Kurume University Japanese Intensive Program

The Japanese Intensive program was founded in 1999 for international students who desire to study at undergraduate and postgraduate programs at Kurume University. Exchange students from cooperative universities also can study the Japanese language at this Program.

The one-year course operates on a two-semester system (Semester 1 and 2).
A maximum of 15 students are enrolled in the one-year course.
Eighteen-month course operates on a three-semester system (Semester 1,2 and 3).
A maximum of 20 students are enrolled in the Eighteen-month course.
Admissions take place in April and September.

1) A foreign student can apply to the program when she or he satisfies either or both the following conditions.
a. An applicant must have attended or is going to complete 12 years of formal schooling in his or her country, equivalent to the Japanese educational system (6 years in elementary, 3 years in junior high school, 3 years in senior high school).
b. An applicant must be 18 years old or older and must have completed a curriculum that is equal or greater to the above mentioned requirements.

2) An applicant must have proficiency in Japanese close to or better than N4
level of the Japanese Proficiency Test which is given by Japanese Educational Exchange and Services.

3) An applicant must have proficiency in Japanese close to or better than N4
level of the Japanese Proficiency Test which is given by Japanese Educational Exchange and Services.

※In the case where an applicant has spent one year or more in a Japanese language teaching institution not associated with Kurume University, she or he will not be able to apply to the program.
※In the case where an applicant's Japanese ability is assessed to exceed the educational level of our Japanese Intensive program, we might suggest her or him to enter our undergraduate programs directly, refusing admission to the Japanese Intensive program.

※1.  Applicants living in Japan can get guidance of the enrollment free of charge　for applicants from our Admissions Office .

Details of the enrollment of the course is as in the following PDF file.

※2.  Applicants living outside of Japan except China are requested to apply through guarantee or procurator　and to take the examination for applicants from aboroad at Kurume University.

Subjects: Grammar, Listening and Speaking, Reading and Kanji (Chinese characters), Writing, Japanese Culture & Society, and Japan and the World.
Completion of the one-year course requires a total of 38 credits. Completion of the eighteen-month course requires a total of 57 credits.

There are 3 class levels: Intermediate Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Before each semester every student will be given a Japanese placement test. The results of the test will determine the student's class level.

1） Intermediate Beginner Class
In this class, students both firmly learn and reinforce their ability to make use of the vocabulary and basic sentence patterns they have previously studied. This class is for students who already know about 2000 basic words and 500 basic kanji characters.

2） Intermediate Class
This class aims to reinforce the student's general Japanese ability in reading, writing, listening and situational conversation. This class is for students who already know about 3000 basic words and 1000 basic kanji characters.

3） Advanced Class
In this class, students learn how to listen to lectures and write reports at the university level. They also learn how to adapt their conversational style depending on discourse situations. This class is for the students who already know about 6000 basic words and 1500 kanji characters.
*"Japanese Culture and Society" and "Japan and the World" are required for all class levels.
* Speech contests in each semester, lectures by guest speakers and some project works are included in all class levels.

4） "Japanese Culture and Society" and "Japan and the World"
In the subject of Japan Culture and Society, students can learn basic knowledge necessary for life in Japan, and in Japan and the World they will study geography, history and economics on Japan and the world.

5） English
Students of the course can study English as well as Japanese classes.

6） Others
In each semester speech contests, lectures by guest speakers and some project work are included in all class levels.

One-day trip to neighboring area is planned in the program, allowing the students to experience Japanese culture.

Students are given a limited chance to receive a scholarship from Japan Student Services Organization and other scholarships.

Subscribers in the National Insurance Program have to pay only 30% of the medical expenses for any treatment covered by the insurance. JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) international students' medical fee program offers the reimbursement of the amounts to 35% of the cost incurred by the international student.

1） Supporting time for international students
Mainly Japanese teachers of International Center, supporting group help international students with Japanese.

2） The International Students' Association
The group offers many excursions and social gatherings during the year to support students' life and to promote exchange among students.

3） Other supporting activities
There are several groups of students facilitating international communication between Japanese students and international students.

1） Students of the Intensive Course may have a chance to get recommendations in entering the faculty of Kurume University.

2） They can be exempted Entrance fees in entering the faculty or graduate school of Kurume University.

3） They can freely utilize the facilities of the University (Library, Information Study Centre, LL room, Cafeterias, Medical Centre and so on).

4） Teachers in charge of the class can provide guidance for study of Japanese and various problems including enrolling in Kurume University.

5） Many activities are held with Japanese students of Kurume University and inhabitants around the campus.

1） Applicants except from China
Admissions Office
Kurume University

1635 Mii-machi Kurume-shi Fukuoka-ken 839-8502 Japan
Tel: 0942-44-2160 (Direct)/0942-43-4411(Pilot)
Fax: 0942-43-4539
E-mail: nyushi@kurume-u.ac.jp

2） Applicants from China
Kurume University Beijing Educational Exchange Center

B No.408, Fucheng Building,
Jia No.98 Beilishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, China 10037
Tel: (86-10)6833-5898
Cellular phone: (86)139-0112-3053
Fax: (86-10)6833-4640

3） After the Entrance
International Center
Kurume University

1635 Mii-machi Kurume-shi Fukuoka-ken 839-8502 Japan
Tel: 0942-43-5166 (Direct) /0942-43-4411(Pilot)
Fax: 0942-43-5166
E-mail: kokusai@kurume-u.ac.jp