JACS FAQ
For prospective students

STUDY PROGRAMS________________________________________________________________
What countries are JACS students from?
Since the start of the JACS programs (UG in 2014, MA in 2015) students have comefrom all over the world: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, China, Finland, Germany, Hong
Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia,
Norway, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, UK,
USA, Vietnam. The majority of students have come from other Asian countries.

What does a typical day look like for a first-year UG (UG1) student?
A typical day for UG1 students begins with Japanese class in the mornings (startingat 8:45), followed by two or more general education and/or introductory JACS classes.
First-year students will take significantly more general education and language
courses than specialized JACS courses. Some students also participate inNagoya University, (Graduate) School of Humanities
Japan-in-Asia Cultural Studies Program FAQ @ September 2022

extracurricular activities such as clubs and circles and many have part-time jobs.
Finally, class assignments also take up a significant amount of time every day.
* MA students do not have any language requirements to fulfill and do not takegeneral education courses either.

How long are classes and what time do they take place?
Classes at NU are 90 minutes each and take place Mon-Fri during the following times:
1st period – 8:45-10:15
2nd period – 10:30-12:00
Lunch break 12:00-13:00
3rd period – 13:00-14:30
4th period – 14:45-16:15
5th period – 16:30-18:00
6th period – 18:00-19:30

How do classes work in JACS?
While some of NU’s science programs follow a quarter system, the humanities at NU
run on a 15-week semester system. Classes begin around October 1 in the fall andaround April 11 in the spring and normally meet once a week for 1.5 hours each.
JACS classes are generally small (5-15 students) and very communicative. In
addition to JACS program students from both the UG and MA programs, we usually
have some short-term exchange students from the NUPACE program andoccasionally students enrolled in the Japanese programs also take our courses.
As classes are heavily discussion-based, students are expected to complete
assigned readings beforehand so they may participate in class discussions. We rarely
do student presentations; instead, students learn to be discussion leaders. Towards theend of semester, a final paper or project is typically assigned.

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What kind of courses can I take?
All Japanese universities including NU distinguish between two types of courses in
the UG program, both of which are mandatory: general education courses andspecialized courses. At NU, the general education courses are offered by the Instituteof Liberal Arts and Sciences (ILAS) while the specialized JACS courses are offered by
the School of Humanities.
Generally speaking, ILAS courses cover a wide range of fields ranging from
biology to information literacy to Japanese language education and physicaleducation. The specialized courses make up the core of the JACS program and focus
on the history, literature, and visual culture of modern and contemporary Japan (1868present).
As a Year 1 undergraduate student, the JACS courses that you can take arelimited to introductory level courses; more advanced, specialized courses will be“unlocked” once you move on to Year 2 and above. On the other hand, students needa certain number of credits from ILAS courses to advance to Year 3. Therefore, it isrecommended to fulfill the requirements for third year standing in the first two or
three semesters, and gradually shift to specialized courses from your second year. You
will receive detailed guidance on this matter. Students in the MA program do notneed to take any general education courses.

Can I focus on only one of the three disciplines?
In the UG program, students are required to take a few courses each from history, film,
and literature to fulfill their “Compulsory Elective Course” requirements. Beyond theminimum requirements, students may take more or fewer courses from eachdiscipline, provided they acquire enough credits for graduation. In general, students3

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take roughly the same number of classes across the three disciplines. It is only in the
4th year that students choose one of the three fields for their senior thesis (in theory,interdisciplinary projects are possible as well).
The MA program covers only two years, during which students write their thesis
in one of the three fields. There is no requirement for general language or education
courses and the amount of coursework is slightly lower. For this reason, most students
put a clear focus on one of the three disciplines and complement the classes with one
or two courses from the other two.

Can I take courses outside of JACS?
It is possible for UG and MA students to take courses from the wider School of
Humanities, as well as other schools, for credit. Depending on your language skills,
students may be permitted to take Japanese-taught courses as well (the NUEMI
program offers individual tutoring support for students who take Japanese-taught
courses). These courses are counted as “Electives”.

I am fascinated by premodern culture/history/literature. Is JACS the rightprogram for me?
JACS puts a strong focus on modern and contemporary “Japan-in-Asia,” with modern
meaning anything after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. While students will have theopportunity to take courses on various aspects of premodern culture, JACS is not theright program for you if premodern culture and/or religion are your main interests.

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What are some things JACS students struggle with the most?
Most of our students have no prior experience of living in Japan or of living away fromtheir families. Although all of our students have a high level of English, studying in
English is a new experience for many. In addition, university courses are not only more
intense than high school classes, but students are also responsible for organizing theirown timetables, reconciling classes with extracurricular activities, etc. –– time
management often takes on a wholly new meaning. Finally, it can be intimidating totake classes together with your senpai (senior students) who might seem much moreeloquent and sophisticated.
Incoming JACS students are assigned a tutor who will help them navigate theintricacies of the system. Nonetheless, the first few months can be a bit overwhelming.
However, in the almost ten years since the program started, we have observed
students grow from this experience and come out very strong. We encourage everyone
to confide in their friends and, ideally, also speak to the faculty if they feel they are
not on top of things. In most cases, problems can be solved or at least significantly
eased through communication. Should it be necessary, NU also offers professionalcounseling free of charge (in English and Japanese).

