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RIKKYO UNIVERSITY Program Level: Undergraduate Number of Weeks/Term: 16 |
- Background
- Location Information
- Program Dates
- Host Institution
- Academic Information
- Academic Disciplines
- Credit Transfer Information
- Eligibility Requirements
- Program Costs
- Housing and Meals
- Insurance
- Extracurricular Activities
- Climate
- VISA & Passport Information
- Your Next Steps
- Experiences of Former Students
- Contact Details
BACKGROUND
Georgia Tech (GT) has developed a number of overseas programs around the globe. These programs provide students with the opportunity to complete a portion of their academic programs in top-notch foreign universities that are partnered with GT. As a result of immersion in a foreign academic and cultural environment, students have the maximum opportunity to learn to operate effectively in an atmosphere that is wholly different from that of GT and the U.S.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Japan
While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth.
Tokyo
"The sheer level of energy is the most striking aspect of Tokyo" [as described by Lonely Planet Online]. It's true that the larger picture can be somewhat depressing - shoebox housing estates and office blocks traversed by overhead expressways crowded with traffic--but this is the Japanese success story in action. The average Tokyo suburb hasn't fallen prey to supermarket culture though: streets are lined with tiny specialist shops and bustling restaurants, most of which stay open late into the night. Close to the soaring office blocks exist pockets of another Tokyo - an old wooden house, a kimono shop, a Japanese inn, an old lady in a kimono sweeping the pavement outside her home with a straw broom. More than anything else, Tokyo is a place where the urgent rhythms of consumer culture collide with the quieter moments that linger from older traditions. It's a living city and you'll never run out of things to explore.
The real Tokyo experiences are soaking up the hustle and bustle and reveling in the pockets of calm. Ginza is the most famous shopping area in Tokyo. This place is overflowing with small private galleries, making it a great place to browse even if you're not looking to buy. Ueno-koen Park, north of the center of Tokyo, has some of Japan's best museums and galleries. The Tokyo National Museum holds the world's largest selection of Japanese art; the National Science Museum is a massive free-for-all packed with scientific goodies; and the Shitamachi History Museum is a recreation of the plebeian downtown quarters of old Tokyo.
PROGRAM DATES
Fall Term: late September - mid January
Spring Term: early April - late July
Academic Year: mid September - late July
NOTE: Students may participate in this program for the spring term or for a full academic year.
YEAR PROGRAM STARTED:
2008
HOST INSTITUTION ACADEMIC INFORMATION
The Rikkyo University was founded in 1874 by an Episcopal missionary from the United States. It is one of the oldest and nationally renowned research universities in Japan. It has 9 colleges (Liberal Arts, Economics, Science, Sociology, Law, Tourism, Community & Human Services, Psychology and Business) which offer both undergraduate and graduate programs, enrolling the total of about 15,000 undergraduate and 1,400 graduate students. It has two campuses: The Ikebukuro campus, located in the center of Tokyo, is the home to College of Business and six other colleges. The Niiza campus, about 30 minutes westward by train in the neighbouring Saitama prefecture, is the home to the colleges of Tourism, Community & Human Services, and Psychology. The faculty consists of about 500 full time members and 1,100 part time members.
The College of Business tries to foster persons who are capable of self-actualization and social contribution through administration of global business in an intercultural environment. The curriculum is designed to create highly cultivated international talents, and consists of small- or mid-sized lectures, small seminars, multi-layered English courses, and various courses for practical training, which altogether derive students sociability, ability of self-expression, and analytical and planning skills. The uniqueness of the college resides in its interdisciplinary nature.
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES
Subject Areas Available:
- Japanese
- Management
Language Information
The majority of the courses in the College of Business are taught in English. Students may enroll in Japanese courses through the Center for International Studies. It may be possible for students to enroll in full-time Japanese language and culture courses. For this option, please speak to the OIE advisor for this program.
Course Information
For detailed course information: click here Top
CREDIT TRANSFER INFORMATION
Credit for courses taken as part of GT exchange programs is added as transfer credit on the GT transcript. Since it is important to know which kind of credit students will earn abroad as soon as possible, GT requires that courses be pre-approved for transfer. With a Foreign Credit Approval Form (available from OIE) in hand, and the credit transfer system information (listed below), students should submit course descriptions to the appropriate academic unit to request their approval. If taking Math classes, for example, then the student should go to the GT School of Mathematics to get permission for the courses to transfer to GT. If approved, the GT School of Mathematics signs the Foreign Credit Approval Form showing how the courses will transfer so that students will know which type of credit they should expect to receive.
For detailed credit transfer instructions click here
For the Foreign Credit Approval Form click here
CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM
This information is intended for undergraduates students only. Graduate students must speak with their academic unit to to determine the acceptance of transfer credits.
