AOYAMAGAKUINUNIVERSITY (AGU)
STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM
~Guide for Exchange Partner Institutions~
-April 2009-
AOYAMAGAKUINUNIVERSITY STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM
- ACADEMIC YEAR
AoyamaGakuinUniversity has two semesters, and the following is a typical academic year:
<1st Semester>
1st week of AprilOrientation week for exchange students
2nd week of April~1st Semester classes begin
3rd week of July1st Semester classes end, Exam period begins
July 311st Semester Ends
Aug 1~3rd Week of SepSummer Break
<2nd Semester>
3rd week of SepOrientation week for exchange students
Last week of Sep2nd Semester classes begin
Dec 23~1st week of JanWinter Break
2nd week of JanClasses resume
3rd week of Jan2nd Semester classes end
Last week of Jan~1st week of FebFinal Exam period
- PERIOD OF EXCHANGE STUDY
AtAoyamaGakuinUniversity, exchange students can start their study either from the 1st Semester or the 2nd Semester, for one semester only or for one academic year. However, students should remember that many exchange students start their study from the 1st Semester, since the number of courses available at the beginning of 2nd Semester is limited (please read 5.ACADEMIC INFORMATION for more information about course availability).
- ELIGIBILITY
Applicants for AGU exchange program should:
(1)be a student at one of AGU partner institutions;
(2)have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or above (4.0 scale);
(3)have the Japanese language ability equivalent to Level 4 Japanese Language Proficiency Test (please read 4. APPLICATION for more details).
Note: Applicants with Japanese citizenship can also be accepted as exchange students. Those who have both Japanese and foreign citizenships should apply as a Japanese citizen.
- APPLICATION
(1)Application Deadline
1st Semester (April) --- Mid November in previous year
2nd Semester (September) --- End of April
(2)Application Documents
Available Online:
(3)Japanese Language Proficiency Requirement
Although AGU offers some courses taught in English, the majority of courses (including Japanese language classes) are taught in Japanese. Exchange students must have the Japanese language ability equivalent to Level 4 Japanese Language Proficiency Test (standardized language exam conducted by Japan Educational Exchanges and Services). According to Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, a student with Level 4 “has mastered the basic elements of grammar, knows around 100 Kanji and 800 words, and has the ability to engage in simple conversation and to read and write short, simple sentences. This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for around 150 hours and after completion of the first half of an elementary course”.
(4)Selecting the Academic Department
Although exchange students can take courses from any department (please read the next section for more details), they need to belong to one of 8 academic departments at Aoyama Gakuin University, and the student`s department will be shown on the final transcript. Students should select a department based on their field of study or on the courses they intend to take the most from.
(5)New Academic Department
School of Cultural and Creative Studies is a new academic department established in 2008. In 2009, the 2nd year courses will be offered at Aoyama campus (3rd year courses will be in 2010, 4th year courses in 2011). This department offers courses on media culture, urban and international culture, and art management.
- ACADEMIC INFORMATION
(1)Courses Available for Exchange Students
Exchange students are allowed to enroll in most courses (except some restricted courses) from any department, regardless of the department they belong to. They are usually enrolled in required courses for exchange students (see the next section) along with some regular academic courses, studying with Japanese students. Many courses at AGU start in April and continue through the academic year (year-long courses). If astudent is studying for Spring semester only or starting his/her study in Fall, he/she will NOT be awarded credits for the year-long courses. Majority of courses related to Japanese literature and English literature are year-long. There are a number of one semester courses offered each semester, including Japanese language courses for exchange students. Course listings for the 1st Semester becomes available in March, and the list of one semester courses starting in the 2nd Semester is available around June each year. Please note that the course offerings are similar every year, and the course information from the previous academic year would give the applicants fairly good ideas of what courses would be offered in the coming year.
(2)Required Courses for Exchange Students
Exchange Students are required to enroll in four Japanese language courses designed for exchange students. Each course is taught by a different instructor, and each of them meet oncea week (total four times a week, each one for 1.5 hours). Students will be divided into 5 Levels (pre-intermediate to advanced), according to the result of a placement test conducted during orientation week. Although some instructors understand English, all classes will be conducted in Japanese.In addition,“Japanese Culture and Society” (“Nihon Jijo”)is offered (once a week). Students will be divided into 5 Levels (corresponds with 5 Levels of Japanese language course). Although the main purpose of this course is a study of Japanese language, many aspects of Japanese culture and customs will be discussed in this course.
In addition to the Japanese language courses, exchange students are encouraged to take a Japanology course every semester (once a week). “Japanology A”, which is offered in the 1st semester, is taught by 3 instructors, each covering topics on Japanese economy, education, science, language, etc. “Japanology B”, offered in the 2nd semester, will cover various traditional arts in Japan (e.g. tea ceremony, flower art, calligraphy) by bringing in a number of guest speakers who specializes in those arts.
(3)Japanese Class Level Placement
When students continue their study through the following semester, they may or may not move up the Japanese class level. There are rules and regulations in regard to the level placement of Japanese language classes, and they are different depending on which semester the student is starting their exchange study.
