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 (MEXT). 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
- Winter Programmes
- Homestay Programmes
- Field Studies in Japan
- One-year Programmes
- Internship Programmes
For SEP matters, please visit our SEP page.
Summer Programmes
*OVERVIEW
Below are the Summer Programmes available in Japanese Universities for AY2526 (2026 May to August), information accurate as of 2026 February. Please check the respective program websites for the latest information.
Programmes titles with an asterisk (*) are eligible for partial scholarship (JS majors only). Kindly look out for the email in your NUS inbox.
| Programme Title | University | Apply via? | Need Dept Nomination? | Application Deadline (MM/DD) | Course Fees | Programme dates |
| Keio Summer Program* | Keio University | GRO | No | 01/14 0900 JST Opens: 12/22 Results: 02/09 |
288,000 JPY | 28 May - 29 July 2026 Orientation: 25-27 May |
| Summer Programme | Jutendo University | E-Raion/ LAJ | No | 02/03 (to LAJ) | 230,000 JPY | 22 May - 14 Jun 2026 |
| Summer Programme | Kyoto Women's University | E-Raion/ LAJ | No | 02/03 (to LAJ) | 180,000 JPY | 8 Jun - 26 Jun 2026 |
| Nanzan Anime Study Tour | Nanzan University | GRO | No | 02/10 Opens: 02/01 |
450,000 JPY | 22 Jun - 11 July 2026 |
| CJS Summer Japanese Program | Nanzan University | Directly to the Japanese University | No | 02/14 Opens: 02/01 Results: 03/30 |
437,390 JPY | 5 Jun - 31 Jul 2026 Arrival: 05/29-30 Orientation: 06/02-04 |
| AIU's Summer Program* | Akita International University | JS Dept | Yes | 02/15 (nomination) Online app: 02/25 Results: 03/end |
260,000 JPY | 16 Jun - 24 July 2026 |
| Waseda Summer Session* | Waseda University | GRO | No | 02/27 2359 JST Opens: 02/09 Results: 04/06 |
672,000 JPY (2courses) 748,000 JPY (3courses) |
15 Jun - 22 Jul 2026 Check-in: 06/11 Orientation: 06/13 |
| ICU ISPJ* | International Christian University | Directly to the Japanese University | No | 03/01 | 374,700 JPY | 3 Jul - 30 Jul 2026 |
| KCJS Summer Programs in Modern and Classical Japanese - Classical Japanese Program* | Doshisha University | Directly to the Japanese University | No | 03/01 | US$6555 | 11 Jun -24 Jul 2026 |
| Tohoku University Japanese Programme (Summer 2)* | Tohoku University | GRO | No | 03/08 | 225,000 JPY | Summer 2: 1 - 28 July 2026 |
| Summer Intensive Japanese Program* | Seinan Gakuin University | Directly to the Japanese University | No | 03/15 | 190,000 JPY | 15 Jun - 17 Jul 2026 Check-in: 06/13-14 |
| Manga Art Institute Summer Program 2026 | Kansai Gaidai University | Directly to the Japanese University | No | 03/15 Opens 01/22 Results: 04/01 |
600,000 JPY | 23 Jun - 18 Jul 2026 |
| University of Tokyo Global Unit Courses (GUC)* | University of Tokyo | GRO | No | 03/16 1600 JST Results: 04/mid-to-late |
190,000 JPY per global unit | 8 Jun - 27 July 2026 |
| KGU Summer School | Kwansei Gakuin University | JS Dept | Yes (early Mar) |
03/23 Result: 04/early |
580,000 JPY | 9 Jun - 11 Jul 2026 |
| Kyoto Summer Program* | Kyoto University | JS Dept (JS majors will receive an email) | Yes | 03/30 5PM | All personal expenses | 24 Jul - 7 Aug 2026 |
| Intensive Japanese Language and Culture Study Program* | Kwansei Gakuin University | JS Dept | Yes (by 3 Apr) |
04/30 | 265,000 JPY | 14 Jul - 6 Aug 2026 |
| Summer in Japan Program (SIJP)* | Rikkyo University | Directly to the Japanese University | No | 05/07 2359 JST Opens: 03/06 Results: 05/13 |
320,000 JPY | 20 Jul - 1 August 2026 |
| Ritsumeikan Summer Japanese Program (RSJP)* | Ritsumeikan University | Directly to the Japanese University | No | TBC | 370,000 JPY | 16 Jun - 17 July 2026 |
| Ritsumeikan Summer Japanese Program (RSJP) Express* | Ritsumeikan University | Directly to the Japanese University | No | TBC | 170,000 JPY | 28 Jul - 7 Aug 2026 |
JAPANESE-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FOR COUNTERPART JAPANESE LEARNERS (UNIVERSITY STUDENTS) SPRING PROGRAM
This is a a 44-day intensive language programme organised by The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai. The programme dates are from May to June. Participation in this fully-funded programme is by department nomination only. The call for applications will be emailed to JS majors around December.
