Study in Tokyo - Japanese Language & International Studies (in English, Japanese) - ISEP Exchange
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• With a central location in the magical city of Tokyo, Toyo offers an experience in the heart of one of the most modern megacities in the world. Just off campus, temples and shrines that are hundreds of years old offer opportunities for quiet reflection and a change of pace.
• Deepen your understanding of Japanese language and culture while also examining global business, international relations, or urban and environmental studies.
• All interested international exchange students are connected with Language Exchange Partners (LEPs), Toyo student volunteers who can help with Japanese language practice and assimilation into Japanese culture.
• How would you fare against a real-life sumo wrestler? As an international student at Toyo, find out by participating in a training session with Toyo’s sumo team and then sitting down to dinner with them afterward. If you would rather just watch sumo, every winter students attend the annual Grand Sumo Tournament held at the world-famous Ryougoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall.
LIFE ABROAD
Tokyo is a perfect fit for all personalities—those looking for the fast-paced modern environment can enjoy city life in places like Akihabara and Ikebukuro, and more leisurely students can enjoy walking through parks in places like pedestrian-friendly Tomigaya.
LIVE
Stay in a fully furnished dormitory room shared with other international students and locals called the AI-House. All dorms are single rooms with shared kitchens and bathrooms. Amenities include access to study rooms, a music studio, and cultural events hosted by the resident assistants.
DINE
Students can dine at Toyo’s award-winning cafeteria, where delicious Italian, Indian, Korean, Chinese, Turkish, and Japanese cuisine are available at low prices. Breakfast and dinner are also included with your housing on weekdays. ISEP Exchange students receive a stipend to cover additional meals.
EXPERIENCE
Students can experience authentic Japanese life by spending the weekend living in a homestay in the countryside of Gunma prefecture. Enjoy home-cooked meals, hike in the countryside, and soak in local hot springs, all of which make this one of students’ favorite experiences during their time in Japan. During the same weekend, students also take part in several traditional cultural activities, such as a tea ceremony, a lecture on Buddhism, listening to (and playing) taiko drums, pounding rice into mochi, and more.
EXPLORE
Students can experience everything Japan’s capital has to offer, with bustling nightlife, world-renowned museums and attractions, major shopping districts, and cultural capital neighborhoods. There are many “sub-cultures” of Japan, meaning that there’s something to see for all niches (video games, “kawaii” culture, history-buffs, etc.). Opportunities to explore Japan’s natural and small-town beauty are easily accessible by bullet train, including natural parklands, scenic lakes, hot springs, and theme parks. Just a 2-hour and 30-minute bus ride away (and for only 18 USD) is the start of the Yoshida Trail, the most popular route to hike on Mount Fuji. If you prefer to stay within Tokyo to explore, campus is located in the center of the Yamanote subway line, allowing you to experience both "old" and "new" Japan just a short distance away. See ancient temples and shrines such as the Nezu jinja, Denzuin and Gokoku-ji, or head to the Tokyo Dome City, a large stadium and attractions park. There are also many unique museums, galleries, and even botanical gardens to explore in the area. As evening approaches, watch Tokyo come alive by visiting popular nightlife destinations such as Shibuya, a neighborhood full of karaoke bars, late-night eateries, and arcades that cater to the city’s night owls. For those wanting to experience the eclectic and youthful side of Tokyo, explore Harajuku, an area where you can find the latest in streetwear fashion as well as those dressed head to toe in elaborate cosplay.
What We Love About Toyo
We love all the extra activities that you can participate in while at Toyo. For example, there is a rice planting event, an annual field day where students do outdoor activities, like tug-o-war, and a Kimono Wearing Party, just to name a few. You also have access to The English Community Zone (ECZ), a space where any student can come and participate in various programs and informal conversations in English.
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses
Course Description
Toyo offers a comprehensive program to explore Japanese language and culture known as the NEST program. The NEST Program is aimed at beginner and intermediate learners of Japanese. More advanced learners of Japanese (those with JLPT N2/N1 or equivalent) may enroll in Japanese language courses offered outside of the NEST Program. (Full Year or Calendar Year students can take these courses in their second semester if they reach JLPT N2 or higher equivalent at the end of the first semester.)
In addition to language and culture, Toyo also offers an appealing collection of courses taught in English in the fields of Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, International Relations, and Urban Growth & Environmental Studies. The table below provides insights into classes students have taken in the past.
Please note that students can only study a maximum of one year at Toyo University. See more details on this under the Special Application Instructions.
Credits Earned
Students who complete the program in good standing are required to take a minimum of 7 classes per term (approx. 13-14 Toyo Credits). In general, academic classes are worth 2 Toyo credits.
ISEP recommends that the US equivalent for a 2-credit lecture class is 2 US credits, and a 1 credit language class is worth 2 US credits. So 13-14 Toyo credits is the equivalent of 13-15 US credits.
If you use financial aid, please speak with a qualified financial aid advisor to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial aid.
Sample Classes Available:
|
Japanese Language and Culture |
International/Global Studies |
General Electives |
|
Japanese Literature A (Basic English with Japanese support) |
Intercultural Communication |
Philosophy |
|
Japanese Culture and Community (Taught in Japanese) |
Multiculturalism in a globalizing world (Taught mostly in English, occasionally in Japanese) |
European Literature |
|
Japanese for Beginners: Practice |
Role of Media in Public Policy Formation |
Themes of Historical Studies |
|
Introduction to Japanese Linguistics A (Taught in Japanese) |
Human Security |
Sociology |
|
Asian Literature (taught in Japanese) |
International Cooperation (taught in Japanese) |
International Regional Tourism |
For detailed instructions on how to search for all available courses, please click on the "Other Academic Conditions" dropdown link below.
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
Students can expect to spend 2 hours per week in class. Language classes are worth 1 Toyo credit, but students can still expect to spend 2 hours per week in class. Semesters are typically 15 weeks long.
General academic courses are available to study abroad students in the Faculties of Letters, Economics, Business Administration, Law, Sociology, Regional Development Studies, Global and Regional Studies and International Tourism Management.
Please note: Study Abroad students choose classes from the class list for study abroad students. Not all Toyo classes are available for study abroad students. Study abroad students cannot take courses on other campuses (Akabanedai, Kawagoe, Asaka). Most science and computer science courses will not be available to study abroad students. Please reference Toyo's website to verify what is typically available. Click here to access Toyo’s syllabus bank. You can toggle the language of the search engine in the top right corner from Japanese to English.
Toyo's NEST program offers up to 10 credits of Japanese language and culture per semester. It is divided into four levels, from beginner to advanced:
• Integrated Japanese (4 credits)
• The Japanese culture component(based on language proficiency level):
-Japanese Culture and Society A or B, for J1 and J2 levels (2 credits) -or-
-Introduction to Japanology A or B, for J3 and J4 levels (2 credits)
• Electives:
-Japanese Listening Comprehension (1 credit)
-Japanese Reading and Composition (1 credit)
-Project Work (1 credit)
-Kanji Literacy (1 credit)
Descriptions for these classes are on the NEST course page.
Semester One (Fall Semester) Students: Students should note that the official examination period for Semester One extends into the end of January. Classes at Toyo end in mid-January and most courses that study abroad students take have their final exams during the regular class period. However, exam schedules may vary by professor. Students may make arrangements to take their exams from home, but are responsible for making all arrangements in advance in September.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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