<Students who study at AGU from Spring semester – Fall Semester>
Students will take only one placement test at the beginning, and they will move up one level in their second semester unless they fail one or more of 4 courses they are supposed to take. If the student is in either Level 1 or Level 2 and fail even one, they MUST repeat the same level the following semester. For example, if a student passed Japanese IA, IB, and IC but failed ID, he/she must repeat all of them – IA, IB, IC and ID. If the student is in Level 3 or higher and fail one or more courses, they will repeat only the ones they failed. For example, if a student fail in 3D, he/she will take 4A, 4B, 4C and 3D in the following semester.
<Students who study at AGU from Fall semester – Spring Semester>
Students will take a placement test in September (before the start of Fall semester) and again in April (before the start of Spring semester). The students may or may not be placed in different level in the second semester, depending on the result of the placement test and the academic performance in the first semester.
(4)Exemption of Required Courses
Although Japanese language courses and Japanese Culture & Society course are required courses, students may be allowed not to take those courses for the following reasons:
-the student needs to take other course(s) as a requirement at the home university, and it conflicts with the timetable for the required courses at AGU.
-the credits for the required courses cannot be transferred to the home university
-the student is a graduate student, and he/she needs to focus on his/her academic research
-other reasons approved by the InternationalExchangeCenter
(5)Courses Instructed in English
Some of the regular academic courses are instructed in English. They are open for both regular Japanese students and international students. For a full list of courses in English, please contact the exchange program coordinator. Moreover, some of the courses instructed in Japanese use reading materials in English, and/or allow students to write assignment papers in English.
(6)Required Course Load and Sample Course Lists
Exchange students are required to enroll in at least 28 credits /year (14 credits / semester). Japanese language courses total 8 credits / year (4 per semester). Therefore, exchange students need to enroll in at least 20 more credits / year (10 per semester) in addition to these required courses. A Year-long course is usually worth 4 credits, and semester-long 2 credits. Following are sample course lists of English-speaking exchange students:
Sample 1 (Student in Pre-intermediate Japanese level)
<1st Semester>
Course TitleNumber of CreditsCourse Length
Japanese IA11 semester
Japanese IB11 semester
Japanese IC11 semester
Japanese ID11 semester
Japanese Culture & Society I21 semester
Japanology A21 semester
International Management I (English)21 semester
Seminar by Prof. Evanoff* (English)8Year-long
*International Dialogue on Environmental Issue
Calligraphy (Japanese)4Year-long
<2nd Semester>
Japanese IIA11 semester
Japanese IIB11 semester
Japanese IIC11 semester
Japanese IID11 semester
Japanese Culture & Society II21 semester
Japanology B21 semester
Calligraphy (Japanese)N/AYear-long
Education for International Understandings (Japanese)21 semester
Total Credits: 32
Sample 2 (Student in Intermediate Japanese level)
<1st Semester>
Course TitleNumber of CreditsCourse Length
Japanese IIA11 semester
Japanese IIB11 semester
Japanese IIC11 semester
Japanese IID11 semester
Japanese Culture & Society II21 semester
Japanology A21 semester
Management Accounting I (English)21 semester
Language and Culture I (Mass media in US & Japan)21 semester
*Lecture is in Japanese, but reading materials are in English
American Thoughts and Cultures4Year-long
*Lecture is in Japanese, but assignments can be written in English
<2nd Semester>
Japanese IIIA11 semester
Japanese IIIB11 semester
Japanese IIIC11 semester
Japanese IIID11 semester
Japanese Culture & Society III21 semester
Japanology B21 semester
American Thoughts and CulturesN/AYear-long
Education for International Understandings (Japanese)21 semester
Management Accounting II (English)21 semester
Language and Culture II (media in US & Japan) (Japanese)21 semester
Total Credits: 30
(7)Seminar
The “Seminar”, as the word is used in Japanese universities today, has its roots in the European tutorial system. It is customarily pronounced “ze-mi” in the German way, and consists of a relatively small number of students, typically 10 to 15, who study or conduct research under the guidance of an instructor. The seminar courses are similar to independent study courses offered at North American universities. Most seminar instructors hold summer and spring study camps for 3 or 4 days each outside the campus. Seminar coursesare much heavier in workload than regular courses, and most students spend 2 to 5 times as many hours each week on preparation for their seminars. Some of the professors of seminars in the Department of English Literature and the School of International Politics and Economics are English speakers (although lectures and discussions might be conducted in Japanese). Many exchange students found the seminar as an ideal environment to improve their language skills as well as making Japanese friends.
(8)Number of Class as per Week
Majority of courses have the class lecture once a week only (1.5 hours). Foreign language courses (including Japanese language course) and the seminars (see the previous section for details) usually have classes twice a week. Exchange students are enrolled in two Japanese language courses, and therefore they have Japanese language classes four times a week (6 hours in total).
(9)Selecting and Registering for Courses
Exchange students do not need to register for courses prior to their departure. There will be a Course Registration Orientation during the orientation week, and the students select and register courses with the help of Japanese student volunteers and IEC staff, after the orientation.
