Exchange Student Guidebook

CONTENTS

PAGE

General Information

Calendar

Academic Information

Housing Information

Financial Matters

Visa Application

Arrival Information

Application

Exchange Student Guidebook

2-7

10-11

12-13

Exchange Students attending Japanese Culture Course

General Information

SHIMANE UNIVERSITY

Name of institution

SHIMANE UNIVERSITY

Name of the head / Title

Yasunao HATTORI, Ph.D. President

Country / City

Matsue and Izumo,

Shimane JAPAN

Campus

2 campuses (Matsue and Izumo)

*Faculty of Medicine is located in Izumo

Campus.

URL

http://www.shimane-u.ac.jp/

URL for int’l student exchange http://kokusai.shimane-u.ac.jp/

Ｏｆｆｉｃｅｈｏｕｒｓ 08：30 – 17:15

Responsible person of international

exchange

Akira DEGUCHI, PhD.

(Mr.)

Director

Center for International Exchanges

Name of international office

Toru TAKUWA (Mr.)

Head

International Exchange Division

Contact for student exchange

International Student Section of the

International Exchange Division

Telephone

(+81-852-32-6106)

Fax

(+81-852-32-6481)

E-mail

(ied-[email protected]-u.ac.jp)

Contact for int’l agreement

International Cooperation Section of the

International Exchange Division

Telephone

(+81-852-32-9735)

Fax

(+81-852-32-6481)

E-mail

(ied-koryu@office.shimane-u.ac.jp)

Academic system

Fiscal year

Arrival dates for

exchange student

Orientation for int’l students

Semester System

*Semester 1: April - September

term exam: late Jul.

summer break: Aug. – Sep.

*Semester 2: October – March

winter break: late Dec. - early Jan.

term exam: late Jan.

spring break: Feb. – Mar.

From 1 April to 31 March

Semester 1: early April

Semester 2: late September

Semester 1: early April

Semester 2: early October

Calendar Information

Academic Information

Academic levels offered to exchange students

Undergraduate, Master level and PhD level.

* There are special courses offered to international students in Japanese Studies

Classification of international exchange student status at Shimane

University

Exchange students from partner universities shall be enrolled at Shimane University as a

non-degree (non-regular) student under the following category.

Category of Exchange Students

Category

Description

Credits

Special Auditing Students –

undergraduate

（学学学学学学学学）

International exchange students

who are admitted to particular

undergraduate classes. They

receive credits after passing final

examinations.

○

Special Auditing Students –graduate

（学学学学学学学学学）

International exchange students

who are admitted to particular

graduate classes. They receive

credits after passing final

examinations.

○

Special Research Students

-graduate only

（学学学学学学学学学）

International exchange students

who are admitted to conduct

particular research projects under

a research advisor. They receive

research certificates after

completing their projects.

---

Language instructed in

the courses offered to

exchange students

Most of the classes are provided in

Japanese for undergraduate

course, but there are a few classes

offering in English for Master and

Doctor’s course:

MA/PhD courses in Earth &

Geoenvironmental Science / MA

course in Environmental Science

(Special Courses for International

Students)

“Special Research Students” may

be instructed in English by advisor

depending on research.

Classes exchange

students can register

for

Exchange students (“Special Auditing St

udents”) can register for regular

classes provided by Shimane University. (JLPT Level N

3 or its equivalent

preferred.)

For further detailed information, please see the separate sheet entitled

“Outline for the Japanese studies and other classes

---for International

Exchange Students.”

Language requirement

for exchange students

* JLPT Level N3 or its equivalent preferred.

Japanese

language credit courses for international students are divided

into three levels; Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced. There

is no

Japanese

credit course for those who haven’t studied Japanese at all.

Non

-credit introductory and elementary Japanese Language

supplementary classes are offered for students who don’t have enough

Japanese proficiency.

The certification of completion will be issued for the

students who have attended more

than two-thirds of the course.

* Those who wish to be enrolled in the Special Courses for International

Students stated above are required to submit English proficiency

certificates such as TOEFL and

IELTS.

Requirements of

study hours

for exchange students

Faculty & department

Exchange students must enroll for a minimum of 10 hours of class

(seven

courses)

for a week as required by Japanese immigration regulations.

There are six faculties:

1) Faculty of Law & Literature

2) Faculty of Education

3) Faculty of Human Sciences

4) Faculty of Medicine

5) Interdisciplinary Faculty of Science and Engineering;

6) Faculty of Life and Environmental Science.

Departments:

Law and Economics, Socio-cultural Studies, and Language & Culture

Elementary Education, Special Support Education, Language Education,

Education of Social and Cultural Studies,

Natural Science Education,

Fundamental Mathematics Education, Health and Physical Education,

Music

Education,

Art Education

Human Sciences

Medicine, Nursing

Physics and Materials Science, Chemistry, Earth Science, Mathematics,

Information Systems Design and Data Science, Mechanical, Electrical, and

Electronic Engineering, Architectural Desi

Life Sciences, Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Environmental and

Sustainability Sciences

For further information, please se

“Shimane University Prospectus”.