How many Japanese classes will I be able to take?
In the first year, UG students take Japanese lessons every day in the first period,
beginning at 8:45 a.m. Placement tests ensure that everyone is put in the appropriate
level. Students who have passed JLPT Level N3 and above can submit their certificate
to have a part of the credits recognized; they may choose to take Japanese or otherforeign languages courses to fulfill the rest of their credits. From Year 2, students may
takeJapaneseandJapaneselinguistics

courses

to

count

as

electives.

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MA students do not have any language requirements to clear but are permitted(read: strongly encouraged) to take language courses on a voluntary basis.

Is there a study-abroad system I can participate in?
Yes. NU has many partner universities around the globe and JACS students are
eligible to apply. So far, only a small number of our students have taken advantage ofthis opportunity. For one thing, most of our students are already in a “study-abroad”
situation here in Japan. In addition, it can be tricky (but is not impossible) to get
overseas credits recognized upon return, which means that careful planning is crucial
to fit in a term or two abroad.

Can you tell me more about NU’s Research Student program?
Students who have graduated from an undergraduate program abroad can enter
Nagoya University as non-degree seeking students under the Research Student
Program. Research students will be able to take language and content courses,
pending the permission of the instructor. While many of our current MA students firstjoined us as research students and spent a term or two polishing their research projects,
this is not mandatory. Likewise, entering the research student program will notguarantee admission to the JACS MA program.
We strongly encourage prospective research students to get in touch with apotential supervisor before applying to the program!
General guidance:
https://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/admissions/research_students/index.html
Graduate School of Humanities Guidance:

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https://www.hum.nagoya-u.ac.jp/en/admissions/for-prospective-intlstudents/researchstudentapplication.html

EXTRACURRICULARS________________________________________________________________
What extracurricular activities are offered at NU?
Clubs (bukatsu) and circles (sākuru) are a great way of getting to know students fromthe Japanese programs and of improving your Japanese skills. We encourage everyone
to check out the amazingly wide variety of activities. Recruiting usually happens in
April at the beginning of the Japanese academic year. We recommend that JACS
students focus on getting used to life in Japan during their first term and wait until
their second term before trying out or joining any clubs or circles. Before joining, you
should understand the nature of the group you are considering and be aware of the
expectations that come with group membership.
The biggest difference between clubs and circles lies in how they are organized.
While circles can be rather informal (read: it’s OK to miss meetings occasionally, or toleave the circle altogether), clubs tend to be organized in a much stricter, often veryhierarchical way than what students might be used to from their home countries. The
expectation generally is that students will attend all meetings (regardless of the timeand even when you are not feeling well) and stay in the same club until they graduate.
Many clubs also have a busy schedule that can be difficult to reconcile with ademanding curriculum such as JACS. For instance, we once had a student who joined
the ice hockey club unaware that they would hold their training sessions between 1:003:00am and travel as far as Hokkaido to participate in tournaments. Sport clubs in7

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particular will often require members to buy expensive gear or pay significant fees for
renting facilities (e.g. the ice rink), tournament participation, etc.
In short, while circles are often pretty relaxed, clubs tend to expect that you willprioritize their activities over your studies, which is not what we recommend. The
reason this works for (some, not all) Japanese students is that while getting into NU is
extremely difficult, graduating is not. Companies generally pay more attention to theuniversity ranking than to an applicant’s major or their GPA, and dedicatedparticipation in a sports club, for instance, can count as a big plus. NONE OF THIS IS
TRUE FOR JACS! While it is significantly easier to get in, the workload of JACS
courses is medium to high, and students are expected to do original research for theirsenior thesis. In addition, for international students the GPA will be significantly more
important even if they opt for job-hunting in Japan. Therefore, it’ll be best to choose
your club/ circle wisely!

SCHOLARSHIPS & COST OF LIVING________________________________________________________________Can I apply for a scholarship and/or a tuition waiver?
Yes and yes. We have no way of knowing how NU’s financial situation will develop
in the coming years, but in the past, we have been able to give away a limited numberof scholarships to both UG and MA students. Most students have benefited fromtuition waivers for some time.
UG applicants will be automatically considered for the scholarship unless you
opt out. Please note that while applying for a scholarship will not negatively affect8

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your application, it will require the submission of a range of documents about yourfamily’s financial status.
In the case of UG applicants, the scholarship decision is based on merit and needalone, whereas the MA scholarship is based on merit and nationality, meaning thatwhile you do not need to prove your financial need, you may not be eligible
depending on where you are from. Even if you do not receive a scholarship offer uponentering NU, JACS students from both programs have been rather successful inapplying for various smaller scholarships after enrollment.
In the past, most students in the UG program and many in the MA program havebenefited from (rare) full or (more often) partial tuition waivers. Unfortunately,
application for the waiver has only been possible after enrolment and from inside
Japan in the past, but it seems this rule is being revised.
Note that Japanese citizens are not given any preferential treatment in theadmission process. At the time of writing, they are, however, exempt from tuition
waivers. If you are a dual citizenship holder, please consider carefully what the best
choice will be.

