Kwansei Gakuin University

Areas of Study: The Contemporary Japan Program has two streams:

• The Japanese Language Track is for students who wish to concentrate on Japanese Language Studies. This program gives access to Winter intensive courses for full-year exchanges as well as access to the Nihongo (buddy) program. There are two required courses in this program, a Japanese language course and a Kanji/vocab course.  
• The Modern Japan Track is for students who would like to focus on the study of various aspects of modern Japan, and may choose if they want to take Japanese language courses or not. A Modern Japan Seminar course is required.

The CJP brochure has a full list of all available courses for 2018-19. Students in either track also can take English-taught electives in the International Studies Program (page 19 of the linked brochure). 

Note: Please indicate which stream you wish to choose from in your course list on your online application. All courses in this program (except for the language classes) are offered in English.

Course Information:

Course descriptions can be found online.  3 UCalgary units (1 half-course equivalent) = 4 Kwansei credits.

Students should take between 12-20 credits per semester - we recommend students to take 16 credits. Full-year students are also required to take at least 2 credits during the Winter Intensive Period.

The academic year is divided into two semesters.

• The Fall Semester runs from mid September to mid-January (must stay through to January).
• The Spring Semester runs from late March to mid-July.

Full-year students are also required to participate in the Winter Intensive Program, which runs from mid-February to mid-March, so full-year studies are only an option for students taking the Japanese Language Track.

Kwansei Gakuin guarantees accommodation to all incoming exchange students.

Homestays: The majority of students are placed in homestays, which allow for the greatest immersion into the language and culture. Homestays include 2 meals per day on weekdays and 3 meals per day on weekends and holidays. Cost is roughly 2,200 JPY/day. 

A limited number of dormitory spaces are available for exchange students. Most dormitories are located off-campus. The dormitory fees varies according to the dormitory, but range from 35,000-55,000 JPY/month, excluding meals and utilities. 

Learn more about the homestay and dorms here!

This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at UCalgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Kwansei Gakuin University offers courses in both English and Japanese. All students must have taken a minimum of Japanese 205 in order to study at KGU.

Kwansei Gakuin has specific forms that references need to be submitted on. Please do not approach your professor for a reference until after you have been accepted by our office. Two references are required, one of which must be from your Japanese instructor, if applicable

Important Visa Info: Japanese citizens must travel on their Japanese passport.

What supports or services are available at KGU?

The Student Services Centre at KGU provides much of the student life supports including disability support and chapel services.

While the school maintains chapel and events put on by the KGU Christian Center, there is no religious requirement. Students from other faith backgrounds are also supported and Mosques and Synagogues are available in the area. 

Students in the Japanese Language Track can apply to be introduced to KGU students in their first semester who will act as their "Nihongo Partners" to assist in learning Japanese over the period of each course. In language classes, contemporary and practical Japanese will be acquired through interactive activities with Nihongo Partners, such as eating lunch and going shopping together. Cultural classes not only involve classroom lectures, but include a variety of real-world experiences such as a fieldtrip to Kyoto, Japanese sweets cooking workshop, and joining extracurricular club activities, where knowledge on traditional cultures can be cultivated.

What's special about KGU?

Kwansei Gakuin is one of the few Japanese partner universities that offers longterm homestay options to exchange students wishing to immerse themselves in Japanese culture and language.