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Nanzan University

Japan 2019/2020 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Arts

Field of study:
Japanese studies

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
Japanese

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2019
spring 2020

Period of placement (from-to):
2019-09-09 - 2020-05-19

Number of months:
8

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

https://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/English/cjs/

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Application, passport, letters of recommendation, medical report.

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
Six months ahead.

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
Application, passport, letter of acceptance to the university.

Length of wait for visa:
Two weeks.

Fee for the visa:
No fee.

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, we knew how many credits, and which courses at MUNI would be the course at Nanzan accepted for.

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
Yes, I changed it both semesters. People tend to reconsider, when they start attending the courses in person.

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
There is a time of about a month to reconsider and decide which courses one wants to take. The restrictions are lenient and the exchange student is well cared for by the Center for Japanese Studies office.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes.

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

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
Our coordinators did the recalculation, I actually do not know how it was done.

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
The assessment was not too strict and if one pays attention and does the work assigned, there are no problems with passing the courses.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
Just about the same quality, just a little different method of examination.

How did you receive study materials?:
Handed to us at courses.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
I recommend the course Japanese Society with Mr. Croker, and I also recommend him as a teacher in general. Moreover, the practical courses such as Tea Ceremony or Calligraphy are not to be missed.

How well is the school library equipped?:
The library is vast and well organized.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Internet access was very good and fast.

Options from printing and copying:
Everything available at school. There were printers everywhere.

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

If yes then what?:
For example, field trip to the Toyota car plant, various parks in the Nagoya city, workshop trip to a near village, etc.

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:
Japanese people tend to be shy and the exchange student needs put effort into socializing.

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
At a dormitory, 15 minutes by foot from the school.

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
420 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
This dormitory was a lot more expensive than the other ones. There were many dormitories, to which the exchange student could have been assigned. However, the dormitory was picked by the university, according to the questionnaire the student had filled in. The price at my dormitory included meal plan, which was not at all of the dormitories. It also had a hot bath room, which was only at this dormitory.

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
The rooms were private, there was a kitchenette for each floor, although the equipment there was scarce.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
The accommodation is organised by the foreign university and it is organised about two months before.

What are the catering options?:
At the dormitories, there is either a meal plan, which means there is a canteen, or there is a kitchen, in which case the students cook for themselves.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
The cost is a little higher, though not by much. What can become expensive, is eating out at restaurants, when done every day.

Transport to location of placement:
My dormitory was 15 minutes by foot. The farther ones, you can buy or rent a bike, or there is subway, which is a bit expensive, though.

Rough prices for transportation:
I do not know exactly, I did not have to use it much, I walked to school.

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
Check for student discounts and fixed ticket prices, such as commuter´s pass.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Cycling is a big thing, and also the subway.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
The residence permit card is issued at the major airports, does not take long, they will do it when you enter the country. Before departure, you have to make sure, you apply for your visa, in advance enough.

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?):
The health insurance in Japan is not much expensive, at least for us students at that time. It was about 250 CZK a month.

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
No. (fortunately)

Did you work during your studies?:
No.

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
I have no experience in this area.

Tips for free-time activities:
Traveling, sightseeing, discovering new restaurants, shopping, socialising.
I recommend traveling as much as possible.

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
120000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
20000 CZK

Number of supported months:
6

Total number of months:
6

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
I hade my own savings and some support from parents.

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

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
0 ???

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 ???

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 ???

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

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
100000 JPY

a/ of which for accommodation:
53000 JPY

b/ of which for catering:
97000 JPY

c/ travel and recreation:
50000 JPY

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)?:
25

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
36

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

What problems did you have with recognition?:
There were no problems with recognition, although there was some reduction in the final amount of credits because of my early obligatory departure from Japan due to the coronavirus.

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

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
1

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

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
No problems.

What would you recommend to take with you:
A lot of money and some prior knowledge about general stuff such as the surroundings of the accommodation, ways of transport, administrative matters to be taken care of, etc.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
Availability and variety of courses.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
I was made leave Japan (all of the participants of the language program at Nanzan University) in the middle of spring semester, unlike all of my classmates, who were at other universities throughout Japan.

Further comments: