| Academics |
Academic Program
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) offers a wide range of courses for undergraduate students. The International Student Exchange Program of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (ISEPTUFS) Program is intended primarily as an academic year experience (early October – late July). Students can choose to participate for a single Spring semester. However, attending only the Fall semester is generally not an option due to the academic calendar differences between U.S. and Japan.
Course Descriptions and Syllabi
There are Japanese courses offered in elementary, intermediate, and advanced-levels, as well as a variety of undergraduate courses taught in English with a focus on Japanese and Intercultural Studies. You can find a list of all the English taught courses HERE, listed by the semester.
The "Guidebook of Class Registration" explains the kinds of courses available to International Student Exchange Program of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (ISEPTUFS) students.
You can find the most recent TUFS course syllabi information HERE. (Make sure it is in "English" and you will be able to search for different syllabi.) Select English as the language of instruction, unless you’re looking for Japanese language courses. The number of credits for each course will be listed on the top of the syllabus. Please keep in mind, many of the courses at TUFS are 2-credit courses. Share any applicable syllabi with your academic advisor to determine whether they can count toward your major/minor (if you don’t intend to just take electives). Since Fall course information will not be confirmed until the summer, and Spring course information will not be confirmed until the winter, you will need to look at the course information from the previous year.
Course equivalency information for UAlbany Students
Credits earned on this program may be approved to satisfy the World History/International Perspectives or other UAlbany General Education requirements, if you earn appropriate credit in these areas and receive approval using the General Education Substitution Request form.
Courses may also satisfy major and minor requirements, with approval by the associated academic department(s). You may file a request to have additional courses approved for equivalency as necessary.
All courses successfully completed through this program abroad that are not assigned a specific UAlbany course equivalency will at least count as UAlbany General Elective credits. Credits and grades will appear on your UAlbany transcript.
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| Faculty |
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| Accommodations |
Housing
- There are three international student residence halls, conveniently located on campus. Each dorm room is single occupancy. Rooms typically include a mini kitchen, private bath, balcony, desk, bookshelf and an air conditioner.
- However, in the event there are no availabilities in the on-campus residence halls, the TUFS staff will help you find another international students’ dormitory in the Tokyo area. This may require you to commute to the TUFS campus for class by train or bus, depending on where you may live.
Meals
There is no meal plan for this program. You may choose to purchase meals in the cafeteria, cook, or eat out at local restaurants.
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| Costs |
Estimate of Costs
Review this program’s Estimate of Costs. Note, there may be several tabs in the Estimate of Costs. Please be sure that you are reviewing the tab for your anticipated semester abroad.
More Information
Click for more information on Program Costs and Financial Aid.
Remember to speak with the Office of Financial Aid at your home campus to determine how your aid package could apply towards your program abroad.
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| Eligibility |
Academic Requirements
- The TUFS Program is is only open to UAlbany students
- Second-semester freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors in all majors are welcome to apply. You must have completed at least one semester at UAlbany with a minimum GPA of 2.5 before you can apply. If you have a GPA lower than a 2.5, please email Megumi Kim, the Japan Program advisor at mtkim@albany.edu
- Some Japanese language coursework is recommended, but not required
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| Excursions |
Experiential Learning
University-arranged excursions are not included in this program, but you will have access to unlimited tourist attractions and events off campus.
Student Clubs and Organizations
There are several athletic and cultural clubs and circles at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Some circles and clubs arrange field trips and tours. A circle is a group of students who share a common interest in an activity and gather periodically to explore this interest together. Clubs tend to require more commitment than circles, and are often the equivalent to university-level team sports. You should be aware that you may not be able to join certain clubs/circles due to the length of your exchange program. |
| Scholarships |
Funding Opportunities
Most financial aid and academic awards will apply to semester programs.
External scholarships, listed on our website, are a good way to partially fund your study abroad experience. In addition, the Center for International Education and Global Strategy offers two scholarship programs for UAlbany students studying abroad on UAlbany or 4-year SUNY programs.
More information on applying to these scholarships is located on the Scholarships web page.
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| Testimonials |
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| Contact |
Megumi Kim at mtkim@albany.edu
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| Location |
About the City
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies is located in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo is the largest city in the world, and offers a great mix of modern and traditional sites.
Travel Documents
A valid passport is required to participate in this program. If you are a U.S. citizen, you are required to obtain a visa to enter Japan.
For all other nationalities, please check with your government and the Consulate General of Japan's website to determine whether you are required to obtain a visa for this program.
More information regarding the visa application process is available upon acceptance to the program.
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| Duration |
Application Availability
Applications become available online one semester before the program start date, based on the following timeline:
- Spring/Winter/Spring Break programs: July
- Fall/Year/Summer programs: December
Program Dates
Academic Year 2024 - 2025
Thursday, September 26, 2024 to Monday, July 21, 2025 (TENTATIVE END DATE)
Fall 2024
Due to the host university’s academic calendar, a Fall semester program is not offered.
Spring 2025
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 - Monday, July 21, 2025
*Please Note: Monday, April 1, 2025 is TUFS arrival day to check into the dorms. The program end date of Monday, July 21, 2025 is approximate and not fully confirmed by TUFS. Students may want to consider waiting for confirmation before purchasing their return flights from Japan.*
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| Overview |
About the Program
The University at Albany’s exchange affiliation with Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) enables you to study Japanese language and culture, and is intended for U.S. students interested in developing Japanese language skills and in pursuing in-depth study of subjects related to Japan.
Based on its history of more than 100 years, TUFS continues to play an important role as one of the hubs of international academic research and exchange in Japan in the 21st century.
Program Orientations
Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation. During this time, you will have the opportunity to meet other program participants, discuss in-depth the details of your program, and prepare of the overall education abroad experience. The Fall semester pre-departure orientation will be conducted in April, before the end of Spring UAlbany classes, and in late November/early December for the Spring term abroad.
Upon arrival at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, you will attend a mandatory program orientation. This is an important and informative set of sessions organized by International Office of your host university.
Support Services
UAlbany’s Office of Education Abroad staff assists you during the application process, in your preparation to travel abroad, and on-site if necessary.
The Tokyo University of Foreign Studies International Office staff serve as an experienced resource for resolving issues that you may encounter in while abroad.
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