Kanda University of International Studies (KUIS) accepts exchange students from its international partner universities for one semester or two. KUIS students do love international exchange. If you come to KUIS as an exchange student, you can be friends with a lot of KUIS students and students from other countries. Such friends can be your important partners for your entire life.

The program was renewed from the Fall 2025 semester.

Exchange Program Outline　(From Fall 2025)

Exchange students choose from Program1: Japanese Language and Culture Program (commonly referred to as Bekka Program) or Program2:  Undergradaute Courses in English

Program 1: Japanese Language and Culture Program (Bekka Program)

This program is designed for students who wish to thoroughly study the Japanese language and culture. It is open to students of all Japanese proficiency levels. Those who meet the language requirements may also take regular university courses offered by the Faculty of Foreign Languages or the Faculty of Global Liberal Arts alongside Japanese students.

Program 2: Undergraduate Courses in English

This program focuses on courses taught in English offered by the Faculty of Foreign Languages or the Faculty of Global Liberal Arts. It is particularly well-suited for students who wish to deepen their understanding of Japan, as it offers a wide range of courses in Japan studies.

Program Selection

Applicants must choose a program at the time of application.

*Changing the period (1 semester to 2, or 2 semesters to 1) cannot be accepted without legitimate reasons, regardless of whether your home institution approves your request or not.

[Students staying for one semester]

– Program 1 or Program 2

[Students staying for two semesters]

– Program 1 (1st semester) → Program 1 (2nd semester)

– Program 1 (1st semester) → Program 2 (2nd semester)

*It is not possible to take Program 2 in the first semester and then switch to Program 1 in the second semester.

*Program 2 cannot be taken for two consecutive semesters.

*The program for the second semester must also be decided at the time of application. If you applied for Program 1 (first semester) -> Program 2 (second semester), you cannot change it later to Program 1 (first semester) -> Program 1 (second semester). 

Eligibility

- Applicants must be students from partner institutions of KUIS.

- Applicants must be nominated by their home institutions.

- Applicants must have completed at least 12 years of formal schooling. If not, applicants must be 18 years old or older at the start of the program and have passed an examination which proves that applicants have attained the same or higher academic level as 12 years of formal schooling at the time of application..

- Applicants must maintain their enrollment status at their home institutions throughout the duration of the exchange program.

- Applicants must have completed at least one year of study at their home institutions by the time of studying at KUIS.

*Other details can be found in the “Application Guide”.

N.B.

The following cases must be reported before nomination:

– If there is a history of denial of a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application

 There is a possibility that the COE may not be issued. Additionally, the required documents for the application process may differ.

– If holding Japanese nationality (including dual nationality) or if Japanese is the native language

 Application procedures will differ. Applicants whose native language is Japanese are not eligible for this program.

– If there is prior study experience at a Japanese university (including institutions other than Kanda University of International Studies)

 Exchange students will be enrolled as “non-degree students (credit-earning).”

 The maximum period permitted for study in Japan as a non-degree student, including time at other institutions, is one year.

GPA Requirement

None unless stated in the agreement. Home university’s nomination is required.

The home university must ensure that the student has an excellent academic performance, is of good character and complies with the law and regulations in Japan and at KUIS, as well as conducts themselves properly.

Language Requirement

C.f. "Program Details"

Japanese Language Proficiency Assessment

During the orientation period, a Japanese language placement test will be conducted to assess language proficiency. However, students enrolled in Program 2 who do not take any Japanese language courses are not required to take the test.

Program Details

Program 1 Details

[Participants]

Exchange or fee-paying students (only from partner universities)

[Duration]

One semester or two semesters

[Language Requirement]

Japanese Language and Culture Program Courses

None. However, students are expected to have mastered hiragana, katakana, basic vocabulary, kanji, and expressions. Japanese proficiency equivalent to JLPT N5 or higher is desirable.

Undergraduate Courses Taught in Japanese

• JLPT N1 and Japanese Level 6 (submission of certification required)

• Japanese Level 7

Undergraduate Courses Taught in English (no certification required)

• TOEIC L&R 600

• TOEFL iBT 54

• TOEFL PBT 480

• IELTS 4.5

Course Load

[Course Load (Levels 1 to 6)]

Japanese Language and Culture Courses (required): 6 classes per week

Japanese Language and Culture Courses (elective) or Undergraduate Courses: at least 1 class per week

[Course Load (Level 7)]

Japanese Language and Culture Courses (required): 3 classes per week

Japanese Language and Culture Courses (elective) or Undergraduate Courses: at least 4 classes per week

[Course Load (Level 8)]

Japanese Language and Culture Courses (elective) or Undergraduate Courses: at least 7 classes per week

Maximum Credit Load

20 credits

Curriculum and Course Overview for the Japanese Language and Culture Program (Bekka Program)

Students will take the required and elective courses of the Japanese Language and Culture Program. For details on the program overview and course descriptions, please refer to the Japanese Language and Culture Program webpage.

Please note that the actual curriculum and courses offered are subject to change.

List of Courses of English-taught Undergraduate Courses

List of courses

*Some courses may have additional enrollment requirements.

