cultural exchange activities for both exchange students and KGU students over the course of the year. Two grade transcripts will be sent to the home institution after the last semester of the student's exchange ends. The home institution will give one copy to the student and keep one for their records. The transcripts will be sent out in the following periods: Spring Semester Late August Fall Semester Late February *Winter Intensive Period transcripts will be sent along with the spring transcripts. For past exchange students who wish to request an academic transcript, or other various documents for your studies at KGU, it can be done here: 4 / 5

5 Bringing Prescription Drugs to Japan There is a form called a "Yakkan Shomeisho" that you need to submit and send to Japan in order to bring prescription drugs and other medical equipment such as prescription contact lenses into Japan. It will then be sent back to you, but can take some time, so please make sure that you look into this several months before you leave for Japan. 5 / 5