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Shizuoka University

Japan 2018/2019 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Arts

Field of study:
Japanese Language and Culture

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
Japanese

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2018
spring 2019

Period of placement (from-to):
2018-10-01 - 2019-09-19

Number of months:
12

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
At the University English website.

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
1. Application for Admission to Shizuoka University’
2. Study Plan at Shizuoka University’
3. Certificate of Health’ by the examining physician
4. Application for Certificate of Eligibility for applicant
5. Letter of Recommendation
6. Original transcript of academic record
7. Certificate of Enrollment
8. Certificate of Deposit Balance issued by bank

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
At least a month

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
Certificate of Eligibility
Passport

Length of wait for visa:
After contacting the embassy and making an appointment, I got the visa on the day of my appointment.

Fee for the visa:
0

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
yes

If not, why not?:

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
Yes, I knew the form of recognition.

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
Just once during the autumn semester.

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
During the second week of school by registering all the courses after taking your Japanese evaluation exam. There is a possibility for changes to be made.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Just the Japanese evaluation exam to determine your level.

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
- choose option -

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
Marked as 'other', then according to each subject and its importants.

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
After the initial test, you are divided into groups of different level of Japanese. We were following a textbook each semester, made presentations and had debates.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
The teachers gave us homework and were generally very helpful.

How did you receive study materials?:
Either during the lesson or downloaded it from the school online system.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Anno Kyoko is a really great teacher for Japanese grammar.

How well is the school library equipped?:
Very well, you can also access various databases from the school library.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Computers are in the library for anyone to use.

Options from printing and copying:
Also in the library or any convenience store.

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
yes

If yes then what?:
Host family club.

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
4

or describe in your own words:

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
The school dorm.

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
247 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Every thing you need is either already in the dorm or you can buy for cheap at any local Daiso store.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
It's part of the application process.

What are the catering options?:
A really good cafeteria is at the university campus.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
Vegetables and fruits are more expensive.
Meat is comparable price vise, fish is better and cheaper.

Transport to location of placement:
From the airport by Shinkansen.

Rough prices for transportation:
From the Tokyo airport around 6 000 yen.

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
Definitely highway buses.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Buses - to the center and school around 190 yen.
Cycling
Also possible to walk.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
Definitely to have a valid visa to receive the residence card at the airport.

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
I purchased insurance from the ISIC. Although it was useless, as we still had to purchase two other insurances our school ordered us to buy.

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
No

Did you work during your studies?:
No

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
I don't know.

Tips for free-time activities:
University clubs, sight seeing.

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
0 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
0 CZK

Number of supported months:
0

Total number of months:
12

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
MEXT scholarship

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
0 CZK

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 CZK

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 CZK

c/ amount of other fees (which):
0 CZK

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
23000 CZK

a/ of which for accommodation:
6340 CZK

b/ of which for catering:
7000 CZK

c/ travel and recreation:
0 CZK

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
24

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
None

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
Yes

What problems did you have with recognition?:
None

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
2

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
3

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
3

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
No

What would you recommend to take with you:
Winter clothes, shoes

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
The positive attitude of the teachers.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
Lack of good English courses.

Further comments: