How to Get Into Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan: Preparing Your Exchange Application Documents

Kwansei Gakuin (known as Kangaku) is one of the 4 prestigious private universities of western Japan, located in conveniently connected Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. This post covers the whole process of preparing your application documents, so you can get accepted and head to Kwansei Gakuin University as an exchange student!

Contents

• Kwansei Gakuin application tip ①: Get to know the exchange program

• Kwansei Gakuin application tip ②: Prepare your application documents in Japanese or English

• Kwansei Gakuin application tip ③: Get accepted and get ready to leave

• Kwansei Gakuin application tip ④: Arrive in Japan and start your exchange

Kwansei Gakuin application tip ①: Get to know the exchange program

Kwansei Gakuin offers partner schools the “KGU CJP” exchange program. Its full name is “Kwansei Gakuin University Contemporary Japan Program,” and in Japanese it's “関西学院大学現代日本プログラム.”

Basically, if you're enrolled at one of Kwansei Gakuin's partner schools and are nominated by your home school, you can apply for KGU CJP.

Exchange program details (1): Course tracks

There's the Japanese Language Track and the Modern Japan Track. The former requires 5 Japanese classes a week; the latter requires 1 Japanese culture seminar a week taught entirely in English.

Exchange program details (2): Timetable

At least 7 class periods a week (100 minutes each, about 10+ hours a week), with a cap of 24 credits (a class is usually 2 credits, which works out to a maximum of 12 courses).

Exchange program details (3): Housing

Students can choose between the school dorms and a homestay. The school also allows students to rent off campus on their own.

Kwansei Gakuin is a religious school, so you often see elements of Western holidays on campus

Kwansei Gakuin application tip ②: Prepare your application documents in Japanese or English

1. Application Form | Your basic personal information

2. Reasons for Study Essay | Your motivation for applying

3. Self-Report of Medical Condition | Health self-assessment

4. Certificate of Health | Medical checkup report

5. Recommendation Letter | A letter of recommendation from a professor

6. Japanese Language Assessment Form | Japanese proficiency self-assessment (if applicable)

7. Official Grade Transcript | A copy of your transcript, including the grading scale

8. Scan of Passport | A copy of your passport photo page

9. Digital ID photograph | A digital headshot

10. Statement of Finance | Proof of funds above the threshold, in yen or converted from another currency

11. KGU Immigration Application Form | Immigration application details

12. Copy of JLPT Certificate | A copy of your JLPT certificate showing the pass and scores (if applicable)

13. KGU Sponsored Scholarship Application Essay | Your motivation for the scholarship (if applicable)

14. KGU Sponsored Scholarship Application Form | Scholarship application form (if applicable)

15. Pre-Upload Checklist | Check once more that nothing is missing

After uploading, you'll get the result in about 1.5 months.

Kwansei Gakuin attracts many students from Europe and North America who come to learn Japanese or study Japanese culture, making it a great place to experience multicultural coexistence

Kwansei Gakuin application tip ③: Get accepted and get ready to leave

Before you leave (1): Complete the pre-enrollment paperwork

Sign the acceptance agreement and insurance agreement electronically, or sign on paper and scan them, and pay tuition and housing fees by the deadline.

Before you leave (2): Book flights and pack

Plan your flight and arrival in Japan flexibly around the dorm or homestay move-in date Kwansei Gakuin assigns. It's a good idea to pack extra ID photos and a personal seal (hanko) in case you need them for paperwork.

Before you leave (3): Get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Kwansei Gakuin will mail you the COE. Take it to an office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association to apply for a student visa.

Before you leave (4): Take the Japanese placement test

Kwansei Gakuin uses reading and listening tests to place students into classes from Level 1 to Level 8. You must take the test if you want to take Japanese classes.

As a prestigious private school, Kwansei Gakuin brings together children of prominent local families, so it can meet your goals of building connections or broadening your horizons

Kwansei Gakuin application tip ④: Arrive in Japan and start your exchange

As a rule, if you follow the school's instructions, upload your documents and pay your fees, the exchange application should go smoothly. If you have any questions, you can always book an online meeting with a KGU international office staff member or email them.

I hope this account of applying from Taiwan for an exchange at Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan helps you get your application documents ready quickly! If you'd like more detail on exchanges in Japan, job hunting in Japan and more, check out the column “游駿霖 Chun-Lin (Damien) Yu's Medium”!