Program Terms
- 1 year or 1 semester (fall or spring).
- Kansai Gaidai fall semester: Late August – Late December
- Kansai Gaidai spring semester: Late January – Late May
School Information
- Located in Hirakata City, in close proximity to Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya.
- Students join the Asian Studies program.
- Housing options: homestay or dorm. (NOTE: It is not uncommon for students to have commutes of approximately one hour to campus.)
- Kansai Gaidai University Asian Studies Program Website
This study abroad program at Kansai Gaidai University is located midway between Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, and Osaka, the mercantile and comedy center of Japan. Students take Japanese language courses and Asian-studies related electives taught in English (e.g., political science, art history, anthropology, manga drawing, among many others). The program accepts a variable number of students yearly selected by Japanese Studies. Students take Japanese language courses + (English) electives, all of which count towards UFGPA credit. The Asian Studies program at Kansai Gaidai runs on the American academic calendar. To apply, see below.
First Step
CLAS LLC Japanese Studies Application
Your first step is to apply for approval from CLAS LLC Japanese Studies program. Complete the application process below by the due date. The application must be submitted to the contact person, Prof. Risa Wada: rwada@ufl.edu. Once approved you will proceed to apply with UFIC, then proceed to the partner school application.
Requirements and Deadlines
| Application Requirements | Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Spring program Friday, September 27 at 5:00PM Fall program & Academic Year program Middle of January (TBA) |
Application materials
Submit the following materials to the contact person, Prof. Risa Wada: rwada@ufl.edu, by the due date.
Statement of Purpose
- Which term do you want to attend this program? Why do you want to attend this program?
- What are your future plans?
- Please adhere to the following specifications: 2-3 pages, Typed, Double-spaced
Official transcript
- The transcript must include the most recent term. However, please don’t wait to place the order of the transcript until the last minute. The registrar office usually takes at least 10 business days for your request to be processed and mailed.
- Please open the envelope of the original transcript and scan it.
Two letters of recommendation
- One recommendation must be from the student’s most recent UF Japanese language professor (the term prior to application).
- Another recommendation from a Japan-related content (non-language) course professor if the coursework is completed, or if not in a Japan-related content course, then a professor from a different field.
- Please ask your professors to submit their letters directly to the contact person.
All students requesting letters of recommendation must complete and provide a copy to the recommender of the UF Waiver form for letters of recommendation. This form is available at:
http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/pdf/ferparelease.pdf
You will be notified of selection via email, after which you will be required to attend a post-selection/pre-departure information session with Prof. Risa Wada. After attending this meeting, you will be instructed to make an appointment with Dr. Christopher Smith(csmith2@ufl.edu), the undergraduate coordinator in Japanese, to discuss what coursework you will take in Japan.
Next Steps
UFIC Application Process
If accepted, complete the UFIC application by the deadline established by UFIC
University of Florida International center (UFIC) Page
- Online application
- Academic advising form
- UFIC service charge – listed on the UFIC site (https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/)
Final Steps
Partner School Application Process
Upon completion of UFIC application, complete the partner school application:
- You must attend an information session with a UFIC Japan Study Abroad Advisor to review the application and review deadlines. The date for this session will be announced by UFIC.
- You will be required to submit the paperwork for your host unit to UFIC by the deadline announced by UFIC. (Specific details are forthcoming to accepted students. There can be no mistakes, white-outs, or erasures on the paperwork.)
No late applications are accepted.
The partner school will provide you with specifics on your visa application once your application has been submitted and approved.