(English)

https://kokusai.shimane-

u.ac.jp/english/study_abroad/p

rospectus.html

Oct. Matsue festival Do Gyoretsu

Visit to Adachi Museum

(Japanese garden)

Nov. Visit to Izumo Shrine

Iwami Kagura

Dec. Morotabune Shinto ritual

Soba making

Jan. Visit to Matsue History Museum

Feb. Green Tea factory trip

Ski Trip to Mt. Daisen★

Mar. Visit to Soy sauce store-house

Wagashi making

Apr. Aofushigaki Shinto ritual

Doll Festival in Yasugi

Cherry Blossom Meeting

May Hunting for fireflies

Visit to Yuushien (Japanese garden)

Jun. Visit to Gessyo temple

(Hydrangea temple)

Sep. Field trip to Ohnan Town,

Shimane Prefecture★

Matsue Lantern Festival

*The above is subject to change depending on the year.

Students registering Japanese courses may

join in these fieldtrips and activities as a part

of the courses.

Events around Matsue city

★are the trips open to all the international students.

Kimono experience

National Treasure Matsuejo Castle

Japanese Tea Culture Experience

International students touched

traditional Japanese culture,

lifestyle and kindness of Ohnan

Town’s people throughout the

trip. Participated students and

people there deepened mutual

understanding beyond the

differences of nationality, age,

words and backgrounds.

Events of Shimane University

International Students Party in December

Field trips for International Students

They are held by the Center for International

Exchange of Shimane University which will provide

you with some financial aid.

4-day trip in September

Participation fee: about 2,000yen

・Farm Stay

・Interaction with local people

・Visit to a local High school and an

Elementary School

・Visit to a Sake Brewery

・Kagura Event (Traditional Shinto-

Dance)

This trip will enable you to learn

traditional Japanese culture and

lifestyle.

Field Trip to Ohnan town

*Contents and destination are subject to change depending on the year.

2-day trip in February

Participation fee: about 7,500yen

Mt. Daisen has the ski area that

boasts the largest scale in Western

Japan. You can experience skiing and

get close interaction with

participating students. This trip will

provide you with a good chance to

enjoy the beautiful nature of the

winter in Japan.

Ski Trip to Mt. Daisen

Housing

Information

Housing

arrangement &

allocation

Cost

Student

Cafeteria

International Exchange Division will try to make housing

arrangements and assignment.

Exchange students will be given priority to be allocated in the

University International House upon demand of the student. If

oms are full, International Office will allocate students in the

Student Dormitory or help them to find an off

-campus

accommodation.

International House (Matsue Campus)

<Number of rooms> 26 rooms for single, and

1 room for married couple

* 5 minute walk to campus (2 mins by bicycle.)

* Residents share cooking facilities, shower rooms, and laundry facilities.

(There is no meal plan system.)

* All the rooms are furnished. (bed, desk, chair, bookshelf, wardrobe,

washbasin and toilet) Each room has a telephone hookup.

*Residents will have to buy a set of linens, pillows, blankets, futons, etc.

Univ. Int

’l House: 5,900 yen (monthly) for single room,

communal expenses, and utility expenses,

including electricity, gas, and water.

Student

Dormitory: 4,000 - 24,000 yen (monthly) for single

room, communal expenses, and utility

expenses, including electricity, gas, and

water.

Off Campus: Approximately monthly rent will be 20,000

50,000 yen for an en suite room. In addition to a rent, a

res

ident needs to pay communal expenses and utility expenses,

including electricity, gas, and water

There is no cafeteria or dining hall in the dormitory.

Two

cafeterias

on campus offer a wide range of foods including

Halal menus.

Financial Matters

Cost of living

Approximately 60,000 yen

per month for on-campus resident

and 10

0,000 yen per month for off-campus resident are

considered the minimum that should be available.

On arrival, students should bring some cash at least 150,000 yen to

200,000 y

en with you for settling in for the first month in Japan.

Exchange students should be responsible for preparing

sufficient financial support their own for studying and living in

Shimane.

Tuition and fees in Shimane University shall be waived for exchange

students, but they will pay regular tuition and related fees to their home

university.

National health

insurance

Exchange students will be required to purchase national health

insurance in Japan after their arrival. (approx. 2,000 yen per

month.)

Oversea travel

& accidents

insurance

Exchange students are also strongly recommended to bring an

additional adequate insurance which covers travel and

accidents.

Disaster &

accident

insurance for

students

Exchange students are recommended to purchas

e “

Disaster and

Accident Insurance for students

” which covers accidents during

study, research and university activities. Exchange students can

apply for this insurance in the university after their arrival. (950 -

1,200 yen per year, depending on affiliat

ed faculty.)

Please ask at Student Support Division for details and

application after arrival.

Visa

Application

procedure

Exchange students must apply for a visa at the nearest

Japanese embassy or consulate before departing. Excha

nge

students must apply for a

“Student” visa status at the Japanese

embassy/consulate in the country.

nternational Student Section of Shimane University will send a

“

Certificate of Eligibility” issued by the Japanese immigration

office to each exchange s

tudent through the international

office of the partner university.

Students need to apply for a visa with the necessary documents

including a Certificate of Eligibility and Notice of Acceptance.

