Kōbe, Japan

Introduction

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Study Abroad Center offers undergraduate students the opportunity to study for an academic year or spring semester in Kōbe, Japan. On-site, the program is coordinated by Kōnan International Exchange Center (KIEC).

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Host Institution

Kōnan University 甲南大学 (Kōnan Daigaku) is a private institution of approximately 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It was founded in 1951, but its history actually began in 1923 with the founding of Kōnan Gakuen, a private high school. Kōnan University is located in the Okamoto area of Higashinada-ku, in the eastern-most part of Kōbe city.

PROGRAM COORDINATION

In the U.S., the program is coordinated by a four-university consortium: University of Illinois, University of Arizona, University of Pittsburgh and University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. In Japan, the program is housed under the Kōnan International Exchange Center (KIEC) 甲南国際交流センター.

Japanese area studies or culture courses are taught by Kōnan University professors or Japan-based, English-speaking scholars. The Japanese language teachers are native speakers with graduate training in Japanese linguistics or the teaching of Japanese as a second language. In addition to teaching courses, the Resident Director oversees students’ academic progress and mentors all participants.

Stay up-to-date with what’s happening at KIEC by reading their newsletters in Japanese.

Curriculum

The Study in Japan program at Kōnan provides students an opportunity to fulfill UHM major, minor, elective, focus, foundations, diversification and foreign language requirements for graduation. Students on the program must be enrolled full-time and may earn up to 15 credits.

The primary focus of the curriculum is Japanese language training, with specific emphasis on the development of speaking and reading skills. Each semester course is designed to be the equivalent of a full year of language training at UHM. Students are assigned to language classes on the basis of a placement examination given upon arrival.

Students take Japanese language classes, plus two courses taught in English in various aspects of Japanese Studies (religion, art history, business/economics, anthropology/sociology, literature and politics). Independent study courses may also be available, depending on students’ area of interest and the availability of appropriate supervision. Classroom instruction is supplemented by numerous field trips and other extracurricular activities.

Click below for Kōnan University courses, with UHM credit equivalencies (when available):

Course offerings are subject to change without prior notice.

FACULTY RESIDENT DIRECTOR

A faculty member from one of the consortium schools is appointed Resident Director. The Resident Director teaches one class each term, oversees students’ academic progress and mentors all participants. The courses’ focus depends on the Resident Director’s field of expertise.

All students are required to take one of the two UHM Resident Director’s classes.

Year 2024-25: Atsushi Hasegawa, UHM Dept. of East Asian Languages & Literatures. His two courses follow below.

Courses taken at Kōnan University will appear on UHM transcripts as UHM credits.

Last updated Aug. 2024

Location

Kōbe (神戸), the seventh largest city in Japan with a population of 1.5 million and capital of Hyōgo Prefecture, is a picturesque port city in the Kansai region, just northwest of Ōsaka. Kōnan University’s main Okamoto campus is 20 minutes by train from downtown Kōbe, 30 minutes by train from downtown Ōsaka, and an hour from Kyōto. The campus is in close proximity of the mountains and the shoreline.

Housing

Students may choose to live with a Japanese host family in the Kōbe-Ōsaka area and generally take morning and evening meals with the host family throughout their stay in Japan. A major value of the homestay is that it provides students with the opportunity to closely interact with and learn from host country nationals. In addition to taking students beyond the public face of the Japanese people, the everyday speaking and hearing of Japanese in a natural setting facilitates students’ understanding of the culture and enhances language learning.

Students who follow particular dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, etc.) will be encouraged to opt for dormitory housing, where they can prepare their own meals.

Excursions & Extra-Curricular Activities

Included in the cost of the program is a series of program-sponsored field trips designed to enrich classroom activities. These usually include excursions to Mt. Kōya 高野山 in the fall, and Hiroshima and Miyajima 広島, 宮島 during the spring–other locations may be substituted as necessary. The facilities of Kōnan University are open to participants in the program. All students are encouraged to participate in one or several of the many sports, music, special interest or social clubs at Kōnan University. These activities provide an excellent way to further develop communication skills in Japanese and to participate in the daily flow of Japanese life.

 Photos

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Program Cost

  Year 2024-25 Spring 2024
Homestay $18,436 $10,810
Dormitory $21,166 $13,046

Please see the budget sheet for more information.

Above cost includes Kōnan University tuition, housing, all meals, books, ground transportation, excursions, health insurance, UHM Study Abroad and other fees.

Roundtrip airfare between Honolulu and Ōsaka is not included; students have the option of taking the flight arranged by Third Eye Travel or making their own travel arrangements and arrive at Kansai International Airport (KIX) on the designated arrival date and time.

FINANCIAL AID

UHM STUDENTS ONLY: In order to receive financial aid, please ensure that either: a) you are receiving financial aid during the current semester, or b) that you complete the Financial Aid application during the current semester for the next academic year. www.hawaii.edu/fas

NON-UHM STUDENTS (those attending other colleges and universities during the regular school year) must apply for financial aid at their home institutions.

SCHOLARSHIPS

  • Students accepted to the program will be considered for the Kōnan University Consortium Scholarship and HUMAP (Hyogo University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific) Scholarship. Information and application will be given to qualified students.
  • Hawai‘i High School Graduates only: Yoshihiro & Tamah Nakamura Memorial Scholarship

See also the Money Matters page for a list of possible scholarships.

STUDENT VISA

Student participants of the Kōbe spring or year program are required to obtain a student visa through the Consulate General of Japan.

Admission Requirements

Students are eligible to study abroad as early as the second semester of their Freshman year. Students without any prior language background are eligible to apply for an academic year.  Spring semester applicants must have completed at least one semester of Japanese language to qualify.

The program is designed primarily for undergraduate students interested in studying Japanese culture and language from beginning to advanced levels. The minimum requirement is a cumulative GPA of 3.0, without exception. Non-native English-speaking students must have taken the TOEFL exam within the last two years and earned a composite score of 600+ or have taken the UHM ELI placement exam.

Admission to the program is selective. All applicants for the program will be judged on their academic performance, reasons for wishing to attend the program, flexibility, and sensitivity to other cultures, and ability to adjust to a new cultural setting.

Immediately upon acceptance to the program, students are required to pay a non-refundable initial payment to ensure a place in the program (Spring, $500; Year, $1,000). The initial payment will be applied toward the cost of the program.

Please note that students accepted to the program are required to attend three mandatory pre-departure class sessions totaling 12 hours. Failure to attend will result in students being withdrawn from the program.

Application

A completed Study Abroad Center application and three academic references must be received by the Study Abroad Center to receive consideration.

Students from outside the UH System must also submit official transcripts from every college attended.

The Study Abroad Center is closed on weekends, and Federal and State holidays.

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PROGRAM DATES
  • Year 2024-25: Sep. 5, 2024 – May 17, 2025
  • Spring 2025: Jan. 8 – May 17
  • Year 2025-26: TBD
DEADLINES
  • Year 2025-26: TBD
  • Spring 2025: Friday, Sep. 6, 2024, 4:00pm HST 
DETAILS

Majors: Open to all majors

Most suitable for: Japanese language

INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
  • Thursday, Aug. 29 at 1:00pm–2:00pm HST in Moore 258
  • Friday, Aug. 30 at 2:00pm–3:00pm HST via Zoom
ADVISING

Schedule an Appointment with a Study Abroad Advisor on STAR Balance.