EXCHANGE PROGRAM（T-SAP）
exchange program t sapAbout T-SAP
T-SAP(Tsuru Study Abroad Program) is a single semester program designed mainly for pre-service teachers (i.e. students who are enrolled in teacher education programs) but is opened to all students with various majors and fields of interests. In T-SAP, students from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Belgium and Lithuania come to Japan for 4 months to take our university courses in English while experiencing Japanese culture in a local community of Tsuru City and its surrounding areas. Enrolled students are encouraged to take part in our teacher education programs, where they can learn how the educational policies, history of education, and educational philosophies in Japan are reflected in the actual practices of teaching and develop their cross-cultural understanding.
About T-SAP Partnership Universities
- University College Copenhagen (KP)： Denmark
- VIA University College： Denmark
- University College of Northern Denmark (UCN)： Denmark
- University College South Denmark (UC SYD)： Denmark
- Uppsala University： Sweden
- Åbo Akademi University： Finland
- VIVES University of Applied Sciences: Belgium
- Howest University of Applied Sciences: Belgium
- PXL University of Applied Sciences: Belgium
- Vilniaus University of Applied Sciences (VIKO)： Lithuania
- Western Norway University of Applied Sciences： Norway
- Marnix Academie : Netherlands
About Tsuru University
Tsuru University is a public university located in the city of Tsuru, a historic town located at the north-eastern part of the Mt. Fuji area in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 1955 as Tsuru Junior College, a two-year institution, and was reorganized into a four-year university in 1960. The university comprises six departments: the Department of Japanese Literature and the Department of English Literature in the Faculty of Letters; and the Department of School Education, the Department of Regional Society, the Department of Comparative Culture, and the Department of Global Education in the Faculty of Liberal Arts.
Our university offers high-quality education in teacher education, literature, linguistics and liberal arts. Presently, the university enrolls about 3,200 undergraduate students and 40-50 graduate students. We accept many international students from over 10 countries. Our campus is also known as the “Forest Campus”, because the campus is surrounded by nature. For instance, you may have a chance to see giant flying squirrels inhabiting the area around the campus.
About Global Education Department (GED)
Global Education Department (GED) was established in 2017 with the aim of sending out global educators to the world who are well trained in autonomous & inquiry-based learning and international experience through our International Baccalaureate (IB certified) programs. We provide a wide selection of courses for teacher education and liberal arts in both English and Japanese.
Since 2017, we have been developing more programs, courses, and internships, so that our students are expected to fulfill their future careers both locally, nationally and internationally.
T-SAP is a program designed and managed by GED faculty. We assure our international students are fully supported in English during academic courses and social life in Japan including medical support and preparation before visiting Japan. We promise that both GED staff and students will provide all kinds of necessary helps and heart-warming welcome for our exchange students in English.
About Tsuru City
Conveniently located about 90 minutes west of the metropolitan area of Tokyo (by express train ride), Tsuru City is a small town with a population of about 30,000. However, it flourished as a castle town during the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries) and has developed as the political, economic, and cultural center of eastern Yamanashi Prefecture. Surrounded by mountains, the town is rich in natural beauty; in particular, meltwater from Mount Fuji flows underground over many years and springs up at more than 10 locations throughout the city. In recent years, the city has been developing as a hub for the technological development of the Linear Shinkansen. About 30 minutes on train, you can visit The World Cultural Heritage, Mt. Fuji and the beautiful Five Fuji Lakes.
Cultural Experiences
The Global Communication Center offers various cultural events with Tsuru student-tutors both on and off campus. Exchange students are welcome to take part in the community festivals and events.
About Our Partner Schools
With strong partnerships between Tsuru University and the Local Boards of Education, and with the university’s established reputations in the field of teacher education, many local schools have accepted our request to have T-SAP students pursue their internships.
Internships will partly take place in the local public and private schools. Students will have the opportunity to visit primary, secondary schools. The variation of the visit to schools will surely give students great in sight to Japanese education.
About program
| Nomination Deadline | Autumn semester：End of March Spring semester：End of September ※For information regarding Nominations, please contact your international coordinator. |
| Application Deadline | Autumn semester：Early April Spring semester：Mid-October ※Information regarding Applications will be provided to the applicants directly after the nomination |
| How to Apply | Nomination from your international coordinator at your home university. Information regarding Applications will be provided to the applicants directly after the nomination Submit the necessary documents, complete the online application form |
| Application Package | ●Application for Certificate of Eligibility ●Form for the Health History and Immunization ●Financial Statement/bank balance with the amount of JPY 120,000 x number of staying in Japan ●Certificate of Japanese language proficiency or reference from the Japanese language instructor if applicable ●Certificate of Enrollment of the home university ●Academic Transcript of the home university ●Motivation letter ●Copy of the passport ●A photo (3 cm x 4 cm) *JPG format |
| Duration of semester | Autumn Semester (Summer Intensive Course included) : September ~ February Spring Semester (Spring Intensive Course included): April ~ August |
| Move-in Date | Autumn semester： Late August Spring semester： Late March |
| Program Orientation | Autumn semester： Early September Spring semester： Early April |
| Courses | The academic courses are offered in English by GED faculty. T-SAP students are able to register for a maximum of 10 courses*. Exchange students are allowed to take online classes and/or writing academic theses of your university during your stay in Japan if you arrange it by yourself. With the total of [Classes] + [Assignments], 1 class is counted as 3 ECTS*. |
| Number of Credits to Register | 18-20 credits equivalent to 27-30 ECTS credits per semester including the intensive |
| Accommodation | International House ▶ International House This is the shared house for all exchange students. Each floor has 4 units and each unit consists of 4 single rooms. Students will share the kitchen and the living room with their unit mates, and the shower and the restroom with their floor mates. |
| Living cost in Tsuru | Approximately JPY 100,000 per month including the rent, utility bills, food, insurance and other miscellaneous expenses. |
| Insurance | ●Japanese National Health Insurance (Mandatory) This insurance covers 70% of the total costs of cares at clinics and hospitals, approximately JPY 2,000 per month. ●Personal Accident and Injury Insurance for Student during Education and Research (Gakkensai) and the Personal Liability Insurance (Mandatory) This insurance premium can cover the costs for accidents that occur during curricular hours, school events and while on campus, approximately JPY 1,400/semester. ●Home Insurance for International House (Mandatory) Approximately JPY 5,500 for a year and JPY 2,800 for one semester ●Medical Assistance Service / About JPY 2,000 for a year ●Others Please purchase the insurance premiums for other coverages including the third-party liability at home university/country. |
| Student Visa | For students who have been accepted by Tsuru University, the university will apply on their behalf for the “Certificate of Eligibility (CoE),” which is the document required to qualify for a visa. Once the CoE has been issued, we will mail the original copy to you, and you will need to apply for a student visa yourself at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of residence. VISA | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan |
| Contact | The Global Communication Center Email: ashimizu(please put @ here) tsuru.ac.jp / practicum(please put @ here)tsuru.ac.jp TEL: 81 (0) 554 43 4341 FAX: 81 (0) 554 43 4347 |