Modern Japanese Studies Program

The Modern Japanese Studies Program (MJSP) is a four-year Bachelor’s Degree program, which is preceded by a six-month Intensive Japanese Course for those without sufficient Japanese to enter the Bachelor’s Degree program directly. MJSP gives a comprehensive education in the language and society of Japan. The program has four main characteristics:

• Intensive study of the Japanese language – you should be fluent on graduation;
• The study of Japan in four main academic disciplines – history, cultural studies, sociology and political economy;
• Co-learning with Japanese students – you will take a lot of classes with your Japanese peers; and
• A curriculum that allows you to discover your Japan from the unique and multicultural vantage point of Japan’s northernmost island.

Intensive Japanese Course

An intensive 6-month course in the Japanese language. Reach approx. Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Level N4.

Courses

• Japanese Language Classes (beginners to intermediate)
• Homeroom (includes basic introductions to Informatics and Study Skills)

Bachelor’s Degree: Years 1-2

Intensive education in the Japanese language. Reach approx. JLPT Level N3 or N2 by the end of the first year, and approx. Level N2 or N1 by the end of the second year. Introductory courses in Japanese Studies and general education courses.

Courses

• Japanese Language Classes (Foundational Japanese: intermediate to advanced)
• Applied Japanese
• Japanese Affairs
• Liberal Arts Courses and Foundation Courses
• Introduction to Informatics I
• General Education Seminars: Various courses in English based on the research specialties of the English speaking faculty members.
• Academic Writing
• Intercultural Exchange Seminars: Group-based learning with Japanese students in Japanese.
• Introduction to Japanese Studies I: History
• Introduction to Japanese Studies II: Culture
• Introduction to Japanese Studies III: Society
• Introduction to Japanese Studies IV: Political Economy
• Multiculturality in Hokkaido and Japan
• Aspects of Japan: Various classes taught in English by MJSP professors and professors from other faculties
• Modern Japanese Studies Workshop
• Seminar Study
• Project Study I (Study Plan)

Bachelor’s Degree: Years 3-4

Reach approx. JLPT Level 1 by the end of the third year. Classes in business and/or academic Japanese. Major/minor subject courses in English and/or Japanese. By the fourth year, most major/minor subject courses are taken in Japanese. Optional courses include an internship and study abroad. Undertake major self-study projects in the Digital Portfolio and Graduation Thesis.

 Courses

• Japanese History (Theory & Practice) I-III
• Japanese Culture (Theory & Practice) I-III
• Japanese Society (Theory & Practice) I-III
• Japanese Political Economy (Theory & Practice) I-III
• Advanced Business / Academic Japanese
• Major / Minor subjects related to Japanese Studies taught in Japanese in the Faculties of Law, Letters, Education and Economics
• Optional courses taught in Japanese in other faculties (for example, in Environmental Science)
• Study abroad (at one of Hokkaido University’s partner institutions)
• Internships
• Modern Japanese Studies Workshop
• Seminar Study
• Project Study II
• Project Study III: Graduation thesis (a substantial piece of original research)

• TOEFL-iBT: 79 or higher; TOEFL-PBT: 550 or higher
• IELTS (Academic Module): 6.5 or higher 
• Application form
• Educational background form 
• Photo
• Certificate of graduation (completion) from the high school you graduated from (completed) or a certificate of expected graduation (completion) (the date of graduation(completion) or the expected date of graduation(completion) should be written) (in English or Japanese) 
• Transcript from the high school you graduated from (completed) (the final transcript at graduation/completion) or a transcript from the high school you are attending (including all grades from the first semester of the first year to the latest semester) (in English or Japanese)
• Certificate of Japanese language proficiency. Individuals who have taken the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) should submit their test results certificate. Individuals who want to be exempt from taking the Intensive Japanese Course must submit their Japanese Language Proficiency Test Certified Results and Scores Certificate (N2 level or higher) or a test score certificate that can verify the same level or higher of Japanese language ability. *Past Japanese language study experience is not a factor in determining a student’s admission to the Bachelor’s Degree, but will be used to determine whether the student is exempt from taking the Intensive Japanese Course. *Exemption from the Intensive Japanese Course is det
• Standardized test results certificate for national exams and other exam
• Documents confirming your nationality or residency status 
• Personal statement
• Letter of recommendation (any format) 
• Application fee ¥5,000 

Scholarships

Hokkaido University has a scholarship program for students participating in the Modern Japanese Studies Program (the Modern Japanese Studies Program Scholarship Program). Details of that program are outlined below.

1. We are planning to waive the entire enrollment and tuition fees for the Intensive Japanese Course for October 2017 enrollees.
2. We are planning to waive the entire enrollment and tuition fees for the 2018 academic year for April 2018 enrollees in the Bachelor’s Degree.
3. In the second year and thereafter, all or half of the tuition fees will be waived for selected students based on academic performance. (Waivers will not be available to all students.)