kansai gaidai university

Exchange Program

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Program Description

Established in 1972, the Asian Studies Program today annually welcomes over 600 competitively selected students who represent about 40 countries and regions. The raison d’être of the program is to provide international students with a means of exploring Japan and Asian studies through classroom instruction and interaction with Japanese people.

Japanese language courses range from the introductory through the advanced levels. Previous Japanese language training is not required.

A variety of course offerings relevant to Japan and Asia, taught by experienced faculty members, will provide new perspectives for participants and inspire their intellectual and personal growth. One of the special advantages of studying in our program is the fact that all courses, except for Japanese language courses, are conducted in English.

Efficient language training with the latest innovations in linguistic instruction, fully equipped language laboratories, friendship programs with Japanese students, as well as the heart-warming home stay program, will all contribute to the rapid development of participants’ language proficiency and pragmatic understanding of the Japanese culture.

Firmly believing that Japan and Asia will continue to be key players throughout the 21 century, the program encourages students to tackle new challenges and take advantage of various opportunities available in Japan.

 
Program Dates and Deadlines:
Term Nomination Deadline  Application Deadline  
Fall, Spring, or Academic Year March 1 for Fall; September 15 for Spring May 15 for Fall; November 1 for Spring  

 

Information Sheet

Open to All academic disciplines
Language of Instruction English and Japanese
Level of Study Undergraduate
Credit Offered FAU credits

 

ACADEMICS:

Kansai Gaidai offers curriculum across Japanese language studies and courses within Social Sciences, Humanities, and Business. Students can view Kansai Gaidai course offerings here . Students are required to take a Japanese language course (5 credits) and an additional three courses at 3 credits apiece (9 credits) for 14 credits total. 

Please note that course offerings are subject to change based on term and year. Education Abroad cannot guarantee that the courses shown will be available for the term/year you study abroad. 

Students participating on an exchange program will be taking courses at the host university. Students need to work with Education Abroad and their academic advisor to see if courses abroad are equivalent to FAU courses and how those FAU equivalencies are degree applicable. Education Abroad has created a blanket equivalency database for courses offered at Kansai Gaidai and their FAU equivalencies here . 

Program Eligibility & Requirements

  • Must have a 3.0 overall GPA for undergraduate students at the time of application
  • Must be in good academic standing at the time of application
  • Only open to degree-seeking FAU students
  • See Policies & Procedures page for more information

 

Education Abroad Advisor: 

Brendan Richardson, Associate Director
Phone number: 561-297-3227
Email: brichardson@fau.edu 

Schedule an appointment: Navigate

 

Travel Documentation

Important notice! Passport processing times have changed. Review up-to-date details HERE.

Routine processing times can take 10-13 weeks, and expedited applications in 7-9 weeks. Processing times begin when your application is received by a passport agency or center, and do not include mailing times. It may take up to 2 weeks for your application to be received by passport agency, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive your completed passport after agency mails it to you. Therefore, you should add an additional 4 weeks to you passport application processing time. 

A valid passport is required for all international travel. If you are traveling anywhere abroad, you need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. You may be denied boarding if you travel with a passport that appears damaged or altered.

Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Check the Country Information to learn about entry and exit requirements for the country or countries in which you are traveling.  

If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you need to renew your passport, or you have any other passport questions, you can find information on the Travel.State.Gov website. In addition, several U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information to assist applicants in collecting the documentation needed. For a list of Embassies, please visit U.S. Embassy.gov.

Location

Kansai Gaidai University is located in the city of Hirakata (pop. 400,000) in Osaka prefecture. Located on the Yodo River, Kansai Gaidai is in the center of this region, midway between the ancient capital of Kyoto and the dynamic business center of Osaka, with Nara and its Daibutsu (Great Buddha) and “sacred deer” only a short train ride away. Kobe, located only a little further away, is the newest addition to the Kansai region, for it began its growth with opening of Japan to the West in the 1860s, and boasts of western influences in its architecture and atmosphere.

