About Kansai Gaidai

Kansai Gaidai is a private, non profit institution composed of Kansai Gaidai University, Kansai Gaidai College, the Graduate School, and the Asian Studies Program. All of these schools are fully accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, which is the sole crediting agency in Japan.

For more detailed information on a particular area, click here to see an index of available subjects.

The University is situated in Hirakata City (population of 390,000) on the Yodo River midway between Kyoto, Japan's former capital, and Osaka, Japan's modern industrial metropolis. Because of Osaka's urban sprawl, many view Hirakata as simply a suburb of Osaka lacking any distinct characteristics of its own. Yet, Hirakata does boast a number of historical monuments including ancient tombs, Buddhist temples, and Shinto shrines that attest to its long history. For instance, next to the Gaidai campus is a 5th century tomb, and within a fifteen minute walk a 17th century Shinto shrine. Still, many people who visit Hirakata today come to enjoy its amusement park (Hirakata Koen) which is famous for a huge chrysanthemum festival in the fall.

In this Section

 

Program Offerings

Cost

Financial Assistance

Dates

Accommodation

Eligibility

Transfer of Credit

To Apply

Links

 

Kansai Gaidai Home Page

Asian Studies Program

Kansai Gaidai Housing

Kansai Gaidai Curriculum

MU Course Catalog

 



osaka


kansai seminar house


taalib


japan


kansai cherryblossoms

Program Offerings

 

Course offerings are comprised of two parts: Japanese language courses and non-language courses relating to Japan and Asia. For language course, students are divided into levels of instruction according to the results of placement tests conducted at Kansai Gaidai. Non-language courses are offered in various fields ranging from business and economics to religion, history, and politics relating to Japan and Asia. The non-language courses are all taught in English by professors with extensive academic backgrounds in Japan and Asia and considerable experience teaching international students. Please note: no prior Japanese language ability or experience is required. However students must take an introductory Japanese language class. For more information on the curriculum and courses offered, click here.

Cost

 

Millersville students pay Millersville tuition, room, board, and general fees directly to MU. Students studying abroad through a Millersville program also pay a $400 non-refundable, non-transferable program participation fee, along with the costs associated with each program. The program participation fee is due approximately one month after program acceptance.

Financial Assistance

 

Students should investigate loans which may be available, such as Federal Student Aid. Scholarships have individual regulations, and students should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if their scholarship is transferable. Students can also look into scholarships or grants such as the Freeman Asia Scholarship, those offered by the Association of International Education, Japan (AIEJ), or those offered directly from Kansai Gaidai University. Please see Financial Considerations for more information.

Dates

 

Students may choose to study either for a semester or for the full academic year. Fall semester classes start at the end of August and continue until the middle of December. The Spring semester starts at the end of January and finishes at the end of May.

Accommodation

 

Students may choose to live in a dormitory or participate in the homestay program. The meals included for homestay are breakfast and dinner as well as weekend meals. For lunch on weekdays, a lunch allowance will be provided for students to eat at the on-campus cafeteria. For those students electing to live in a dormitory, a larger meal allowance will be provided to cover three meals per day. Students may also prepare meals in the dorm kitchen, eat at on-campus cafeterias, or nearby restaurants. Full kitchen facilities are available in the dormitories. During winter break, if students wish to stay in the dorms, an additional fee will be charged. Please ask for the current prices if you seek this option. Students may, however, prefer to spend this time traveling or to stay with friends. Click here for more housing information.

Eligibility

 

A limited number of participants are accepted for the Kansai Gaidai exchange each year and the selection is fairly competitive. Students applying to the Kansai Gaidai program must demonstrate strong academic achievement and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Most students who have traveled abroad have traditionally been juniors. However, Millersville students can study abroad anytime after they have completed 24 credits. Students should complete the application one semester before wishing to go abroad. Please stop by the Global Education & Partnerships Office to pick up an application and ask about deadlines. A minimum of two letters of recommendation from MU professors are also required. The Director of Global Education & Partnerships will then interview students and a selection will be made shortly after the interviews are completed.

Transfer of Credit

 

Students should work with their advisors to select courses which will fit into their major(s), minor(s), and General Education requirements, if appropriate.

A Request for Study Abroad Resident Credits form, available in the Office of Global Education & Partnerships, must be completed before the student leaves. After the study abroad program is completed and a transcript is sent to Millersville University, the Registrar's Office determines the final transfer of credit. All courses taken at Kansai Gaidai will come back to Millersville as transfer credit. Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog ("Transfer Credit") for the transfer policy.

To Apply

 

Applications for this program are available in the Office of Global Education & Partnerships, Cumberland House. For spring semester study, applications are due by mid September and for fall semester or year-long study, applications are due by mid February.