Japan

Sophomores, juniors and seniors have the opportunity to enroll as exchange students in the Asian Studies program at Kansai Gaidai University (KGU), located between Osaka, Japan's second largest city, and Kyoto, the country's ancient capital. The Asian Studies program at KGU was established in 1972, and hosts more than 700 international students annually. Coursework covers a broad spectrum of subjects, and students will find themselves alongside Japanese and international students from more than 40 countries in their Asian Studies courses. All students will take Japanese language while on the program, but need not have completed Japanese language coursework prior to participation. KGU currently limits the number of SLU exchange students to five per semester.

• Based in Hirakata, between Osaka and Kyoto
• Fall or Spring semester; or academic year
• Enrollment caps at five per semester: backup options strongly recommended
• Pre-requisites: strict minimum requirement of 3.0 GPA; one Asian Studies course OR a course with significant Asian content
• Must take Japanese language course
• St. Lawrence University students live in the dorm or (if possible) with a host family
• Explore estimated additional costs for this program and others

Apply to Study in Japan

Location     Academics     Co-Curricular     Housing     Calendar     Orientation      Program Contacts

Location

Hirakata is located midway between Osaka and Kyoto, both cities being about an hour away by train. 

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Academics

Students select elective courses from within the Asian Studies program.  Coursework is offered in history, government, gender and sexuality studies, communications, economics, arts, psychology, literature, religious studies, and more.  

For course offerings and syllabi, please visit the Kansai Gaidai website.

For the pre-approved courses, please check the APR2 course catalog for Japan under Locations.

Course Credit Hours Conversion: standard 3-credit hour KGU course = 0.83-unit SLU course (Japanese 1, which almost all SLU students take, is 5 KGU credit or 1.38 SLU unit). 

In order to maintain full-time student status, SLU students must take the Japan courses that are equivalent to at least 3.5 units. However, in order to be on track for graduation, we usually require students to take at least 4 SLU units equivalent courses each semester while at off-campus programs. 

In the KGU context, we strongly recommend 17 credit/semester hours (Japanese 1 and four 3-credit courses), equivalent to 4.72 SLU units. 14 credit/semester hours (Japanese 1 and three 3-credit courses) is equivalent to 3.88 SLU units, which fulfill the full-time student status but might affect your graduation timeline. If students are receiving any kind of financial aid or scholarship, students must contact the financial aid office to confirm the requirements for course credits.  

Grade conversion: 

Scholarship Opportunity:

US citizens are eligible to apply for the the Bridging Scholarship program that supports undergraduate students studying abroad in Japan for a semester or an academic year. The deadline for any semester in the 2027-28 academic year is March 15, 2027. For more information on the Scholarship and the application process, check out the Program's website.

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Co-curricular

Students will have the opportunity to join organizations on campus, including the “Speaking Partner Program” and the “Experience Japan Program,” as well as Japanese cultural clubs and teams such as judo, flower arrangement, kendo, karate, tea ceremony, tennis, and soccer.   

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Housing

While homestay was the more common housing arrangement before the pandemic, most students now stay at the Global Commons YUI residence hall, with furnished single rooms and shared living and recreational spaces. About half of the residents at YUI are domestic students, who are an invaluable source of intercultural learning.

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Calendar

See the Kansai Gaidai website for the academic calendar and program dates. The Fall semester typically begins in late August and ends in mid-December. The Spring semester typically begins in mid-January and ends in late May. 

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Orientation

Pre-departure: The CIIS office organizes in depth orientation sessions on-campus prior to the students' participation in the program. This includes a program specific session(s) in which the students will learn more about the program, local culture, academic expectations, and any other important information. There is also an orientation session led by the CIIS office on culture shock, what to expect, as well as safety and security while abroad.

For arrival/pick up information, please visit Kansai Gaidai website.

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Program Contacts

If you are interested in learning more about the Japan program please contact one of the following people.

CIIS Office: Dr. Yanqiu Zheng, Associate Director of Asia and Pacific Programs - Questions about eligibility, program logistics, and other off-campus opportunities.

Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Mark MacWilliams, Questions about program academics.

Apply to study in Japan

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