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.

Exchange students can choose from three options below. In addition, participating in a one-on-one conversation program (Kaedemate Program) with KUIS students is mandatory to improve Japanese proficiency. Other extracurricular activities such as clubs or interactive events are also highly recommended.

1. Japanese Language and Culture Program (Bekka)

This option is for students who wish to intensively learn the Japanese language and culture, targeting students with all Japanese levels.

2. Undergraduate courses (English-conducted) + Japanese Language and Culture Program (Bekka)

This option is for students who wish to take English-taught undergraduate courses, studying with regular (mainly Japanese) students. In addition, students take courses for improving their Japanese language proficiency. Japanese courses range from basic Japanese necessary for life in Japan to Japanese for smooth communication.

3. Undergraduate courses (Japanese-conducted) + Japanese Language and Culture Program (Bekka)

This option is for students with an advanced level of Japanese. Students take courses from various study fields such as linguistics, translation & interpretation, area studies, communication, business, and international relations, studying with regular (mainly Japanese) students. In addition, courses for improving Japanese proficiency further are also compulsory.

Japanese Level

Students sit a placement test of Japanese during the orientation period, and are placed into Level 1-7.

• Application is open only to international students from the partner institutions.

• Applicants must be nominated by their home institution.

• 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 exchange program and have passed an examination which proves that applicants have attained the same or higher academic level as 12 years of formal schooling. 

• Applicants from partner institutions must not graduate from their home institution while they are enrolled in the exchange program.

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

• The maximum duration of study is 1 year (2 semesters).

• Changing the duration of your stay (1 semester to 2, or 2 semesters to 1) cannot be accepted without reasons which KUIS acknowledges as legitimate. Please be careful when you apply.

Students must notify KUIS prior to the nomination if they: 

• have a history of the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) being rejected,

  • It is possible that the COE is not issued. More documents are required.

• have a Japanese nationality (including double nationality) and/or whose mother tongue is Japanese, or

  • Procedures are different. KUIS does not accept students whose mother tongue is Japanese.

• have studied abroad at a Japanese university (including universities other than KUIS).

  • Exchange students' academic status is "non-degree student".  Studying abroad as a non-degree student is permitted for a maximum of one year, including studying at other universities in Japan.

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

Home university must assure that the student has an excellent academic performance and is of a good character.

• The first and foremost aim of our program is to foster students’ language acquisition and ability to communicate with many types of Japanese speakers in a variety of interactive situations. Japanese speakers are invited to join the classes so that students can use the language skills they have acquired to communicate with them. 

• Students are expected to work autonomously and manage their own study schedules. The coursework of the program includes class lessons, homework, project work, and daily quizzes whereby students’ Japanese language proficiency is expected to improve significantly through the program.

Language Requirement

None but applicants must have a basic knowledge of the Japanese language, including hiragana, katakana, basic words, kanji, and expressions.  Applicants are recommended to have Japanese language proficiency of JLPT N5 or above.

*Sample questions of the JLPT can be viewed at the following website.  Please use it as a reference for your Japanese language proficiency. https://www.jlpt.jp/samples/forlearners.html

Curriculum, Course Descriptions

• The outline, course descriptions, and other details of the Bekka Program can be found on the Ryugakusei Bekka webpage.

• Please note that documents posted on the webpage may not be up-to-date. The curriculum and courses are subject to change.

• This option is for students who wish to take English-taught undergraduate courses, studying with regular (mainly Japanese) students.

• In addition, students take courses for improving their Japanese language proficiency. Japanese courses range from basic Japanese necessary for life in Japan to Japanese for smooth communication.

Language Requirement

[English]

• • TOEIC L&R 600

  • TOEFL iBT 54

  • TOEFL PBT 480

  • IELTS 4.5

In principle, no certificate is required. However, the professors/instructors may confirm your English proficiency.

[Japanese]

None but applicants must have a basic knowledge of the Japanese language, including hiragana, katakana, basic words, kanji, and expressions.

Number of classes

Undergraduate courses: more than 1 class per week

Japanese Language and Culture courses: more than 6 classes per week

*Max: 20 credits/semester (One course is 1 or 2 credits)

List of courses

Undergraduate Courses (English-taught)

The course list below is from the past semester. Courses available vary depending on the year/semester.

JSP

• Japanese Literature

• Japanese Popular Culture I

• Japanese Popular Culture II

• Tourism and Local Cultures of Japan

• Japanese Language and Culture

• Women’s Studies in Japan

• The History of Modern Japan

• The History of Premodern Japan

• International Relations: Japan in a Global Context

• Japanese Politics

• Media and Japanese Society

ELLC

• Effective Language Learning Course 1

• Effective Language Learning Course 2

Syllabi Search (available in Japanese only)

https://camjweb.kuis.ac.jp/portal/slbsskgr.do

How to search syllabi

Japanese Language and Culture courses

• Students take compulsory and elective courses of Ryugakusei Bekka. The outline, course descriptions and other details of the Bekka Program can be found on the Ryugakusei Bekka webpage.

• The curriculum consists of compulsory courses and elective courses.

• This option is for students with an advanced level of Japanese. Students take courses from various study fields such as linguistics, translation & interpretation, area studies, communication, business, and international relations, studying with regular (mainly Japanese) students.

• In addition, courses for improving Japanese proficiency further are also compulsory.

Language Requirement

[Japanese]

• Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N1 and placed in Level 6 (certificate needed)

• Placed in Level 7

Number of classes

• Japanese Level 6 + JLPT N1

Undergraduate courses: more than 1 classes per week

Japanese Language and Culture courses:  more than 6 classes per week

*Max: 20 credits/semester (One course is 1, 2 or 4credits)

• Japanese Level 7

Undergraduate courses: more than 4 classes per week

Japanese Language and Culture courses:  more than 3 classes per week

*Max: 20 credits/semester (One course is 1, 2 or 4credits)

• Japanese Level 8 (2-semester students who are in Level 7 in the first semester)

Undergraduate courses: more than 7 classes per week

*Max: 20 credits/semester (One course is 1, 2 or 4credits)

Undergraduate Courses (Japanese-conducted)

List of the Faculty of Foreign Languages courses available for exchange students (2022)

*This list is from AY2022 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 (available in Japanese only)

https://camjweb.kuis.ac.jp/portal/slbsskgr.do

How to search syllabi

Japanese Language and Culture courses

• Students take compulsory and elective courses of Ryugakusei Bekka. The outline, course descriptions and other details of the Bekka Program can be found on the Ryugakusei Bekka webpage.

• The curriculum consists of compulsory courses and elective courses.

*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

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)

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 will be strictly treated in accordance with KUIS regulations.