FACT SHEET 2024/2025
KOBE UNIVERSITY

Faculty/Graduate School of Law
Student Exchange Program

INSTITUTION

Name of Institution
Key Contact

Email Address
WebsitePostal Address

ADMISSION

Nomination Deadline
Application Deadline
Nomination Procedure
Application Procedure

Faculty of Law
Graduate School of Law

Kazuko Okano (Ms.) - International Exchange Coordinatorlaw-kyomu-inter@office.kobe-u.ac.jp

https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/index.html
http://www.law.kobe-u.ac.jp/english/

2-1 Rokkodai-cho Nada-ku Kobe Hyogo 657-8501 JAPANFor 2024 Spring Semester (April - September) October 20, 2023 (Fri)For 2024 Fall Semester (October - March) April 20, 2024 (Sat)For 2024 Spring Semester (April - September) October 30, 2023 (Mon)For 2024 Fall Semester (October - March) April 30, 2024 (Tue)Applicants for an exchange must be nominated by their Home Institution prior
to the application. The nomination sheet should be filled to that effect andsent to Kobe university by the nomination deadline.
Once the nomination has been verified and accepted by Kobe (within days
from the nomination), applicants will be notified by email and invited to sendin documents for the formal application. Verified (nominated) applicantsshould send the following documents as email attachments to theInternational Exchange Coordinator by the application deadline.
Email: law-kyomu-inter@office.kobe-u.ac.jp
1. Application Form
Please make sure to attach a digital photo directly to the form.
2. Academic Transcript
Please make sure to submit your latest academic transcript in English issued byyour home institution.
(Important) digital stamp shall not be accepted
3. Digital ID Photo
A high-quality digital ID photo taken within 1 month prior to application isnecessary for the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) application, necessary to apply
for the Student visa (see below). (scanned pictures are not accepted)

Others(CoE application)

The photo must meet the specifications given by the Immigration authorities
strictly, or the application may be rejected by the Immigration Bureau.
https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/guide/photo_info.html
4. Copy of the Passport ID Page
The expiry date must be later than the end of the exchange period.
5a. Certificate of English Language Level if available
Kobe University will accept only IELTS and TOEFL certificate
5b. Certificate of Japanese Language Level if available
Kobe University will accept only JLPT certificate

Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)In order to apply for a student visa, applicants are required to apply for aCertificate of Eligibility (CoE) beforehand.
Once the application documents above have been verified, applicants will
receive an email from Kobe University indicating the URL of Kobe University
CoE online application. After entry of the required data by the applicants, Kobe
University will submit the CoE application file to the Immigration Service onbehalf of the applicants.
Once the application is approved by the Immigration Bureau, a CoE number
will be issued and communicated to the the applicants through Kobe
University.
Applicants may then apply for a student visa, using their CoE number.
(Printed CoE are not in use anymore since 31 March 2023)
Documents required to be uploaded for the online CoE application are:-One Digital photo (same as above)-A Copy of the passport ID page (same as above)-A financial statement: The financial statement consists in a document provingthat the applicant has sufficient financial support to cover all expenses while
studying at Kobe University. The amount required is equivalent to a minimumof JPY 100,000 balance per month (JPY 600,000 for one semester, or JPY
1,200,000 for 2 semesters). The following documents shall be accepted (1. or 2.
or 3.) If insufficient to cover the amount individually, a combination of 1 and 3etc. is also acceptable.
1. Applicant’s own bank balance certificate
An official bank balance certificate with the bank seal, in JPY or USD of theApplicant’s own account. (local currencies should be converted to either ofthese, with mention of the exchange rate used)
2. Supporter’s bank balance certificate
An official bank balance certificate with the bank seal, in JPY or USD of theApplicant’s Supporter account(s). (local currencies should be converted toeither of these, with mention of the exchange rate used)
3. Scholarship document
A copy of an official document providing that the applicant will receive ascholarship/grant while studying at Kobe University. A scholarship only
covering the tuition of the Home Institution shall not be sufficient.

SCHEDULE

Application schedule for Spring 2024 Semester (April to September 2024)
2023/10/20

2023/10/30
December 2023 –January 2024

Late February 2024

Mid-March 2024
End March 2024
End March 2024
Early April 2024 (TBA)

Nomination Deadline
The confirmation to nominations will be notified to the Home institution assoon as it is verified and approved. Applicants will receive forms andexplanatory notes for the official application, as email attachments.
Formal Application Deadline
Applications will be processed and after approval by the Faculty Meeting, a“Letter of Acceptance” will be issued for each accepted student and sent to theHome institutions. (this document will be necessary for the student visaapplication). Applicants will receive information for the online CoE application,and required to proceed to apply.
The CoE number (see above) necessary for the student visa’s application will
be notified to the students through Kobe University by email. Students should
then proceed to apply for a student visa to their local Japanese Embassy
without delay.
Announcement of dormitory allocation
Orientation
Dormitory Check-in
Course Registration and beginning of Spring Semester.

