Based on inter-university agreements or inter-department agreements with its partners, Niigata University hosts their students for up to two semesters as exchange students.
The point of contact for most exchange programs based on inter-university agreements is our International Office. In case where a faculty or graduate school is responsible for student exchange based on an inter-university agreement, the liaison for inter-university partners will be the faculty or graduate school that hosts their exchange students.
For student exchange based on inter-department agreements, each department (faculty or graduate school) is responsible for the admission of exchange students and will be the liaison for their respective inter-department partners. Inquiries for student exchange based on an inter-department agreement should be made to the relevant faculty or graduate school.
The Program for Incoming Exchange Students at the Center for International Education, Niigata University is an inbound program that welcomes exchange students mainly from our inter-university partners and is managed by International Office. The Program aims to provide exchange students opportunities to deepen understanding and enhance knowledge about Japan, and to strengthen collaborative ties with our partners.
For cooridinators in charge of student exchange:
If your liaison for student exchange is not the Center for International Education (International Office), please inquire your liaison regarding their inbound programs which are managed independently by a faculty or a graduate school. If your contact is the Center for International Education (International Office), please have your prospective exchange students prepare the application documents, and mail to the International Office by the due date shown in the application guideline.
【 Program for Spring Semester of 2021 (April - August) 】
Submission Deadline: November 20, 2020.
Please read the application guideline carefully and apply through the coordinator in charge of student exchange.
（Information）Course offerings for Fall 2020 Japanese Language Program for Fall 2020
※These are current course offerings for Fall 2020. Course offerings for Academic Year 2021 will be posted in March 2021.
Please prepare your Notification of Admission, Certificate of Eligibility for Resident Status, and passport, along with any other necessary documents, and apply for a visa at a Japanese diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) in your own country. We recommend that you contact the diplomatic mission in advance and ask what documents must be submitted.
Read Visa page for further information.
Exchange students have priority in using accommodation at International House or apartments leased by Niigata University. You will be notified of the final decision regarding your accommodation prior to departure. Students who will arrive before the residence halls open must arrange and pay for accommodation at a hotel by themselves.
Read Accommodation for International Students for further information.
The accommodation offered by Niigata University does not come furnished with futon (Japanese-style bedding) or bedclothes. You may make your own arrangements after your arrival or request the university to arrange bedclothes at your expense prior to your arrival. We will ask you about your preference at a later date. The bedding items the university can arrange include: comforter, futon mattress, pillow, sheet, comforter-cover, pillow case for each, for the total price of 13,000 yen (to be paid in cash upon your arrival).
You will be informed of the address of your accommodation prior to departure. If you have any luggage to send, it can be sent to the address. Please ship your luggage to be delivered after your arrival so that you will be in the residence hall to receive it.
If you plan to bring electric appliances from your home country, be sure to also bring an electric transformer adapter by yourself. Power outlets in Niigata provide 100 volt of power 50 Hz and its plug type is A.
After exchange students are accepted to the program, Niigata University will provide detailed information on pick-up service (Niigata Station/ Niigata Airport) and post-arrival orientation program. If you plan to use the pick-up service, you should schedule your flight and/or train accordingly. It is preferable that students from the same university should travel together. If students choose to travel on their own, they should first come to Niigata University International Office between Monday and Friday during its office hours (8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.) in order to pick up the key to their room.
* Orientation Program takes place after suggested dates of arrival during the week before classes start.
| Pick-up at Niigata Railway Station/Niigata Airport (Details to be announced) |
| Orientation for Newly-Enrolled Students, Opening Ceremony, Japanese Language Courses Guidance, |
| Housing Orientation |
| Life in Niigata Orientation, Bank Orientation (Students may apply for opening a bank account) |
| Classes start |
* Japanese students will provide assistance to help exchange students get started.
If you already have a personal seal (inkan, hanko), please bring it with you. You might find it convenient to have one during your stay since a personal seal is used on various occasions in Japan.
| Status at Home University | Purpose of Study | Status at Niigata University | Admission fees | Examination fees | Tuition (Free for fee-exempt students) |
| Undergraduate | Lecture auditing (credits offered) | "Special Auditing Student" | Free | Free | 14,800yen/credit |
| Postgraduate | Lecture auditing (credits offered) | Postgraduate "Special Auditing Student" | Free | Free | 14,800yen/credit |
| Research (Students are able to attend lectures with a permission of the lecturer; credits offered) | Postgraduate "Special Research Student" | Free | Free | 29,700yen/month |
Exchange students can select classes from the following options:
There are no compulsory subjects. However, the Japanese Immigration Bureau's rules stipulate that international students must take taught classes or conduct research for more than 10 hours (600 minutes) per week. Since each class is 90 minutes long, students who are not undertaking research will need to take at least 7 taught classes per week.
This is a decision for your home university to make. Please be sure to consult your university about credit transfer rules before you study abroad. Niigata University confers 2 credits to students for each subject they pass (90 min x 15 times, a total of 1,350 min.) and 1 credit for each foreign language class of the same length (1,350 min.) including Japanese language classes.
Niigata University International Office
8050 Ni-no-cho Ikarashi, Nishi-ku, Niigata-shi 950-2181, Japan
Tel: +81-25-262-7627 / Fax: +81-25-262-7519
E-mail: intl@adm.niigata-u.ac.jp