(10)Grading System
Students are evaluated on the basis of the student’s performance in examinations --- written test, thesis, term-paper,presentation and/or others. The highest possible score is 100 points. Scores of 60 and above are passing and scores of 59 and below are failing. A letter grade is given based on the following criteria.
Official transcript / AA / A / B / C / not indicated
Report to student / XX / X
- PRIOR TO DEPARTURE
(1)Pre Departure Time Line
<1st Semester Admission>
Mid NovExchange Application & Dormitory Application Deadline
Late DecConfirmation of the student’s admission is sent to partner institution
Late FebCertificate of Eligibility is issued
Deadline for Airport Assistance Service sign up
Late March ~ beginning of AprilStudents arrive at Tokyo
<2nd Semester Admission>
End of Apr.Exchange Application & Dormitory Application Deadline
Late MayConfirmation of the student’s admission is sent to partner institution
End of JulyDeadline for Airport Assistance Service sign up
Early AugustCertificate of Eligibility is issued
Mid SeptemberStudents arrive at Tokyo
(2)Immigration Procedure
All exchange students (except for those who have a Japanese passport) need a Student Visa, in order to study at Japanese Universities. The JapaneseUniversity that accepts the student will usually apply for an immigration paper called the Certificate of Eligibility, on behalf of the student. This official paper issued by the immigration bureau of Japan is a certificate to prove that the student is eligible to receive a student visa. As soon as the certificate is issued, AGU will send it to the international office at the student’s home institution. An exchange coordinator at the home institution or the student him/herself should bring the certificate to a local Japanese consulate or embassy and apply for the student visa. Please note that a student with Japanese citizenship does not need to go through any immigration procedure, before or after their arrival (the student does need a Japanese passport issued).
(3)Health Insurance
Foreign residents are eligible to enroll in the National Health Insurance, just like any Japanese citizens. All exchange students are required to enroll in the National Health Insurance, after their arrival. It will cover 70% of the medical charge (except for some cost not covered by this system; e.g. acupuncture, cosmetic surgery, etc), and the student is required to pay for the rest (30%). Some exchange students buy an overseas traveler’s insurance in their home country as well, but it is not required by AGU. The monthly fee for the National Health Insurance varies depends on the area in which the student lives (average 1500yen /mon).
(4)Accommodation
Many exchange students live in student dormitories. Most of them will be placed in private dormitories located in Kanagawa area (approx. 50min from the campus). Student dormitories have some rules including curfew, and students who are not comfortable with those rules choose to find apartments or share houses on their own. Apartments usually require a Japanese guarantor, and our office will sign the contract as a guarantor. In this case however, the student is required to pay for the JEES Renter’s Insurance program (7500yen for a year).In Tokyo, there are also many guest houses (furnished houses shared by Japanese or foreign residents). Guest houses do not require expensive key money or guarantor as apartments do, and they are easy to move in and out. If the student wishes to do homestay, there is a homestay agency that they can contact (JTB Homestay Japan). Students should contact this agency individually. Please note that homestay tends to be more expensive than living in dormitories or guest houses.
For more information about housing, please refer to our Housing Information handbook, available online:
- ARRIVING IN TOKYO
(1)Arrival Date
Many students arrive on the day of our Airport Greeting Service, which is around two days before the start of the orientation week. Students are free to arrive before this date, but students who are moving into a student dormitory should make sure that the dormitory check-in is possible on that day (some dorms are not open for check-in until a few days before the orientation week). Also, students need to make sure that they receive the Certificate of Eligibility and obtain their student visa before their departure. They should not, therefore, arrange their plane ticket to arrive too early. If a student has a special reason to arrive before they receive the Certificate of Eligibility, they should consult the InternationalExchangeCenter at AGU.
(2)Orientation Week
Orientation sessions for exchange students will cover the following topics:
-Alien Registration Procedure
-National Health Insurance
-Immigration Procedure for traveling outside Japan during the exchange study period
-AGU International Exchange Foundation Scholarship
-Part-time Work
-Course Registration
-Earthquakes
During the Orientation Week, there are also various events such as:
-Japanese Language Placement Test
-Day Trip
-Meeting tutors (student volunteers) and Campus Tour
-Welcome Luncheon
(3)Support for Exchange Students
(a)The InternationalExchangeCenter (IEC)
The student exchange program at AGU is mainly handled by the InternationalExchangeCenter. Most IEC staff are bilingual (Japanese and English) with cross-cultural experiences. IEC staff will conduct various orientation sessions upon the students’ arrival and be in contact with the exchange students throughout their study period, providing the support and the information they need.
(b)Exchange Student Advisors
Every year, two or three faculty members (one of them is English-speaking) are appointed as the exchange student advisors to provide advices on academic and personal matters.
(c)Tutor (Student Volunteers)
Japanese student (or regular international student) will be assigned to every 2 – 3 exchange students, to provide peer support throughout the year (at some universities, they are called buddies). They are highly motivated students who volunteered to help international students. At AGU, student interest for becoming a tutor is very high (more than 100 applicants for about 30 positions), and many of the tutors remain in contact with the exchange students after they go back to their home countries.