Sections

Japanese Language Education at the International Center

The International Center offers an Intensive Japanese Language Course (=Intensive Course) to Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship Students, and supplemental Japanese language classes to international students and researchers at Kyoto University.

Intensive Course is designed for MEXT-sponsored students and teacher training students who will proceed on to study at graduate schools in the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures. The course is offered only when a student's academic advisor applies for the program through MEXT before the student arrives in Japan. The student is affiliated to the International Center while taking the Intensive Course, and the completion of the course is considered part of the requirements for entering a graduate school.

The fifteen-week supplementary Japanese courses start in April and October.  The first (spring) semester is from April to July and the second (fall) semester is from October to February.  Applicants will be given an interview or placement test before the start of the courses.

Once a week classes are given at three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

The tri-weekly course, consisting 9 hours a week, is a beginner's level course designed for those who wish to concentrate on studying the Japanese language.  Once registered, participants must attend all classes, therefore, it is necessary for them to first obtain permission from their academic advisor before registering.

A course catalogue and a registration packet are available twice a year around late March and late September at faculty/graduate school offices and the Foreign Student Division. They are also available on the Internet at the address below.

It is not possible to enroll after the start of each semester, and the classes are not open to students' and researchers' family members.

In addition, Japanese language books, cassette tapes, and videos are available at Student Lounge 'KI-ZU-NA' for those who are too busy to attend a class, or those who wish to put extra hours to study Japanese.