This superb location provides an excellent starting point from which to begin exploring of a land that, by anyone's standards, is truly fascinating. These geographic advantages are extensively utilized in the Asian Studies Program through field trips, independent research, and/or case studies.

 

Housing

Student will live at the YUI Global Commons residence hall. YUI offers over 650 single rooms for students. There is a full, shared kitchen, lounge area, and shared bathrooms. YUI is about a 20 minute walk from the Kansai Gaidai campus. *Please note that this exchange operates differently than our other exchange programs. Students will be responsible for paying a Room and Board fee. FAU students will owe $5,709 directly to Florida Atlantic University.*

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Funding opportunities 

Financial Aid and Scholarship Information 

  • Students participating on may use eligible financial aid
  • Bright Futures and Florida Prepaid are eligible for an exchange program
    • Please reach out to Jolla Molinar, jmolinar@fau.edu, for assistance with financial aid and Bright Futures
    • Please reach out to Tuition & Billing Services, webcontroller@fau.edu, for assistance with Florida Prepaid
  • Program participants are eligible to apply for the FAU Education Abroad Scholarship amongst other nationally recognized scholarships
  • See additional scholarship and funding information here.
  • Note that financial aid will not be disbursed to your student account until 2-3 weeks after the FAU drop/add period of the semester you are studying abroad

 

budgetary items

These are items to consider to budget for your study abroad program: 

FAU Tuition for 14 credits: 
FAU Tuition Calculator - please use the tuition calculator to determine tuition 

Program fee paid directly to FAU Education Abroad:  

$5,709 (This consists of Kansai Gaidai Room and Board. And students receive a cash stipend and VISA gift card upon arrival)

Fees to paid to Kansai Gaidai (please note that these fee amounts may change):

General Deposit (Refundable) ... 10,000 yen
This refundable deposit will be reimbursed at the termination of residence at Kansai Gaidai, when all outstanding obligations have been met (loans, return of library books, etc.)

International Student Fee... 10,000 yen

Liability Insurance and Medical Assistance Fee ... 2,000 yen

Global Commons-YUI- Security Deposit (Refundable) ... 30,000 yen
This refundable deposit is mandatory for Global Commons-YUI- residents regardless of their status, and will be reimbursed at the termination of residence after possible deduction based on the check-out inspection.

Out of pocket expenses:

  • $200 administrative fee due at time of application
  • International flight
  • Personal spending
  • Visa expenses
  • International health insurance

Health, Safety and Travel Documentation

All students must attend pre-departure sessions prior to study abroad. Education Abroad awill provide you with further details pertaining to dates, times, and virtual link  the semester before your program. 

1) Mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Education Abroad office. This session will cover general international travel related topics such as health, safety, insurance, and travel tips. 

International Health and Travel Insurance

All FAU students participating on an exchange program will need to register in international health and travel insurance coverage through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This mandatory insurance ensures that students have access to medical and emergency support services while abroad. You can view the policy here. 

Resources

  1. Reduced risk of denied entry if a country requires vaccination for entry
  2. Reduced risk of having to get vaccinated abroad if it becomes mandatory in the country of study
  3. Reduced risk of denied acceptance to one of our foreign universities
  4. Reduced risk of denied acceptance into campus housing or host accommodations abroad
  5. Reduced risk of spreading COVID-19 and its variants to other parts of the world, including the communities where we have programs
  6. Reduced risk of contracting COVID-19 while abroad, which could lead to missed classes and excursions, mandatory quarantine or isolation, and other disruptions to the program
  7. Increases student access to local events, services, and travel while abroad
  8. Provides more flexibility in planning study abroad extracurricular activities, including excursions
  9. The WHO and U.S. CDC agree that the vaccine helps reduce the risk of serious illness and helps prevent the spread of COVID-19
  10. Alongside our other prevention measures, the vaccine significantly increases protection for FAU faculty, staff, students, and international partners

Regarding increased access because of being vaccinated, please be aware that businesses and services may legally restrict access to exclude unvaccinated individuals. Local ordinances may allow the same. In such cases, FAU won’t be able to intervene or advocate on your behalf.