MAJ09438 Japan

Japan is Australia's single most important trade partner and a major economic power in the Asia-Pacific region. The study of Japan's economy, culture, history and international relations offers an advantage to students pursuing careers in the international business arena. Students interested in modern Japanese culture may also find much to attract and stimulate them creatively.

Through arrangements made by UTS: International Studies, students spend two consecutive semesters studying at one of the following universities:

• Gifu University, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture
• Hokkaido University of Education, Hokkaido Prefecture
• Ibaraki University, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Kagoshima University, Kagoshima City, Kogoshima Prefecture
• Kanazawa University, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
• Kumamoto University, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture
• Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
• Kyushu University, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
• Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iitsuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
• Niigata University, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
• JF Oberlin University, Machida City, Tokyo
• Saga University, Saga City, Saga Prefecture
• Saitama University, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture
• University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture
• Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
• Yokohama National University, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
• Shiga University, Otsu City, Shiga University
• University of Yamanashi, Kofu City, Yamanash Prefecture
• Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture

The location and content of each student's period of In-country Study are determined by the student's level of language competence in Japanese. Students who have near native competency in Japanese prior to undertaking their period of In-country Study are able to attend classes alongside local students in a broad range of subjects. All other students study mostly language and culture subjects, at least in their first semester. Many students take one or two local subjects taught in Japanese as non credit-earning (audit) students.

Students should be aware that the cost of living in Japan is high, but it is possible to do part-time work on a student visa in Japan and some of the Japan In-country Study sites are cheaper than others due to subsidised dormitory accommodation.

Locations
Gifu

Gifu University is a national university located in the outskirts of the city of Gifu in Central Japan, about an hour's travelling time away from the bustling metropolis of Nagoya. Gifu Prefecture is known for its tradition and beauty, with preserved castle towns, hot springs, and unique festivals. Founded in 1949, the university consists of five faculties (Education, Regional Studies, Medicine, Engineering, Applied Biological Sciences) and more than 7000 students, several hundred of whom are international students.

Hakodate

Hokkaido University of Education, Hakodate is one of two HUE campuses available to UTS students.The city of Hakodate is a port city with a small population and a relaxed atmosphere. Hakodate is a small city with a population of 279,851 people. It is located at the southern tip of Hokkaido on the Kameda peninsula. It is connected to the rest of Hokkaido and to the mainland by rail or via flights from Hakodate airport. International students live in the university dormitory located a short bike ride from the campus.

Mito

Ibaraki University (IU) is located in the prefectural capital of Mito, about one and a half hours from Tokyo. Mito has a long history and is named after the powerful clan from Japan's Edo period, and today is known for one of Japan's best landscape gardens and impressive modern art. IU was established in 1949, and today has developed into a mid-size national university with five undergraduate colleges and four graduate schools. It is attended by around 8400 students, of which 300 are international students.

Kagoshima

Kagoshima University is located in the centre of the city of Kagoshima the prefectural capital and southernmost major city in Kyushu. Known as the Naples of Japan, Kagoshima is a sunny and relaxed place with a long hot summer and a short winter. Kagoshima University has a long history dating back to the eighteenth century, and was established as a national university in 1949. The university comprises nine faculties, 10 graduate schools and 14 education and research institutes, and is attended by 11,000 students, including 300 international students.

Kanazawa

Kanazawa University is located in the beautiful Edo-era Kanazawa City on the coast of the Sea of Japan. Kanazawa is the administrative capital of Ishikawa Prefecture and has a population of 466,029 people. It is connected to the national bullet train network via the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Kanazawa University is a national university with a proud 150-year history of educational excellence. International students are housed in university-managed dormitories.

Kyoto

Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) is located in Japan's former capital of Kyoto. As it was once the cultural and political centre of Japan, it has a wealth of historic sites and treasures, and is a living museum. KUFS is one of the oldest private universities for foreign studies in Japan and has about 4,300 students learning various languages and cultures. To facilitate their foreign language studies, KUFS has exchange relationships with universities around the world, so there is a diverse international student population and an active social life.

Fukuoka

Kyushu University is located in the city of Fukuoka, Kyushu's biggest city and one of the 10 most populated in Japan. Located in the northern part of Kyushu, Fukuoka is an important harbour city. The university was first established in the 19th century, taking on its current name in 1946. It has around 19,000 students, about 2000 of whom are international students.

Kitakyushu

Kyushu Institute of Technology, known as Kyutech, is located in the city of Kitakyushu, in the northern part of the island of Kyushu. Historically, this area has played a major role as a gateway to the Asian continent and today has developed into an important industrial area for southern Japan. Kyutech is a prestigious technology university with a long history, and has three campuses (Iizuka, Tobata and Wakamatsu). Around 5600 students attend Kyutech, almost 5 per cent of which are international students.

