Kobe University (Hyogo)
Understanding Japanese culture and society through a high-level Japanese language program and research project■Kobe University③ Statistics on number of International Students andNikkensei at Kobe University over the last 3 years① Outline of Kobe University

2019： International Students 1,399
2018： International Students 1,303
2017： International Students 1,2011）History and Background
Kobe University has more than 110 years of history,
having started as Kobe Commercial High School in
1902.
We are one of the few comprehensive universities inJapan, with cutting edge facilities for teaching andresearch. There are currently, there are 10 faculties,
15 research schools, 1 research office, and 1 research
institute with several university wide centers, divided
into four main areas of Humanities, Social Sciences,
Natural Sciences and Life Sciences/Medicine.
We work in a spirit of integrity, freedom, andcooperation in keeping with ours open andcosmopolitan culture and environs, aiming tocontribute to the global community, through thecreation of knowledge founded on universal values
and the fostering of rich understanding and strong
leadership skills.
2) Staff and Students （May 2019）
・Staff： 1,549
・Admin： 2,027
・Students： Undergraduates 11,577
Postgraduates
4,649
Total
16,226＜International Students 1,399 (from 92 regions)＞

Nikkensei 6
Nikkensei 7
Nikkensei 7

whilst learning Japanese language to a high level.
Furthermore, you will be able to develop your intercultural communication skills by participating in manyexchange activities with Japanese students.
③ Number of Students
10（5 Embassy applicants、5 university applicants ）④ Conditions for Application
・Status and Field of Study
You must be registered at an overseas university andtaking classes in Japanese language and culture as anundergraduate student (1st year students are excluded)④ KobeKobe University is located in the city of Kobe,
which is a cosmopolitan port city surrounded by thesea and mountains. Kobe has developed into amajor international trading center in Japan since
opening the port in 1868.
Kobe is the major city in Hyogo prefecture and is
the regional center of government, economy, culture
and education in the region.

■ Course Outline① Course Aims(a) A course intended mainly to study about Japanand Japanese culture② International Exchange （May 2019）② Features of the course

Kobe University has academic exchange
agreements with 367 universities and research
institutions in 64 countries worldwide.

This course allows you to learn about Japan using
various approaches for experiencing Japaneseculture through participation in numerous culturalevents, visits to cultural sites and study trips,

・Japanese language proficiency and grades
You must have completed a basic course inJapanese language and have competence in Japanese
to take undergraduate classes offered in Japanese at
Kobe University. （This is equivalent to attaining N2 levelin the JLPT, and having excellent grades in othersubjects at your university)
・OtherFor students applying through their universities, wegive preference to students applying from universities
that have a formal exchange agreement with KobeUniversity.
⑤ Aims of the Course
The aim of this course is to provide an environment inwhich you can improve your competence in Japanese toa high level as well as deepening your understanding ofJapanese culture, suitable for students aiming to beexperts in Japanese studies going on to be researchers,teachers, translators, interpreters, etc.
⑥ Period of Study（Period of enrollment）
1st October 2020 thru 31st August 2021

⑦ Period of Scholarship payment
October 2020 thru August 2021
⑧ Course Schedule
End of September： Arrival in Japan (30th September2019 )October：・ Orientation
・ Advising on student life in Japan
November ：Field trip: Pottery at Tamba Region etc.
December・ Kobe University International Student
Symposium, exchange with Japanese students
・ Mochitsuki Event (Local Nada Region)
February ：Ski Trip（Optional）
June
・ Study field trip to research Japanese culture
July・ Preparation of final research reports
August・ Completion of course, ceremony and・ farewell party
End of August：Return home
⑨ Requirements for completion of the course
The requirements for completing the course are that youstudy for more than 420 hours, which includes compulsory
subject (120hrs.) and elective subjects (300hrs.) over theautumn and spring semesters, and present on yourresearch topics.
Students completing the course will be given a certificate ofcompletion. Completion is decided at an examiners
meeting of the CIE staff at the end of the course.
We are unable to give credits, but we can give you an
official transcript with subject names, description, andgrades at the end of the course. Transcripts can also beissued if there is a request from your university.

write a final report, Japanese language classes forincreasing your language proficiency, and content
classes in Japanese studies where you study withJapanese students. The Research Project andupperintermediate/advanced writing classes arecompulsory. Other subjects are elective classes foryou to concentrate on improving your knowledge ofJapanese studies and language.
Kobe University has a 2 semester/quarter system.
The Research Project and some other classes aresemester based, whilst others are offered quarterly.
Class Periods（Scheduled）：
3rd Quarter : 1st October 2020～27th November 2020
4th Quarter : 1st December 2020～5th February 2021
1st Quarter : 1st April 2021～4th June 2021
2nd Quarter : 7th June 2021～5th August 2021
The 3rd/4th quarters are equivalent to the Autumn
Semester and 1st and 2nd quarters the SpringSemester.
2）Course subjects
Ⅰ）Compulsory Subjects（120hrs）
・Research Project (30hrs in each semester)Whilst studying about set topics under thesupervision of your advisor, you will givepresentations and write reports on the research you
carry out. You will acquire basic skills in academic
Japanese through this study, and write a final
research report at the end of the course. The topics
for each semester are as follows.
Autumn Semester Topic：Gender Issues
Spring Semester Topic：Regional Studies
・Japanese Language Classes (30hrs in eachsemester)
You must chose writing classes in each semester,from Japanese I A/B, Japanese V A/B and JapaneseWriting Upper Intermediate A/B.

