Kwansei Gakuin University Summer Program
Explore Japan through KGU’s immersive 5-week Summer School in Nishinomiya. Join international peers for academic courses, cultural activities, and field trips across Kansai and beyond.
Kwansei Gakuin University Summer School is a 5-week academic and cultural immersion program in Nishinomiya, Japan. The program offers an East Asian Study track with interdisciplinary courses taught in English by KGU faculty and visiting professors, covering topics such as politics, international relations, psychology, business, and history. Students engage in fieldwork and cultural activities—including visits to Hiroshima, Matsuyama, and Mazda’s manufacturing plant—bringing classroom learning into real-world contexts. KGU also arranges housing options, including homestays and international dormitories, and provides support services to ensure a rich and memorable experience.
Key information
Application information
Student experience
Useful links
Program details
The information below was last updated in October 2025
This program offers an "East Asian Study" track - students can select courses that suit their interest, allowing them to study a variety of topics related to Japan and East Asia along with KGU students.
Courses in the East Asian Study track are taught by KGU faculty member and visiting professors from partner institutions covering a wide range of topics such as politics, international relations, history, cross-cultural psychology, business, economics and more.
Students may choose one course from each group (Group A & Group B) shown in their page: Click Here.
3 credits × 2 courses = 6 KGU credits = 1 UCalgary half course (3 units). Please check with your UCalgary academic advisor to ensure that the course(s) you are interested in taking will transfer back to your degree.
This is a 5 week program from early June to mid-July.
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Costs
This is a Fee-Paying program, which means that you will pay tuition fees to KGU directly as well as any other required program fees such as housing, social events, etc.
Their program fee for 2025 was : 520,000 JPY (equivalent to around $4800 CAD) and it included tuition, accommodation, extracurricular activities, gym, airport transfer, etc.
Flights, meals, personal expenses, insurance etc are the responsibility of the student.
You will pay a $150 placement fee to UCalgary, but otherwise you will not owe any fees to UCalgary for this program.
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Funding
Although KGU does not offer any funding, there is a discount available if students apply for the program by the earlier deadline.
Fee-paying programs might be able to obtain additional funding. Students are responsible for verifying eligibility for any funding you wish to pursue at UCalgary. If you wish to apply for student loans, please confirm eligibility with Alberta Student Aid or your responsible loans provider. If you wish to apply for our office's awards, such as the Global Learning Award, note that your program must receive at least 3 units of academic credit at UCalgary to qualify.
Accommodation is included in the program fees. KGU offers two accommodation options, homestays or the International Dormitory. You can indicate your preferred choice at the time of application, however, there are a limited number of rooms/placements in each type of accommodation. Please note that they are not always able to guarantee a place in your choice of accommodation.
The eligibility requirements include being at least 18 years of age, having previously completed at least one year of university, with a recommended cumulative 2.5 GPA.
Important Visa Info: Japanese citizens must travel on their Japanese passport.
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Application to UCalgary
Please submit an applicaton in the UCalgary application system, RAISA. Your application must be submitted by the UCalgary deadline, which is advertised in the yellow banner at the top of this page. (This program typically re-opens applications past the priority deadline until mid-March.)
In RAISA, you will be asked some basic questions about your interest in studying abroad, and confirm that you understand this is a Fee-Paying program.
By applying in RAISA, the UCalgary Global Learning office will better be able to support your preparation to travel, including providing resources for your safety abroad and guidance on the academic transfer credit process.
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Application to KGU
Independent of your UCalgary RAISA application, you must also submit an application to KGU. Your Global Learning Advisor will send you a reminder to apply, but it is your responsibility to gather the necessary documents and submit them to KGU following their provided instructions and deadlines.
Have questions?
The Global Learning Advisor for this program is: Andrea Santos V.
How to Apply
Identify your programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs by the priority deadline. If you are applying to a mixture of fee-paying and exchange or research programs, please consult with a Global Learning Advisor. Fee-paying programs often have different timelines; we can help identify if your desired programs are competitive or any other unique considerations.
Check requirements and deadlines
Please review the "Eligibility and application requirements" section above. Some fee-paying programs require students to apply both to UCalgary and to the host university, while others may have different instructions. If you are uncertain about application procedures, you are welcome to contact a Global Learning Advisor and/or the host university for guidance.
Start your application
Be mindful that if your desired program requires applying both to UCalgary and to the host university, there may be different timelines for each application. Make note of the requirements for each application, prepare in advance when possible, and ensure you don't miss the deadline!
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.