Mobility specification

Country:Japan

Institution:Kwansei Gakuin University

City:Nishinomiya

Program:Partner universities

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?they have tons

Are your credits converted?yes

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I feel like in KGU the teaching methods were more lecture based, while discussions were minimal most of the time. The coursework is much less, but the lectures are similar in size. Overall, I did not notice much differences but the main one was the way most lectures were without student participation.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes they do! There were many events organized by the school, and the GS network which is connected to KGU. I also myself took participation in English teaching classes in a High School.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Interpretation services
Special aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:15000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Yes, there were many utility bills, and phone bills. The transportation too.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?I ate at much cheaper restaurants, used student discounts, and tried to not over spend on things i do not need.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?neutral

How does public transport work in the city?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I relied on Google Maps, while tickets were bought through machines at the train station, and we had one covered by the school.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?For me, I loved the Osamu Museum in Takarazuka, and the Grand Revue. I had so much fun at both, and Takarazuka is known for its theatre.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I visitied Tokyo which was amazing and modern, along side with Kyoto, which is my favorite city. Kyoto was amazing and I truly got to learn so much about the city and its history, as well as Japanese culture and history.

Share your best experience:My best experience was everyday, but if i have to take a special one it is definitely visiting Kyoto with my friends and going to the karaoke, singing all night long!

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?At an embassy.

What is needed?I needed a COE document, confirmation of study, and my passport.

How long does it take approximately?2-3 weeks.

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Yes, the airport (KIX) was very far from my dorm and school, almost 3 hours away, but i took the train and changed few lines with no issues.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?When packing do not forget a powerbank to charge the phone, cash mostly since alot of places were cash only, your passport, warm clothes for the winter, while also light clothes since September in Japan is very hot and humid.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?The best thing that has ever happened to me. I will never forget this exchange! Thank you Masaryk University.