Eligibility
Qualified sophomores and juniors who have taken or are taking Japanese 101-102
(offered at St. Lawrence) or its equivalent are eligible to apply for this program.
The Nanzan program is usually reserved for students who have taken or are taking
Japanese 103-104. Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 to apply.
Participation in a study abroad program is a privilege, and admission to the Japan program is competitive. Applications are judged according to the following criteria: the academic record of the candidate, the quality of the essays in the application, demonstrated preparation for the specific program and for intercultural study in general, the strength of faculty recommendations, as well as maturity, responsibility, and good communication skills.
Selection also is dependent on the exchange balance. St. Lawrence cannot send more students than it receives from the Japanese universities.
Application
Completed applications for the ICU program (academic year only) and for the Nanzan program (fall, spring or academic year) must be submitted to the SLU Center for International and Intercultural Studies (CIIS) by February 20. Those applications accepted by the selection committee will be forwarded to the appropriate university in Japan. Final acceptance to the program is subject to approval by officials at the Japanese university.
Students who are not accepted for off-campus study have 1 week from notification of the decision to file an appeal through the CIIS. A student must provide additional information that was not included in the original decision. Students who wish to appeal a negative decision must first meet with the Assistant Director of CIIS.