Akita University offers a variety of programs for international students. First of all, it is important to have a clear purpose in mind for your study abroad. Then, think about which program is right for you!
I would like to acquire a degree.
Undergraduate students
4 years
Graduate students
(Master’s Program)
2 years
Graduate students
(Doctoral Program)
3 years
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 to 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
Here is an easy-to-understand overview of each program. Take a look at the unique features of each program!
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 | 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 or October |
April or October |
April or October |
April or October |
October | October | April or October |
April or October |
Eligibility for dormitory residence |
Yes | |||||||
Japanese language courses | Available(Not available only for Japanese language courses) | |||||||
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 chartPDFThere are two types of international students: government-sponsored students and privately-financed 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.
Akita University accepts “undergraduate students” and “Japanese studies students” as undergraduate level students, and “research students” and “teacher training students” as graduate level students.
There are two methods of recommendation and selection for Japanese government (MEXT) scholarship students.
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.
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.
(◯ 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 | ◯ | ◯ |
Recruitment
First round of selections
Request for informal acceptance to a university
Second round of selections
Acceptance notification
Immigration procedures, travel to Japan
Non-regular students
Professional education
Recruitment
Application to Akita University
Application to the MEXT
Acceptance notification
Immigration procedures, travel to Japan
Non-regular students
Professional education
All international students other than government-sponsored students are referred to as privately-financed 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.
International Resource Sciences Section, General Academic Affairs Division
:(+81)-(0)18-889-2236
Education and Human Studies Section, General Academic Affairs Division
:(+81)-(0)18-889-2512
School of Medicine Section, Academic Affairs Division, Faculty of Medicine
:(+81)-(0)18-884-6030, 6232
School of Health Sciences Section, Academic Affairs Division, Faculty of Medicine
:(+81)-(0)18-884-6505
Engineering Science Section, General Academic Affairs Division
:(+81)-(0)18-889-2312
Akita University offers the following three types of programs for exchange students from international exchange partner universities. Exchange students are enrolled at Akita University as “special auditing students”.
This program is for exchange students who are studying Japanese language or Japanese language education and have JLPT N2 or equivalent.
This is a program for exchange students who will participate in local events and exchanges with local people while studying Japanese language and undergraduate studies.
This program allows students to take Japanese language and specialized subjects freely.