View Larger Map for Gakushuin Women's College
Location: Tokyo
Duration: Sem/Year
Language: Japanese
Cost: MSSU tuition (15 hours); students pay for their housing and meals in Japan
Contact: Sherman Hou or Chad Stebbins
Website: http://www.gwc.gakushuin.ac.jp/english/
Gakushuin Women’s College is a small liberal-arts college for women (enrollment 1,700) located in central Tokyo. Its departments of Japanese Studies, Intercultural Communication and English Communication together make up the Faculty of Intercultural Studies. There is also an M.A. program that accepts men as well as women. The mission of the college is to provide students with a profound understanding of Japanese culture and the ability to explain it abroad, as well as with a good understanding of the world beyond Japan, and the ability to express their opinions persuasively. The college began as a school for the nobility, and thus has teachers of the highest caliber for the Japanese traditional arts. Field trips to the theatre and to historic/scenic sites are organized for the international students several times each year.
Since the primary language of instruction is Japanese, exchange students are required to have completed at least one year of university-level study (or the equivalent) of that language. Six 90-minute classes per week of Japanese as a Modern Language form the core of most exchange students’ programs. After a placement test, the students are grouped so as to best accommodate each student’s language level. Furthermore, the instructors in various academic fields are comfortable with English and customarily assign the Japanese students readings in English. Gakushuin therefore encourages students to attend such classes in their areas of interest.
Gakushuin has two semesters, from April to July, and from September to January. The green and quiet campus is a safe academic environment easily accessible by public transportation. Gakushuin does not have its own accommodations, but students have two housing options: (1) renting a city-owned apartment with two other students for ¥23,000 per month (including utilities); (2) renting a private room with a bathroom and cooking facilities for ¥25,000 per month (water, gas, and electricity will cost an additional ¥8,500 to ¥13,000 per month). All students pay for their own meals.
For answers to specific questions about Gakushuin Women’s College, please contact the International Center at gwc-fsc@gakushuin.ac.jp.