Application schedule for Fall 2024 Semester (October 2024 to March 2025)
2024/04/20

2024/04/30
June 2024 – July 2024

Late August 2024

Mid September 2024
Mid September 2024
End September 2024
1st October 2024

Nomination Deadline
The confirmation to nominations will be notified to the Home institution assoon as it is verified and approved. Applicants will receive forms andexplanatory notes for the official application, as email attachments.
Formal Application Deadline
Applications will be processed and after approval by the Faculty Meeting, a“Letter of Acceptance” will be issued for each accepted student and sent to theHome institutions. (this document will be necessary for the student visaapplication). Applicants will receive information for the online CoE application,and required to proceed to apply.
The CoE number (see above) necessary for the student visa’s application will
be notified to the students through Kobe University by email. Students should
then proceed to apply for a student visa to their local Japanese Embassy
without delay.
Announcement of dormitory allocation
Orientation
Dormitory Check-in
Course Registration and beginning of Fall Semester

ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Academic Calendar
http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/about_us/academic_calender.html
Spring Semester

Early April to End September (Exams in Early August)Language

Japanese and/or English

Fall Semester

Early October to End March (Exams in Early February)

Language Requirement

Academic Load
Courses and periods

Courses/Credits

Grading System
Courses/Programs

Course Registration

There is no official language requirement, however students are expected tohave sufficient English and/or Japanese abilities to follow the courses.
Exchanges at the doctoral course require in principle, a sufficient level ofproficiency in Japanese, to enable research exchanges with researchers andprofessors at Kobe University.
All international students including exchange students must take at least 10
lesson hours (equivalent of 5 to 6 courses) per week according to theImmigration Regulations in Japan.
Courses are offered by semester, comprising 16 weeks including the final
examination, resulting in 1 course credit for courses of 1 period per week, or
2 course credits for courses of 2 periods per week. One period is 90 minutes(counted as 120 minutes including study time)Courses include lectures, seminars, experiments, exercises, and practicaltraining. Course grades and acquired course credits are announced at theend of each academic semester. One course credit requires a total of
forty-five hours of study, and a grade of S to C (see below) at the final
evaluation. This includes individual study time to prepare for or revise forthe classes.
5-level grading system:
S (90-100), A (80-89), B (70-79), C (60-69), and F (below 59: fail)Syllabus (in Japanese/English)
https://kym22-web.ofc.kobe-u.ac.jp/campussy/
Courses taught in English at Faculty/Graduate School of Law
http://www.law.kobe-u.ac.jp/english/current/syllabus/
Japanese Language Courses
https://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/study_in_kobe/admission/exchange_program/courses_programs.html
Global Education Center (GEC) offers variety of Japanese language courses forthe exchange students<Non-credit bearing courses>*Integrated Japanese Course is open to all exchange students*Intensive Japanese Course is developed for MEXT (Japanese government)
scholarship students. Exchange students can be enrolled in this course on anavailability basis only
<Credit bearing courses>*Japanese Language and Japanese Studies Class (advanced level) is open to allexchange students however the credits are given only to the undergraduate
students
The students can register the courses only after arriving in Japan(Important notice) Please understand that Kobe University can sign theLearning Agreement only after the registration is confirmed by the Academic
Affairs SectionOTHERS

Accommodation(Student Dormitories)

Visa Application

Tuition

Kobe University has 7 Residential Facilities located in Kobe City, andavailable to international students. If you wish placement into a student
accommodation, please make your request in the application document.
Exchange students are given priority for university dormitories howeverplacement is not guaranteed. The final dormitory allocation will be
confirmed about one month before your expected time of arrival to Japan.
Only accommodations for single students are available.
http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/campuslife/housing/accommodation.html

Students visa application must be made by the student individually at theJapanese embassy/Consulate General in their country of residence. Students
should proceed to applying for their visa as soon as they receive the CoE
number, and Letter of Acceptance (please refer above to “Others (CoEapplication)”), and these documents must be presented when applying. Visascannot be obtained after arriving in Japan.
No tuition fee is required for Kobe University, based on reciprocity in theStudent’s exchange agreement (students will pay regular annual tuition to theirhome institutions.)

Estimated Living Cost

http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/campuslife/life/index.html

Insurance

There are 4 kinds of insurance all international students MUST enroll in.
1. National Health Insurance
The National Health Insurance System in Japan reduces individuals’
medical costs. International students who reside in Japan must join theNational Health Insurance scheme. [approximately JPY2,000/month].
2. Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education andResearch (PAS)
Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education andResearch is a nation-wide mutual aid system for students to provide
insurance for physical injuries caused by accidents during regular courses,
official programs, and extracurricular activities on and off campus. All
students are required to join the Personal Accident Insurance for Students
Pursuing Education and Research Plan for which an application form mustbe submitted at time of matriculation. [JPY1,000/year]
https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/campuslife/life/index.html
3. Comprehensive Insurance for Students Lives Coupled with PAS for
International Students
Comprehensive Insurance for Students Lives Coupled with PAS for
International Students expands your insurance coverage. Kobe University
students are obligated to purchase this insurance when enrolling in
Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education andResearch. For more details, please contact the Consulting Desk for Student
Life and Insurance. The contact details are listed on the following page:https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/campuslife/life/index.html
4. Inbound Medical Assistance Service (IMAS)
A medical assistance service.
Consultation arrangements, telephone interpretation (various languages),
emergency patient transfer etc.

Vaccination

Kobe University has implemented the Measles and Rubella Registration Policy,
and all newly-enrolled Kobe University students must submit a certificate
demonstrating inoculation and an antibody test against measles and rubella at
the medical examination held at Kobe University
Those who do not submit such a certificate will be required to take an antibody
test in Japan
https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/documents/en/study_in_kobe/en2023guidebook.pdf

Please refer Page 16 (③ Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases)of the latest GUIDE BOOK FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS