Information on Studying at Akita University
Various Study Abroad Programs

Types of Study Abroad Programs

Akita University offers various programs for international students. Please take a look at the features of each program and use them as a reference to select the program that best suits your purpose of study abroad.

For degree-seeking students

I would like to acquire a degree.

Undergraduate students
4 years

Graduate students
(Master’s Program)
2 years

Graduate students
(Doctoral Program)

3 years

For non-degree seeking students

I would like to obtain credits for a specific course. I would like to engage in research. I would like to prepare for graduate school.

Non-degree students
6 months to 1 year

Research students
6 months to 1 year

I would like to experience a short-term study abroad.

Exchange students
5 months or 11 months

I would like to take an intensive course on Japanese language and culture.

Japanese studies students
11 months

I would like to take an intensive course to learn about school education in the field in Japan.

Teacher training students
1.5 years

Study abroad program comparison chart

Study
abroad
type
Undergraduate
students
Graduate
students
(Master’s
Program)
Graduate
students
(Doctoral
Program)
Exchange
students
Japanese studies
students
Teacher training
students
Non-degree
students
Research
students
Standard
years
of study
4 years
(6 years for medical students)
2 years 3 years
(4 years for
medical majors)
5 months
or 11 months
11 months 1 year
and 6 months
1 year or less 1 year or less
Required
education
High school
graduate
Undergraduate
degree
Master’s
degree
Enrolled in
an overseas
partner university
Majored in Japanese
language and culture
at an overseas
partner university
or an overseas university
Current teacher
with more than
5 years of experience
High school graduate
or have an undergraduate
degree or master’s degree
Undergraduate
degree or
master’s degree
Affiliation Faculties Graduate
schools
Graduate
schools
Faculties Faculty of Education
and Human Studies
Graduate School
of Education
Faculties and
graduate schools
Faculties and
graduate schools
Status Regular students Non-regular students
Start of
study abroad
April April or
October
April or
October
April or
October
October October April or
October
April or
October
Eligibility for
dormitory
residence
Eligible
Japanese language courses Available(Not available only for Japanese language courses)
*For details, please refer to Akita University General Program.
Languages
the classes
are taught in
Faculty of International Resource Sciences: Japanese for the first year, English for specialized subjects in the second year and above
Graduate School of International Resource Sciences: English
Other faculties and graduate schools: Japanese (partly in English)

If you are using a smart phone, please click here to view the PDF file.

Study abroad program comparison chartPDF

Types of international students

There are two types of international students: government-sponsored students and privately-financed students. Government-sponsored students are international students who receive a scholarship from the Japanese government (MEXT) to study in Japan. On the other hand, all international students other than government-sponsored students are referred to as privately-financed students.

Privately-financed international students

The university accepts “undergraduate” and “graduate students” for degree purposes, as well as “exchange students”, “non-degree students”, and “research students” for non-degree purposes.

If you wish to be a degree-seeking "undergraduate" or "graduate" student:

You must take and pass the entrance examination administered by Akita University. For information on entrance examinations, please refer to the Akita University Entrance Examination Portal Site.

If you wish to be an "exchange student":

It is a prerequisite that you are enrolled in an overseas partner university with which Akita University has a memorandum of understanding for student exchange. For details, please refer to the Student Exchange Programs page.

If you wish to be an "exchange student":

Please contact the following sections.

Faculty of International Resource Sciences

International Resource Sciences Section, General Academic Affairs Division
:(+81)-(0)18-889-2236

Faculty of Education and Human Studies

Education and Human Studies Section, General Academic Affairs Division
:(+81)-(0)18-889-2512

School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

School of Medicine Section, Academic Affairs Division, Faculty of Medicine
:(+81)-(0)18-884-6030, 6232

School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine

School of Health Sciences Section, Academic Affairs Division, Faculty of Medicine
:(+81)-(0)18-884-6505

Faculty of Engineering Science

Engineering Science Section, General Academic Affairs Division
:(+81)-(0)18-889-2312

Government-sponsored international students

Government-sponsored international students are international students who receive a scholarship from the Japanese government (MEXT) to study in Japan. For more information about this program and the application guidelines, please check the MEXT website.