Niigata

Niigata University is a national university located in Niigata City, the administrative capital of Niigata Prefecture. Located on the coast on the Sea of Japan, Niigata has a population of 807,450 people and is known for its beautiful natural environment in the heart of the snow country. Its central railway station is the terminus for the J?etsu Shinkansen line which connects the city to Tokyo in a little over two hours. The university accommodates international students in its own dormitories and in university-leased apartments within walking distance of campus.

Machida, Tokyo

J.F. Oberlin University is located in Machida, a city of 400,000 in the south-western suburbs of Tokyo. Located approximately 35 minutes from central Tokyo by train, J.F. Oberlin is a convenient base from which to explore Tokyo's museums and other recreational facilities. J.F. Oberlin University is a private Christian university founded in 1946. It is very internationalised, with a student population of nearly 9000. It sometimes hosts artists-in-residence for short periods, which is a great resource for students interested in the arts.

Saga

Saga University is situated in the center of the prefectural capital of Saga City (population 240,000). Saga City is small and friendly, and is less than an hour away from the metropolitan hub of Fukuoka. Saga Prefecture is a nature haven and is famous for its ceramics and porcelain. Saga University has six faculties (Education, Art and Regional Design, Economics, Medicine, Science and Engineering, Agriculture) and two campuses (Honjo and Nabeshima) that are surrounded by nature and located in one of the largest agricultural areas. Almost 7000 students attend, 200 of which are international students.

Saitama

Saitama University is a national university located in Saitama City, the administrative capital of Saitama Prefecture. Saitama City has a population of 1.2 million people and is often considered part of the Greater Tokyo conurbation. The campus is located a short bus ride away from two railway stations which are well-connected to the Greater Tokyo transport network. From these stations students can also explore the rich natural beauty of rural Saitama Prefecture. International students at Saitama University are accommodated on campus in the university's International House.

Otsu

Shiga University is located in the city of Otsu, in the southwestern part of Shiga prefecture and about forty minutes from Kyoto. Once a former capital of Japan, Otsu is rich in history and is home to many important sites. It also serves as the main port of Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa. Shiga University was established as a national university in 1949, and today has two faculties (Faculty of Education and Faculty of Economics). Around 300 international students attend.

Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi University is situated in the centre of the prefectural capital of Yamaguchi City. The city is friendly and has a laid back atmosphere, with several places of historic significance. Yamaguchi Prefecture is located in the far east of Japan and is surrounded on three sides by the ocean. It is blessed with nature, and has a long history, playing a leading role in the Meiji Restoration. Yamaguchi University is well-established with more than 200 years of history. It has nine faculties, and is attended by 10,000 students, 400 of whom are international.

Yokohama

Yokohama National University is a national university located in Yokohama, Japan's second largest city and the prefectural capital of Kanagawa. The university is a short 16 minute walk away from Yokohama station, from where you can reach Tokyo in just 30 minutes. Yokohama (pop. 3 million) was little more than mudflats 150 years ago, but today hosts high-tech industries and research laboratories alongside its historic Chinatown. YNU has a large, diverse international student population and offers classes in English as well as in Japanese.

Hikone

The University of Shiga Prefecture is a prefectural university located in Hikone City in Shiga Prefecture. The city is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake, and has a population of 113,349 people. The university is located 15 minutes by bus from JR Minami Hikone Station from where students can access Kyoto in just over an hour by local train. International students at the university are housed in university-leased apartments located 10–15 minutes from the campus and amenities.

Yamanashi

The University of Yamanashi is a national university located in Kofu, the prefectural capital of Yamanashi. Surrounded by scenic beauty, Mt Fuji rises 3776 metres above sea level to the south. Being only 120km from the Tokyo area, the prefecture has been able to prosper culturally for many years. Yamanashi has much allure, with abundant greenery, crystal clear air and water, some of the freshest fruit and best national parks. Kofu City, with about 200,000 inhabitants, can be reached within an hour-and-a-half from Tokyo by express train. The University is located within walking distance of Kofu Railway Station. There is a small dormitory specifically for overseas students close to the University.

Sapporo

Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo is one of two HUE campuses available to UTS students. The City of Sapporo is the administrative capital of Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's four main islands famous for its natural beauty and fresh local produce. With a population of 1.9 million people, Sapporo is the fifth most populous city in Japan. The city is serviced by an ample public transport network and connected to the rest of Hokkaido and the Japanese archipelago by plane or via the Hokkaido Shinkansen. International students are accommodated in convenient university-owned dormitories.

Kumamoto

Kumamoto University (KU) is located in the prefectural capital of Kumamoto City on Kyushu, the southernmost main island of Japan. It is the third largest city in Kyushu with a population of 740 000, and is also known as one of Japan’s oldest cities. Famed for its green landscapes and natural prefectural surrounds, Kumamoto has generally mild weather throughout the year. KU has seven faculties, eleven graduate schools and 23 research centres/institutes, supporting around 8000 undergraduates and 2000 postgraduates, including around 500 international students.

Completion requirements