*In the case of high demand, enrollment limits may be imposed.

Syllabi Search

https://unipa.kandagaigo.ac.jp/uprx/up/pk/pky001/Pky00101.xhtml?guestlogin=Kmh006

How to search syllabi

List of Courses of Japanese-taught Undergradauate Courses

List of courses available for exchange students (2025)

*This list is from AY2024 and is changeable every year. This is just for your reference (available in Japanese).

*Each course may have prerequisites.

*The number of students may be limited when it exceeds the capacity.

*Exchange students are not allowed to take some courses such as compulsory courses for regular students.

Syllabi Search

https://unipa.kandagaigo.ac.jp/uprx/up/pk/pky001/Pky00101.xhtml?guestlogin=Kmh006

How to search syllabi

Example of Course Registration

Program 1 – Example Module 1

Japanese Language and Culture Program only (Japanese Level 3)

• Japanese Language and Culture Courses (required): 6 classes/week

• Japanese Language and Culture Courses (elective): 1 class/week

Program 1 – Example Module 2

Japanese Language and Culture Program (Japanese Level 3) + Undergraduate Courses Taught in English

• Japanese Language and Culture Courses (required): 6 classes/week

• Undergraduate Courses Taught in English: 1 class/week

Program 1 – Example Module 3

Japanese Language and Culture Program (Japanese Level 6 + JLPT N1) + Undergraduate Courses Taught in Japanese

• Japanese Language and Culture Courses (required): 6 classes/week

• Undergraduate Courses Taught in Japanese: 1 class/week

Program 1 – Example Module 4

Japanese Language and Culture Program (Japanese Level 7) + Undergraduate Courses Taught in Japanese

• Japanese Language and Culture Courses (required): 3 classes/week

• Undergraduate Courses Taught in Japanese: 4 classes/week

Program 1 – Example Module 5

Japanese Language and Culture Program (Japanese Level 7) + Undergraduate Courses Taught in Japanese + Undergraduate Courses Taught in English

• Japanese Language and Culture Courses (required): 3 classes/week

• Japanese Language and Culture Courses (elective): 1 class/week

• Undergraduate Courses Taught in Japanese: 2 classes/week

• Undergraduate Courses Taught in English: 1 class/week

[Participants]

Exchange or fee-paying students (only from partner universities)

[Duration]

One semester

*Program 1 participants can choose Program 2 in their second semester.

[Language Requireent] (No certification required)

TOEIC L&R 600

TOEFL iBT 54

TOEFL PBT 480

IELTS 4.5

Course Load

For Novice Japanese Learners

Undergraduate courses taught in English: 5 or more classes per week

Japanese for Daily Living: 2 classes per week

For Students with Prior Japanese Study

Undergraduate courses taught in English: 5 to 7 or more classes per week

Elective Japanese courses in the Japanese Language Program: 0 to 2 classes per week

*Minimum total number of classes: 7 classes per week

Maximum Credit Load

20 credits

List of Courses of English-taught Undergraduate Courses

List of courses

*Some courses may have additional enrollment requirements.

*In the case of high demand, enrollment limits may be imposed.

Syllabi Search

https://unipa.kandagaigo.ac.jp/uprx/up/pk/pky001/Pky00101.xhtml?guestlogin=Kmh006

How to search syllabi

Japanese Courses

"Japanese for Daily Living" is a Japanese course designed for novice learners and is mandatory.

Students with prior Japanese study experience may choose to take up to two elective Japanese courses from the options below, though enrollment in these courses is not required. 

• Self-directed Learning 1・2・3

• Self-directed Learning 4・5・6

• Reading and Listening in Japanese 1・2

• Oral Expressions in Japanese 2・3

• Oral Expressions in Japanese 4・5

• Oral Expressions in Japanese 6・7

• Introduction to Japanese Business Culture 4・5

• Introduction to Japanese Business Culture 6・7

• Introduction to Japanese Society 1・2・3・4

• Introduction to Japanese Society 5・6・7

*The number(s) at the end of each course title indicates the Japanese level.

System and Rules

Class Hours (90 minutes)

*Japan Standard Time (JST)

1st Period: 9:00-10:30

2nd Period: 10:40-12:10

3rd period: 13:10-14:40

4th Period: 14:50-16:20

5th Period: 16:30-18:00

Grading

A+: 100-90 (Grade point: 4)

A: 89-80 (Grade point: 3)

B: 79-70 (Grade point: 2)

C: 69-60 (Grade point: 1)

Fail: 59-0 (Grade point: 0)

Credit

1 credit corresponds to 1,350 minutes of practical courses or 675 minutes of theoretical courses. 

*It is at the discretion of the home institution to determine the credit equivalency when transferring credits back to the student’s home transcript.

Grading Policy and Other Rules

For a detailed explanation of the grading policy for each class, please read each course syllabus.

As a general rule, students are required to attend more than two-thirds of the classes. Being late or leaving early from class three times will be counted as one absence. A different attendance policy may apply depending on the course.  Absences with legitimate reasons that are known in advance should be reported to the instructor.

Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating and plagiarism will be strictly treated in accordance with KUIS regulations.