⑩ Outline of classes within this course

Ⅱ）Elective classes（Minimum of 300 hours）

1）Characteristics of course subjects

・Japanese Language Classes

The course consists of the ‘Research Project’ where you
carry out research on Japanese language and culture toThese classes are offered every quarter fordifferent level and skills. You can register for classes

that suit your level from Intermediate to Advancedlevels.
The levels for the Japanese language classes aregiven below. Students should aim to take advanced
classes in the spring semester.
Intermediate and Upper Intermediate levels
You will study about Japanese culture together withskill-based language classes on grammar, speaking,reading, writing, Kanji and vocabulary.
Advanced level
These classes consist of writing, grammar, speaking,listening and reading classes to improve eachlanguage skill, to a level where you can carry out
research on academic topics in Japanese. Also, they
are designed for you to study and research about awide range of specialized subjects such as Japanesesociety, culture and history etc.
Japanese Language Classes
Class NameLevelAdvancedAdvancedAdvancedIntermediate
Japanese Listening & SpeakingA/B～Upper Intermediate
Intermediate
Japanese Reading A/B～Upper Intermediate
Intermediate
Japanese Writing A/B～Upper Intermediate
Intermediate
Japanese Kanji and Vocabulary A/B～Upper Intermediate
Japanese for Specific PurposesⅠA/B Upper Intermediate
Japanese for Specific PurposesⅡA/B Intermediate
Japanese for Specific PurposesⅢA/B Intermediate
Japanese for Specific PurposesⅣA/B Upper Intermediate
Japanese for Specific PurposesⅤA/B Advanced
Japanese CultureⅠA/B
Upper beginners
Intercultural Communication A/B Advanced

Autumn Sem Spring Sem（ 3rd・ 4thＱ）（ 1st・ 2ndＱ）

15 Hrs15 HrsJapaneseⅠA～ⅧB
Japanese Studies ⅠA～ⅡB
Japanese Speaking A/B・Specialized classes on Japanese studies
You can register for classes offered by the faculties
of Letters, and Global Human Sciences to pursue
studies on your interests in Japan. As well as
deepening your knowledge of Japanese culture, youwill aim to create a foundation to go on to be able tocarry out research in Japanese language and culture,by acquiring skills and methods necessary for carryingout research on topics related to Japan.

3）Classes for taking part in study tours andcommunity exchanges.
We do not have these kind of classes, however weoffer various events, symposium, study tours
which we ask you to participate in.
4）Opportunity to study with Japanese students
We provide a course called ‘Introductory Seminarfor Promoting Global Leadership’ that aims to give
you the skills to become a global citizen,
through bilingual groupwork to plan and organize theKobe University International Student Symposium
which is held in December every year.
⑪ Supervision
・Prof. Richard Harrison is in overall charge of theprogram.

■ Accommodation
Kobe University can only provide limited
accommodation in university dormitories due to a sharp
increase in the number of international students.
If dormitory accommodation is not available you will
be offered public housing.
・Length of occupancy is 11 months
・ Rent is ¥4,700～21,000 per month (2019year)＊A common service charge may be required
・Depending on the accommodation, there will bea desk, chair, bed, refrigerator ,washing machineand so on.
・Commuting time is around 30~50 minutes
・Additional costs（heating and water costs are borneby the individual)a. Study
Supervision is provided for the Research Projectthroughout the duration of the course.
b. Living in Japan
CIE has two advisors to provide counseling on
living in Japan.
* advisors to provide counseling・Prof. Naruo Kawai・Assoc.Prof. Chiharu Kuroda■Follow-up support for ex-Nikkensei
Students who have completed this course areincluded in our Alumni database, which we use to send
information to students about further study
opportunities and career advice. It is also used for
information exchange between alumni groups.
We also help students who have completed the course
to go on to further postgraduate studies in Japan.
Since this program started here at Kobe University, ofthe total of 102 students who took this course, morethan 10 students have gone on to conductpostgraduate research in Japan. Also, more than half ofthe total number have found employment withJapanese or Japan-related companies.
Facebook:
Kobe University International Alumni Association
https://www.facebook.com/KobeUniversityInternational
AlumniNikkensei Graduation Ceremony■ Enquiries
Kobe University
International Exchange DivisionAddress〒657-8501
1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku,Kobe,Hyogo
TEL ＋81-78-803-5263（direct line）
FAX ＋81-78-803-5289
E-mail intl-suishin@office.kobe-u.ac.jp
Program Coordinator
Kobe University,
Center for International Education（Unit of Japanese Language Education）
TEL ＋81-78-803-5275（Direct）
Websites
Kobe University
http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp
Institute for Promoting International Partnerships,
http://www.office.kobeu.ac.jp/ipiep/edu/index.html
Center for International Education
http://www.kisc.kobe-u.ac.jp/english/
Facebook:
Kobe University Center for international Education
https://www.facebook.com/KobeUniversityInternationalStudentCenter/