Arrival Information

Pick-up service

on arrival

Name of

closest airport

Yes, on demand of the student.

* Please note that an exchange student should be responsible

to reach at Matsue Station.

Izumo Airport or Yonago Airport

*Izumo: domestic flights are only available.

Yonago: domestic flights and some international flights

available.

*It will take about 40 mins by bus from either airport to get

Matsue campus.

Transportation

from int’l

airports

Transportation

Expenses

Transportation

Expenses

From Kansai International Airport (KIX)

(1) Fly to Izumo Airport from Itami Airport (Domestic flight)

①KIX to Osaka/Itami Airport: 90 mins by bus

http://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/timetable/kix/t_itm.html

②Osaka/Itami Airport to Izumo Airport: 1 hour-flight

http://osaka

-airport.co.jp/en/flight/flightscheduleresult/?airport=IZO

③Izumo Airport to Matsue Station: 30 mins by bus

http://www.ichibata.co.jp/taxi

-matsue/shuttle/index.html

(2)

To Matsue station by train: about 5 hours

Kansai airport~Osaka~Shin-Osaka~Okayama~Matsue

http://www.kansai

-airport.or.jp/en/access/train/index.html

https://www.jr

-odekake.net/

(3)

To Matsue station by bus: about 5 hours

Kansai airport~Osaka Sta. (Shin-Hankyu Hotel)

Hankyu-Sanbangai Bus terminal (Hankyu-Umeda)~Matsue

http://www.kate.co.jp/en/timetable/index

http://bus.hankyu.co.jp/highway/route/timetable/highway16.php

From New Tokyo International Airport (Narita-NRT)

(1) Fly to Izumo Airport or Yonago Airport

(Domestic flight)

①NRT to Tokyo/Haneda Airport: 90 mins by bus

http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/

②Tokyo/Haneda Airport to Izumo or Yonago Airport:

80 min-flight

http://jatns.tokyo

-airport-bldg.co.jp/en/flight/domestic/

③Izumo Airport to Matsue Station: 30 mins by bus

http://www.ichibata.co.jp/taxi

-matsue/shuttle/index.html

Yonago Airport to Matsue Station: 45 mins by bus

http://www.ichibata.co.jp/taxi

-matsue/shuttle/yonago.html

From Kansai International Airport (KIX)

(1)

①Bus from KIX to Osaka/Itami Airport: 1,950 yen

②Flight fare from Osaka/Itami Airport to Izumo Airport:

about 15,000 yen~

③Bus from Izumo Airport to Matsue: 1,030 yen

(2) Train fare from KIX to Matsue: about 12,000 yen

(3) Bus fare from KIX to Matsue: about 7,000 yen

From New Tokyo International Airport (NRT)

①Bus from NRT to Tokyo/Haneda Airport: 3,100 yen

②Flight fare from Tokyo/Haneda Airport to Izumo Airport or

Yonago Airport: about 19,000 yen~

③Bus from Izumo Airport to Matsue Station: 1,030 yen

Bus from Yonago Airport to Matsue Station: 990 yen

Application

deadline

Application

forms &

necessary

documents

Semes

ter 1 (for starting Mar.): mid-November

Semester 2 (for starting Oct.): early April

【

Documents for Admission to Shimane University】

(1)

Foreign Special Auditing/Research Student Application

Form (form provided)

(2)

Course Request Form (form provided)

(3)

Personal Information (form provided)

(4)

Personal History (form provided)

(5)

Certificate of Health (form provided)

(6)

Recommendation letter from the dean of the faculty or

the dean of the office

(7)

Academic transcript

(Please attach an English or Japanese translation.)

(8)

Certificate of Enrollment

(Please attach an English or Japanese translation.)

(9)

Study plan at Shimane University (form provided)

(Please refer to attached Guidelines for making Study Plan.)

(10)

Documents to certify applicant’s Japanese language

proficiency if any

* Those who wish to be enrolled in the Special courses for

International Students stated above are required to submit

English proficiency certificates such as TOEFL and IELTS.

Send application

【

Documents for Immigration】

(1)

Application for Certificate of Eligibility (form provided)

(2)

2 Photographs

(3)

Photocopy of passport

(4)

Pledge and certificate of current position of the financial

supporter

(5)

Financial supporter’s bank statement (Deposit balance

statement)

*The statement must indicate the deposit has more than JPY 1,500,000 to

cover living expenses and travel costs.

(6)

Copy of the financial supporter’s ID card

(7)

Financial supporter’s job certificate

* The application materials will be distributed from the

international office every October and February.

International Student Section

International Exchange Division,

Shimane University

1060 Nishikawatsu

-cho, Matsue, Shimane

690

-8504 JAPAN

Tel : +81

-852-32-6106

Fax: +81

-852-32-6481

◆

INQUIRIES

◆

International Student Section

International Exchange Division

Shimane University

1060 Nishikawatsu-cho, Matsue, Shimane

690-8504 JAPAN

Tel : +81-852-32-7023 Fax: +81-852-32-6481

E-mail: ied-ryugaku@office.shimane-u.ac.jp