WASEDA SUMMER SESSION
The Waseda Summer Session is a six-week summer programme held at Waseda University, Tokyo. Course content includes Japanese culture, business, economy, politics, literature, and arts. The programme includes fieldtrips to Japan’s natural sites and significant cultural landmarks such as Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Edo Wonderland Nikko, allowing students to connect with Japan’s traditional philosophies and culture. Applications must be submitted online. For more details, please visit the GRO website.
INTENSIVE JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE STUDY PROGRAM (KWANSEI GAKUIN UNIVERSITY)
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.
*NOTE: This programme is also offered in Winter but overlaps with the NUS semester
TOHOKU UNIVERSITY JAPANESE PROGRAMME (TUJP SUMMER)
The Tohoku University Japanese Programme (Summer) 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. For more details, please visit the GRO website.
UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO GLOBAL UNIT COURSES (GUC)
The University of Tokyo's GUC provides a great opportunity for students around the world to experience studying at one of the world's foremost universities in East Asia. For more details, please visit the GRO website.
Winter Programmes
SHORT-TERM JAPANESE PROGRAM WINTER COURSE (WASEDA UNIVERSITY)
The Short-term Japanese Program is 3-week programme run by the Center for Japanese Language Waseda University with the goal of cultivating students’ overall Japanese language ability.
Application deadline: early September
Application results: end September
Programme start: early December
Programme end: late December
Want to find out more about this programme? Watch Linh's video, 'day in my life - language student at waseda' here:
https://youtu.be/NwBQGvf0M8g?si=4VJ-6Up9IVa-MHAA
TOHOKU UNIVERSITY JAPANESE PROGRAMME (TUJP WINTER 1)
The Tohoku University Japanese Programme (Winter 1) is a 2-week winter 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. For more details, please visit the GRO website.
Application deadline: late September
Application results: early October
Programme start: early December
Programme end: mid-December
*NOTE: Winter 2 overlaps with the NUS semester
Homestay Programmes
Hiroshima Homestay Programme [DECEMBER]
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. JS majors will be notified via email when applications open around September-October.
Field Study Programmes
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.
One-Year Programmes with Scholarship
Please note that participation in these programmes will require a Leave of Absence (LOA).
HSA & MIAL Scholarship
Mihara International Academy of Languages (MIAL) is a Japanese language institution located in Hiroshima Prefecture. The 1-year programme is designed to help students comprehensively acquire intermediate and advanced level Japanese language skills and to acquire the Japanese language proficiency necessary to enter Japanese universities and other institutions of higher education, as well as to find employment. The goal of this course is to pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N1 – N2.
JS majors are eligible to apply for the Hiroshima Singapore Association (HSA) & Mihara International Academy of Languages (MIAL) Scholarship. Details are shared at the annual JS SEP & Scholarship briefing.
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship: Japanese Studies Students
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to international students who wish to study for a period of one year at designated Japanese universities as Japanese Studies Students in order to deepen their understanding of the Japanese language, Japanese affairs and Japanese culture under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship: Japanese Studies Students programme. Students will be notified via email when the application window opens.
Internship Programmes
Please check back later for updates.