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Japanese Umbrellas, under a wooden roof structure, Japan.

Yamaguchi University traces its origins back to 1850 and the founding of the private school Yamaguchi Kodo in the late Edo Period. KSU students can participate in a Japanese language learning program with additional courses in a variety of fields, offered in both English and Japanese.

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Location

Yamaguchi, Japan

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Term

Academic Year, Spring

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Housing

Dormitory

Program Highlights

Yamaguchi University is ideal for students who want to learn and improve upon their Japanese language skills. Students will take a combination of Japanese language courses plus additional courses offered in a variety of subjects from the university’s nine academic colleges. Courses can be taken in Japanese and English. Yamaguchi University is dedicated to growing its international programs and provides support for exchange students through international student advisors, tutoring and a University Health Service Center. 
 

Program Contact Information

Molly Papay

Assistant Director, Education Abroad

Email: mpapay1@kent.edu

Office Phone: 330-672-3067

Important Dates

Application Deadlines

  • Spring 2025: September 10, 2024
  • Academic Year 2025-2026: April 15, 2025
  • Spring 2026: September 10, 2025

Program Dates

Program dates vary each year based upon the host institution's academic calendar, but the following are general guidelines:

  • Academic Year: Mid-September - Early August
  • Spring: Late March - Early August
Application Process

Students will be required to complete two applications:

  • an internal 鶹Ƶ Education Abroad application,
  • and a partner university application.

These quick steps will help walk you through the process.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by an Education Abroad Advisor. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Please note that acceptance to the program by 鶹Ƶ does not serve as final approval. The host institution or program provider grants final approval for each applicant.

3. Complete the Host University Application

Once your Education Abroad application has been accepted, you will be nominated to the host university. You will complete the host university’s application and wait for official acceptance to the program. 

Academics

Eligibility

  • Full-time, degree-seeking student at 鶹Ƶ
  • Any major; Japanese minor preferred but not required
  • Minimum cumulative GPA: 2.5 or higher
  • Completion of Elementary Japanese I at minimum

Academic Programs

The exchange program with Yamaguchi University is designed for students beginning to study Japanese. Students are required to take 8 credit hours of Japanese and 6 credit hours in other fields per semester. Exchange programs are available for students with a high level of Japanese proficiency, but beginners are prioritized.

Required courses:

  • Japanese 1 (integrated) 8 credit hours per semester OR
  • Japanese 2 (integrated) 6 credit hours + (Reading, Writing) 2 credit hours

Plus 6 additional credit hours in courses such as:

  • Academic Writing
  • Introduction to International Public Management
  • Business Organization,
  • Global Communication,
  • Media Design
  • And more

Review sample course lists from prior years.

Transferring Credits

Transfer Credits

With this program, students enroll in courses at a partner (host) institution. You will need to transfer the credits you earn abroad back to 鶹Ƶ.

Upon successful completion of the program, the host institution will issue you an official transcript, which will be needed for the credit transfer process.

You must earn passing grades on the courses you take abroad for the credits to transfer. 

Prior to departure, students will meet with their academic advisor to complete a Transfer Course Planning (TCP) Form, which will outline the courses you plan to take while abroad and how the courses will transfer to 鶹Ƶ. 

Some courses have already been pre-approved for transfer to 鶹Ƶ and can be viewed on the Transfer Credit Guide. Please note that this is only a guide and is NOT a comprehensive list of courses available at each partner institution.

Credit Approval

Prior to departure, it is your responsibility to meet with your academic advisor to discuss the courses you plan to take while abroad.

If a course needs to be evaluated for transfer, you are responsible for working with your education abroad advisor to obtain the syllabus and have it reviewed by 鶹Ƶ faculty. 

Location & Transportation

Yamaguchi, Japan

Yamaguchi is the capital city of Yamaguchi Prefecture and is located on the western edge of Honshu Island, surrounded on three sides by the ocean. Yamaguchi is a quiet city (population 197,422) renowned for its natural scenery and historical sites. Students will have the opportunity to explore many of the natural parks surrounding the area, participate in local festivities, and many cultural events.

Campus Information

Yamaguchi Prefecture is located on the western edge of Honshu Island. Yamaguchi University has three campus locations, with Yoshida Campus being the main campus located in Yamaguchi City. There are 10,000 students on campus, including 403 international students from 32 different countries. Students will be able to immerse themselves in local life while taking advantage of all the campus facilities available to them and can become engaged in the 195 student clubs. 

Transportation

Airports

The main airport in Yamaguchi is Yamaguchi Ube Airport and is located about 40 minutes by car from Yoshida campus, the main campus for Yamaguchi University. Students will typically fly into Tokyo from the United States and take a connecting flight to Yamaguchi. The Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Yamaguchi will take 4.5 hours.

Train

Yoshida campus is a twenty-minute walk from the Yudaonsen Station on the JR Yamaguchi Line train. Students will be able to take local transportation from the station to campus (car or bus) or can walk.

Local Transit

Students will have easy access to all forms of public transit from the campus. Taxis are oftentimes quite expensive, but students will quickly become accustomed to using the bus lines and will have easy access to the train station to further explore Japan.

Housing & Meals

Accommodations

Dorm rooms are made available for international exchange students at the YU International Share House located on Yoshida Campus. There are 31 flats that are shared by three students each; all flats come with air conditioning, home appliances, and single bedrooms furnished with a desk and bed. If space is available, exchange students can also live in the Yamaguchi International House or general dormitories. It is highly recommended that students live on-campus, but private apartments can be rented at the student’s own expense; Yamaguchi University cannot book private apartments on behalf of students. 

Financial Aid & Scholarships
Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

  • international travel procedures;
  • in-country resources;
  • health and safety resources and information;
  • culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

All students are encouraged to register with the prior to departure.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we’ve pulled together for you on our “Before You Go” page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the .

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center. 

Visa Information

A visa is a document required by many countries, in addition to your passport, that allows you to enter the country for a certain purpose (whether that’s to stay, transit, or exit). Essentially, it is the country's government giving you legal permission to enter their country to travel, study, work, etc.

Please note, it is solely the responsibility of the student to: 

  • determine the entry, transit, and stay requirements for the country or countries to which they will travel,
  • and to apply for any necessary visas, stay permits, or any other immigration requirements of the host nation(s).

It is also the responsibility of the student to:

  • verify the correct documentation required to apply for the required visa(s), 
  • apply for the visa(s) early enough to ensure there is enough processing time,
  • and pay any fees associated with obtaining the visa(s).

鶹Ƶ's Office of Global Education is available to provide general guidance regarding student visa requirements and procedures; however, each student who travels abroad is expected to manage their own legal obligations regarding international travel.

It is strongly recommended by the Office of Global Education that you carefully review the appropriate consulate or embassy website for the nation(s) you plan to visit in order to determine current entry/study/exit visa requirements.

Fact Sheet

Your host, Yamaguchi University, has prepared an overview document for you to download and keep as a handy reference.

Download Fact Sheet

Costs and Funding

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Costs for the program will differ for every student. You can use our Cost Calculator to get an estimate of what you might expect for your program.

We also encourage you to meet with your Education Abroad Advisor and reach out to Financial Aid the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center to see how your aid may apply to an international program. 

 

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