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Akita International University, Japan (Exchange Program) (Outgoing Program)

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  • Locations: Akita, Japan
  • Program Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Restrictions: UNI applicants only
Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Spring 2025 10/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.
Program Description:

 



Akita International University is located in Akita City (population approx. 325,000), the capital of Akita prefecture (population approx. 1,106,000). The campus is surrounded by the natural beauty of northern Japan, and is easily accessible from downtown Akita City and Akita Airport. Since Japan’s Edo period, Akita has played a large role in economic commerce and trade in the Tohoku region of the country. The winters are cold in Akita, but still an escape from Iowa.

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Akita International University is a four-year undergraduate college with a graduate school accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education which is the sole accreditation agency in Japan. AIU has many partner institutions around the world. Through exchanges with these schools, AIU expands their students’ intercultural horizons. All of our undergraduate degree-seeking students spend a year studying abroad, and about a quarter of our student body is made up of international exchange students (172 students from 31 countries, as of Fall 2014). This truly international academic community, combined with state-of-the-art facilities, a diverse faculty with over half of our professors hailing from overseas, and innovative programs, makes it an ideal place to study.

To apply to AIU as a UNI student, a nomination from the Study Abroad Center is needed. Please contact the Study Abroad Center for information about your registration and application process.

 

Akita International University's exciting and rigorous academic programs offer opportunities for international students to gain vital and exploratory knowledge about Japan and the world. Akita International University offers extensive programs in Japanese Studies and Japanese Language for international students. They offer Japanese language courses at various levels to provide the most appropriate instruction for all exchange students.
For courses in English or Japanese, AIU's curriculum is divided into five categories:

  • Japanese Studies courses
  • Japanese Language courses
  • Basic Education courses
  • Global Business Program
  • Global Studies Program

UNI students typically take four to five courses each semester with one class hour equaling 50 minutes.

Calculation of one credit is based on the following conditions:
a) One credit for a lecture class requires 15 class hours per semester
b) One credit for an experimental, laboratory or an activity course requires 30 class hours per semester
c) One credit for a seminar requires 15-30 class hours per semester  

Akita International University's housing facilities have students live together with students from various cultural backgrounds as a critical part of the international experience. All students, whether degree-seeking or short-term exchange, are guaranteed housing in one of the following dormitories:

  • Komachi Dormitory
  • Global Village Apartments
  • Sakura Village Apartments
Students have the opportunity to express their room preference on the Housing Application Form. AIU will consider student housing preferences and other information carefully (please note that we cannot always meet students’ requests). Individuals who need special arrangements or a particular room assignment for special circumstances (physical or medical condition, etc.) should request that in advance and supply an official document, such as medical doctor’s report, to verify their condition.


Housing Availability Dates for 2016-2017:
Spring Semester 2016: April 1, 2016 – August 8, 2016
Fall Semester 2016: August 24, 2016 – December 24, 2016
Winter Program 2017: December 25, 2016 – March 7, 2017
Spring Semester 2017: April 1, 2017 – August 7, 2017

AIU offers students the meals options to have a 21-Meal Plan for 21 meals per week, 3 meals per day or the 10-Meal Plan for 10 meals per week, typically lunch and dinner, Monday-Friday. Students also have the option to cook on their own or purchase individual meals from the Cafeteria in cash. There are two main dining spaces on-campus: the Cafeteria and the College Cafe. The Cafeteria serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to residential students. Meal costs are approximately:

  • Breakfast: 310 JPY
  • Lunch: 410 JPY
  • Dinner: 410 JPY

Akita International University's exciting and rigorous academic programs offer opportunities for international students to gain vital and exploratory knowledge about Japan and the world. Akita International University offers extensive programs in Japan Studies and Japanese Language for international students. They offer Japanese language courses at various levels to provide the most appropriate instruction for all exchange students.

AIU's Summer Program is a six-week, six-credit, intensive Japanese language program designed for highly motivated undergraduate students around the world. Participants can take courses taught by experienced Japanese instructors to hone their Japanese language skills in a small class environment. Summer Program 2016 will offer three elementary courses: Elementary Japanese 120, 125, and 220. Participants are required to take a placement test upon arrival at AIU. Based on the results of the test, each student will be assigned to one of the classes which best suits his or her academic needs.

 

Students are assigned double rooms in Komachi Hall. Each student will have a chance to have a Japanese roommate and/or suitemate(s): a roommate is a student who shares a room and a bathroom, and a suitemate is a student who shares only a bathroom. Specific room assignments and information about your roommate/suitemate(s) will be announced upon your arrival. We are not able to provide the information such as name, nationality, and contact address of your roommate/ suitemate(s) in advance. We are not able to offer single rooms except in special circumstances because of limited room availability. The program fee includes a meal plan at the Cafeteria, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to residential students. The meal plan begins with lunch on Monday, June 15, and runs through lunch on Friday, July 24. We will try to arrange to meet dietary requests or needs. Please provide any relevant detailed information in the online application. Students who plan to stay after July 24, will have to pay for meals on a cash basis for any extra days.