Types of govemment-sponsored international students accepted by Akita University

(◯ indicates that the university is recruiting and selecting applicants; - indicates that the university is not recruiting or selecting applicants.)

Category Recruitment
from overseas
Embassy
recommendation
University
recommendation
Graduate School Research students
Teacher training students -
Undergraduates International students -
Japanese studies students

Recommendation and selection of Japanese government (MEXT) scholarship students

There are two methods of recommendation and selection for Japanese government (MEXT) scholarship students.

Embassy recommendation

Recruitment and recommendation by an overseas Japanese embassy or consulate general

Please contact the Japanese embassy or consulate general in your country for information on the selection schedule and application procedures for the year you wish to be recommended by the embassy.

University recommendation

Recruitment and recommendation by Akita University based on an inter-university agreement

Priority for university recommendations will be given to students who are enrolled in or graduated from Akita University’s overseas partner universities. If you wish to be recommended by a university, and you are a current or former student of one of our partner universities, please contact Akita University through your academic advisor.

Related materials

Guide for International Students

Akita University Study Guide for International Students

Akita University General Program

Akita University offers a study program for all international students called "Akita University General Program". International students can take Japanese language courses according to their respective Japanese language levels.

Target Students and Objectives

Target Students Main objectives

International students who wish to improve their Japanese proficiency and pursue their goals to finish their undergraduate courses or graduate studies at Akita University
-Undergraduate students
-Graduate students

To be able to understand lectures and take notes in Japanese; To be able to write papers and technical reports in Japanese; To be able to participate in discussions in Japanese.

International students who wish to concentrate on Japanese studies, including the language and other aspects of Japanese culture at the upper college level
-Japanese studies students
-Research students
-Special auditing students (Exchange students)
-Non-degree students

To be able to understand lectures and take notes in Japanese; To be able to write papers and technical reports in Japanese; To be able to participate in discussions in Japanese.

International students who are enrolled in master’s or doctoral courses in English and researchers
-Graduate students (Master’s Program in English)
-Graduate students (Doctoral Program in English)
-Researchers

To obtain basic communicative skills for daily life in Akita.

Japanese Language Courses

1st semester 2nd semester Contents Period(s)/week
(1 period = 90-minute class)
Main Participants Japanese language level

Japanese 1A

Japanese 1B Same 4 Beginner Students who have never learned or have just begun to learn Japanese

Japanese 2A

Japanese 2B Same 4 Elementary JLPT N5 or the equivalent Japanese competence
Japanese 2
SOGO A
Japanese 2
SOGO B
Same 1
Japanese 3A Japanese 3B Same 4 Low-Intermediate JLPT N4 or the equivalent Japanese competence
Japanese 3
SOGO A
Japanese 3
SOGO B
Same 1
Japanese 4-Ⅰ Japanese 4-Ⅱ Different 2 Intermediate JLPT N3 or the equivalent Japanese competence
Japanese 4-Ⅲ Japanese 4-Ⅳ Different 2
Japanese 4-Ⅴ Japanese 4-Ⅵ Different 1
Japanese 5-Ⅰ Japanese 5-Ⅱ Different 1 Advanced JLPT N2 or the equivalent Japanese competence
Japanese 5-Ⅲ Japanese 5-Ⅳ Different 1
Japanese 5-Ⅴ Japanese 5-Ⅵ Different 1
Japanese 5-Ⅶ Japanese 5-Ⅷ Different 1
Japanese 5-Ⅸ Japanese 5-Ⅹ Different 1

Timetable and Classroom

The timetable and classrooms for each class vary from semester to semester. The latest information will be posted on the What's New page.