Does NU provide housing?
All UG and MA students are offered a room in a relatively new international
dormitory not far from campus for the first year (see the AO website for more
information). From the second year onwards, students move to small private
apartments in the vicinity, many of them opting for room sharing. While the rent isrelatively reasonable compared to many other countries, moving itself can easily
become expensive. It is therefore essential to familiarize yourself with Japanesemoving culture before canceling/signing a contract.

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ADMISSION INTERVIEW________________________________________________________________
How will the candidates be chosen for the interview?
While the AO will check the applications for completeness, the actual document
screening is conducted by the JACS core faculty. We will invite applicants on the basisof their academic performance and place special emphasis on the essays, so be sure toreserve enough time for writing.

What should I expect during the interview?
The interviews are conducted online by the JACS core faculty (3 people). A memberof the AO will be present to monitor the interview and to help with technical issues.
So, in a typical interview you will see three to four faces (the AO staff might turn off
their camera), which can be a bit intimidating at first. However, we want to give
applicants the chance to e-meet everyone they would be studying with at JACS. Of
course, the interview is also a great way for us to get to know applicants a bit. Theinterview will last about 30-40 minutes during which we will ask questions about yourapplication, other topics related to cultural studies in general, and also give you theopportunity to ask whatever you would like to know.

Could you give me an idea of the application timeline?
The exact dates are published by the Admission Office, so please check their website
as well. UG interviews are usually held in February or early March; MA interviews
have nearly always been scheduled for early to mid-March. In recent years, the results
for both programs have been published in the second half of March.

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Japan-in-Asia Cultural Studies Program FAQ @ September 2022

In previous years, we have usually held a second round of applications for the
MA program (“rolling application”) in the spring. The application deadline is usuallyaround the end of April or in early May, and interviews have been held in late June or
early July. If you are interested in applying after the first round is already over, please
get in touch to inquire whether a rolling application is scheduled for that year, and tofind out whether your project would fit into our program.

CAREER PATHS________________________________________________________________
Where do JACS graduates go after graduation?
Roughly a third of our graduates have moved on to MA or PhD programs in Japanand abroad. Universities our students have been admitted to include: Adelaide
University, Brown University, Columbia University, Nagoya University LCS, NewYork University Tisch School of the Arts, Seoul University, University of Cambridge,
University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Riverside, Universityof California-Santa Barbara, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of
Minnesota, University of Oregon, University of Oxford, University of Pennsylvania,
University of Texas, Waseda University, University of Washington, Yale University.
Two thirds of our BA/MA graduates have started careers in non-academic fields
in Japan or their home countries. Companies in Japan include Komatsu, Shinmei
Kogyo, UFJ Mitsubishi Bank, Japan Travel Bureau, and an advertising agency as well
as a major hotel chain in Tokyo; graduates also work as university admin staff or at
English language schools. Outside Japan, graduates can be found at the NYC Art
Gallery, a localization company in the UK, a financial technology corporation in

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Singapore, an advertisement company in Shanghai or in housing development in the
US. Some students have joined family businesses upon return to their countries.
Career Support Center at NU
https://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/academics/career/index.html

CONTACT US________________________________________________________________Is it appropriate to contact the faculty before applying?
YES, please do contact us with any question you might have. Especially in the case of
MA applicants, we strongly encourage prospective students to get in touch before
applying. The MA program only runs for two years which means that MA applicantsshould already have a well-developed idea of what topic they would like to research
for their MA project. In addition, the further up the academic ladder you step, themore important the relationship with your supervisor – as well as their fields ofexpertise – becomes. Every year, we receive a number of applications that would makefor interesting projects but are clearly outside our fields and therefore get rejected. To
find out whether your project would fit in and whether you feel like you could
establish a good working relationship with the faculty in your field, please do nothesitate to email us!
Prof. Tristan GRUNOW (History) tristan.grunow@nagoya-u.jp
Prof. Kristina IWATA (Literature) kristina.iwata@nagoya-u.jp
Prof. MA Ran (Screen Studies) ma.ran.d8@f.mail.nagoya-u.ac.jp

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USEFUL LINKS________________________________________________________________
G30 Admission Officehttps://admissions.g30.nagoya-u.ac.jp/apply/
Nagoya University Global Engagement Center’s Handbook for International Students:
http://ieec.iee.nagoya-u.ac.jp/en/info/handbook_for_new_intl_students_2021-23.pdf
Diversity & Accessibility at NU
https://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/about_nu/declaration/Diversity/index.html
LGBT+ and Inclusive Practices at NU
https://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/about_nu/declaration/guidelines_for_lgbt/index.html

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