Overseas Programmes

Overseas Study

Undergraduates majoring in Japanese Studies are encouraged to apply to various study programmes in Japan, including the NUS Student Exchange Programme and other prestigious programmes funded by the JCCI Foundation and the Monbukagakusho. Department students have all demonstrated significant improvements in their Japanese competence after such long-term stays in Japan. First-hand experience in the country also provides students with more direct insight and authentic knowledge on Japan.

Summer Programmes

KWANSEI GAKUIN UNIVERSITY SUMMER PROGRAM

The Intensive Japanese Language and Culture Study Program is a 3-week summer programme that Kwansei Gakuin University (KGU) offers to students from around the world. It provides students with a unique opportunity to improve their communication skills in Japanese language while increasing their understanding of Japanese culture through a variety of activities. Students will attend Japanese language classes with KGU students, and participate in Japanese Culture Study classes, traditional arts and other cultural activities including a fieldtrip to the historically rich city of Kyoto. Participants can choose from campus accommodation or homestays to experience different aspects of life in Japan.

TOHOKU UNIVERSITY JAPANESE PROGRAMME (TUJP)

The Tohoku University Japanese Programme is a 4-week summer programme designed to improve students' Japanese language proficiency and deepen their understanding of Japan. The programme consists of intensive Japanese lessons with many hands-on activities to practice Japanese. In addition, there are interactive lessons on traditional and modern Japanese culture and society, and collaborative learning activities with local Tohoku University students.

SEINAN SUMMER PROGRAMME

Please check back later for updates.

RIKUZENTAKATA PROJECT

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Homestay Programmes

Hiroshima Homestay Programme

Hiroshima Singapore Association (HSA) was established in 1995 to promote mutual understanding between Singapore and Hiroshima. The Department has been organising student exchange homestay programmes with HSA since 1998. Every year, students who participated in the programme have learnt about Japanese culture as well as Japanese businesses by attending flower arrangement and tea ceremony workshops, meeting with local university students, visiting companies and factories, and meeting with business people in Hiroshima.

Field Study Programmes

The Department features several field studies opportunities:

JS3229 Field Studies in Japan

This is a 4-unit course conducted during the special term in May. A/P Chris McMorran has taught the course every year since 2011. It begins with a week of coursework at NUS. This includes readings on the year’s theme, critical tourism studies, and qualitative research methods; seminar-style discussion; and group and individual research projects. Then the course moves to Japan (typically Kyushu) for 10 days, where students practice field methods by studying a theme relevant to contemporary Japan. Past themes have included ecotourism, disaster, and heritage tourism. Students typically share their experiences in a public forum such as the Japan Creative Centre or the NUS Central Library. The theme is announced each December, with applications from interested students due in February, and selection made in March. For more information, please visit http://blog.nus.edu.sg/mcmorran/ or contact A/P McMorran at mcmorran@nus.edu.sg.

Internship Programmes

HIROSHIMA SINGAPORE ASSOCIATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

Please check back later for updates.

SEP Course Mapping

Guidelines for Student Exchange Programme (SEP) Course Mapping for Japanese Studies–Outgoing NUS students

In order to receive units in Japanese Studies for courses taken while on SEP, students must seek approval from both the Japanese Studies department and the Dean’s Office by applying through Edurec. Submit mapping requests after your application has been approved by SEP and the partner university, but before classes begin. Mapping requests may be submitted later (i.e., after classes begin), but approval is not guaranteed. To avoid discovering too late that the course you took is not suitable, please submit mapping requests early.

In order to be mapped to a Japanese Studies course code, a course must be about Japan. For comparative course, at least 50% of the readings and assignments must be about Japan specifically. Courses about East Asia in general, or on other topics not related to Japan specifically (sociology, psychology, etc.), even if offered at a Japanese university, must be mapped to the appropriate NUS department. Courses must also have academic content. Requests for martial arts, tea ceremony, ikebana, dance or similar courses will be rejected, unless there is a substantial academic component (i.e., readings and research paper equal to a 2000 level course).

All Japanese language course mapping requests should be directed to the Centre for Language Study and submitted with a LAJ course code, not a JS course code. For questions on mapping language courses, please refer to CLS.

The Japanese Studies department only approves mapping requests. The department does not allocate the units for the course. FASS students, please refer to the Unit Ratio when calculating your units. For non-FASS students, please check with your Dean's Office on how the units are calculated and transferred.

https://fass.nus.edu.sg/unit-ratios-for-sep-swp
Final approval of mapping requests and allocation of units will be done by the dean’s office.

How to Select the Correct Course Code in Edurec

To ensure your request is approved without delay, you must select the appropriate course code when applying through Edurec. Nearly all SEP courses will be approved at the 2000 level. Look at the list of 2000 level courses offered in Japanese Studies and see if any of these closely match the course at the partner university. If both the level and the content match, then select a fixed course code (ex., JS2228). If there is no match, select a department exchange course code (dummy code) JS27xx. When considering the list of course codes to select, remember the level matters more than the content.

Mapping at the 3000 level will only be approved if there is clear evidence that the course is at an advanced level. Some universities such as Waseda indicate the level of the course in the online course guide; only courses marked “advanced” can be mapped at the 3000 level. If the level is not clearly marked, you must submit or link to the syllabus, including reading list and assessment. In general, a 3000 level course must include a substantial and challenging reading list and a research paper as the majority of the assessment (not a group project, presentation or final exam).

The following courses cannot be mapped under any circumstance:

  • Exposure courses (JS1101E)
  • JS2101, JS3101, JS4101-- JS majors/minors must take these courses at NUS.
  • General Education courses (e.g., GEH1014)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was my mapping request rejected?
A: You must log in to Edurec to see the reason. The reason is not included in the automated email from Edurec.

Most rejections occur for one of the following reasons:

  • You selected a course code that was too high or too low. Remember most courses will be approved at the 2000 level only.
  • The course is not about Japan.
  • You selected a fixed course code but the content does not match. Select a dummy code instead (JS27xx).

Q: I’m a JS major and I really need 3000 level units. What can I do?
A: Plan ahead to take most of your 3000 level units at NUS, and be aware that some Japanese universities have more advanced level courses than others available for exchange students. Remember that to receive the equivalent units for one 3000 level course at NUS, you must take 2-3 courses at the 3000 level at the partner university, depending on the exchange ratio. In your mapping request, be sure to select a course that is at an advanced level, and submit clear evidence of a challenging reading list and workload, equivalent to a 3000 level course at NUS. You may ask the instructor for a copy of the syllabus if it is not available online. Remember all unit allocations must be approved by the FASS Dean’s Office.

Q: Can courses taught in Japanese be mapped?
A: Yes, if your language skills are good enough to take a course in Japanese, it can be mapped according to the same guidelines outlined above.

Q: My partner university has not yet released the list of courses/timetable. What do I do?
A: If the list of courses from the previous year is available online, you can use that, but be aware some those courses may not be offered again. Or you can wait. Mapping requests may be submitted at any time, even after the semester begins. However, the risk is you might enrol in courses that don't cover the requirements you need or that cannot be mapped. Your chance of getting a course approved is much higher if you keep the above guidelines in mind.

Q: The semester is already finished. Can I still submit mapping requests?
A: Yes, but approval is subject to the guidelines above.