Japanese Studies Program

jsp_2025.jpg

2025_brochure_jsp.jpg

The Japanese Studies Program (JSP) at Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts (DWCLA) was started in 1992. The JSP is a semester program which starts in late September and ends shortly before Christmas. The program offers up to 10 female international students both intensive Japanese language courses and Japanese culture and society courses in English. DWCLA students also participate in the culture courses. In pursuing their studies, students have full access to all the facilities available on campus. The program is mainly held on Imadegawa campus, which is in the center of Kyoto city, and students not only study in the classroom but also take field trips, which include tours of Kyoto. This program is open only to female students mostly from our affiliated institutions. Applicants should apply for this program through their home institutions.

Japanese Studies Program (JSP) 2025 Application Guidelines

1. Program Outline

1) Course Dates

September 24th (Wednesday) to December 17th (Wednesday)

※Arrival date : September 22nd (Monday) Departure date : December 19th (Friday) - 89days in total.
※Your student visa is valid for 3 months. Students who wish to stay more than 3 months are expected to change the residence status by themselves before the program ends.

2) Place

Imadegawa Campus (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)

3) Course Content

  • Japanese Language Courses :Four 90-minute classes, plus one supplementary class with Teaching Assistants, per week

※The Japanese language classes are divided into three levels, Elementary A, Elementary B, and Intermediate C according to students’ language proficiency, background, etc. Participants will take a placement test on the day of orientation. There will be 2-3 students in each class.

  • Japanese Culture and Society Courses : Three or four 90-minute classes per week

※Japanese culture and society classes are joint classes with DWCLA students and are delivered in English.
※We will offer 4 Courses. Participants are required to enroll in at least three of the four courses in order to fulfill the requirements of the program and receive a certificate.
※Please note that these courses are subject to change.
Field Trips : Visit to temples and shrines etc in Kyoto.
Social Events : Welcome party, farewell party, club visits (Calligraphy,Kimono wearing,Tea ceremony, Flower arrangement and Japanese music) ,and other events at Kyotanabe campus,etc.

※This tentative schedule is subject to change.

4) Accommodation

  • Mukaijima Gakusei Center : Single rooms are available in the Kyoto municipal housing for international students. No meals are included in the fee. Free internet access is available. The dormitory is located 30 minutes by train from the Imadegawa campus and a 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Mukaijima station.

5) Program Size

The program is limited to a maximum of 10 students per year.

6) Transcript and Certificate

The transcript and the certificate of completion will be given by the president of DWCLA to students who have successfully completed the program. DWCLA will give one credit for each of the four Japanese language courses and two credits for each Japanese culture and society course.

7) Credit Transfer

Credit transfer will depend on the decision of the home institution. Applicants are advised to consult in advance with the appropriate officials at their home institution.

8) Evaluation

Students will receive a grade for each course they are enrolled in. Transcripts will be sent to home institutions after the completion of the program.

2. Qualification for Participation

An applicant must meet all the following requirements.

  • At least 18 years old as of September 1st, 2025
  • Female university/college student who has completed at least one year of Japanese language study.
  • Be recommended by the home institution.
  • Native English speaker/B2 level of English on the CEFR(Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)or equivalent.

3. Program fees

Tuition 398,200 yen
Accommodation fee* 94,266 yen
Total 492,466 yen

*The applicants from affiliated institutions are exempt from paying accommodation fee, as financial aid will be given. Please see "4. Financial Aid" below.

Program fees include the field trip fees (transportation and admission fee), Welcome and Farewell party fees, and the insurance premium.
The program fees do NOT include the following:

  • Airfare
  • Round trip transportation between Kansai International Airport and your accommodation
  • Cost of commuting
    (* Please note that if the total cost of the commuter’s pass exceeds \15,000, DWCLA will pay the difference.)
  • Lunch fees
  • Phone bills
  • Required textbooks

4. Financial Aid

Grants of ¥200,000 are available for participants from affiliated universities/colleges. A settling-in allowance of ¥20,000 will be given to you when you arrive on the first orientation day. The rest of the amount of the scholarship, ¥180,000 will automatically be allocated as follows:

  • Mukaijima Gakusei Center : \94,266 (\38,266 × 1 month, \28,000 × 2 months) will be paid to the Mukaijima Gakusei Center by DWCLA, and \85,734 (\29,734 × 1 month, \28,000 × 2 months) to you to subsidize meal expenses.

5. How to apply for the JSP

The applicants must submit the following PDF documents to the staff in charge at their home institution. The documents have to be sent by E-mail to the Division of International Affairs (DIA) of DWCLA before the application deadline. (See contact address below)
The application deadline:April 25th, 2025.

※When you fill out these forms, please make sure to open them with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Otherwise, you may have troubles typing KATAKANA or other words.

  1. 2025 Japanese Studies Program Application Form(Click here to download
  2. Statement of Purpose(Click here to download
  3. Certificate of Health(Click here to download
  4. Japanese Language Inquiry(Click here to download
  5. Letter of Recommendation(Click here to download
  6. Official transcript from home institution
  7. A clear color copy of your passport (the page on which your name and photo appear)
  8. A clear color ID photo data (File format : JPG, GIF or PNG)

    ※face squarely to the front
    ※remove any hats, caps or head coverings

6. Payment of Participation Expense

As for the participation expense, please make bank transfer to DWCLA by the end of August via each affiliated institution. Cancellation one week before the program starts or thereafter (according to Japan Standard Time) will incur cancellation fees equivalent to 10% of the program and accommodation fees.

7. Final Decision on the Program Implementation and Acceptance

Applicants will be notified of the results of their application via home institution by May 31st, 2025.

8. Insurance

The content and coverage of the insurance that is covered during the program is as follows : The participation fees include insurance.

Injury Death and residual disability:

¥6,000,000

Treatment cost: ¥3,000,000
Disease Treatment cost: ¥1,000,000 
Liability for students ¥100,000,000 
Household goods and personal belongings for students ¥400,000

9. Application Form Submission Office and Contact Details

Address Teramachi-nishi-iru, Imadegawa-dori, Kamigyou-ku, Kyoto 602-0893 JAPAN
Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts
Division of International Affairs
Phone +81-(0)75-251-4158
Fax +81-(0)75-251-4160
Email kokusa-i@dwc.doshisha.ac.jp
Web site https://www.dwc.doshisha.ac.jp/english/

Inbound Programs for International Students