Rikkyo uses the following credit transfer system:
1 Rikkyo Japanese language course = 1.8 GT credits
1 Rikkyo non-language lecture = 0.84 GT credits
GRADING SYSTEM
Rikkyo uses the following grading system listed below:
Rikkyo Grade = US Grade
S (90-100) = A
A (80-89) = B
B (70-79) = C
C (60-69) = D
F (0-59) = F
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Eligible students must meet the following criteria:
PROGRAM COSTS
The same matriculation, tuition and other mandatory fees (including transportation, technology, activity, health, and athletic) apply to a term abroad as would normally apply at Georgia Tech. Exchange students must pay tuition and fees to the GT Bursar for each semester they are abroad. No other expenses associated with this program are paid to GT.
Keep in mind the cost of books, health insurance, food, living expenses, and travel money, as well as pre-departure costs like your passport and visa. In general, Japan is more expensive than the United States. In fact it is one of the most expensive countries to travel to in the world. The currency of Japan is the Japanese Yen. Exchange rates fluctuate, so check the newspaper or click here for the most current rates.
DON'T FORGET TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!! See the OIE web site for more info: click here
Students who apply for this program may be eligible for a scholarship provided by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) which will cover a monthly stipend of about 80,000 Yen, and a settling relocation allowance of about 150,000 Yen. For more information, click here.
Following are cost estimates for one semester at Rikkyo that may help you prepare for your terms abroad. All costs are in USD.
In State Tuition $3,035 Out of State Tuition $3,285 GT Mandatory Fees $818 Books and Supplies $280 Administrative and/or Application fees $0 Miscellaneous (includes passport/visa fees, required field trips, local transportation and incidentals) $2,500 Roundtrip Airfare $1,600 Room and Board $4,100 Additional Language Instruction $0 Mandatory Insurance $150 Total $12,483 (in state) $12,733 (out of state)
*Out-of-state students pay in state tuition, plus $250 for this exchange program.
*Costs in the preceding chart are estimates for undergraduates based on tuition rates posted by the GT Bursar for "continuing students." Guaranteed tuition rates, graduate tuition rates, and MBA tuition rates vary. Please check the GT Bursar's web site click here to confirm actual tuition rates based on degree, term, or level of study. Actual costs may be higher or lower than those listed above, depending on the exchange rate and personal spending habits/needs.
HOUSING AND MEALS
Housing
The university does not have on-campus housing and the university's Center for International Studies assists exchange students in securing a space in an off-campus dormitory. The "Rikkyo University International Dormitory" consists of two buildings which are located in the neighboring prefecture of Saitama (north of Tokyo). Dorms have a kitchenette, refrigerator, bath, toilet, desk, closet, air-conditioning, and telephone. Internet connections are available. These dorms are about a 30 minute commute from campus.
Rikkyo also has arrangements with a number of apartment units for exchange students, and you may even secure accommodation prior to your arrival in Tokyo through the Center.
Meals
For students staying the international dormitory off-campus, a meal plan is available for about $200 per month.
INSURANCE
Students participating in this program will be assessed $150 per semester for mandatory insurance coverage. You will be covered by T.W. Lord and Associates. For detailed information about this insurance plan, click here. This cost is included in the above cost estimates for the program.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Center for International Studies at Rikkyo hosts various events aimed to provide a venue for international students and other Rikkyo students to meet and interact with one another. In addition, a wide variety of events in support of international students are sponsored by two Rikkyo University alumni organizations, the Tokyo St. Paul Lions Club and Koyukai Ladies' Club. Past events have included: a welcome reception for new international students, Tokyo Big 6 Baseball League game, day trip for international students sponsored by Tokyo St. Paul Lions Club, and a luncheon party hosted by the Ladies Club at Ikebukuro Campus. Additionally, The International Friendship League (IFL) may be of interest to international students. IFL is a group of students at Rikkyo University whose aim is to communicate in Japanese with international students studying at Rikkyo and provide them with assistance and support for living in Japan. Through a broad range of activities, such as holding daily luncheons, working together to plan various events, participating in sports, and experiencing various types of Japanese culture, the IFL members hope to get Japanese and international students to interact with each other at a deeper level.
CLIMATE
The combination of Japan's mountainous territory and the length of the archipelago, as well as Japan's proximity to the continental land mass make for a complex climate with a high degree of seasonal variation.
Tokyo has a milder climate than many other parts of Japan. November through February are the coldest months with temperatures ranging from 28ºF to 52ºF. July and August are the warmest months with temperatures ranging from 66ºF to 88ºF. Rainfall is highest in September and October.
VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION
Complete information about how to apply for or renew a U.S. passport is available from the GT Office of International Education or online: click here
Unless you are a Japanese citizen, you'll need a passport and a visa to participate in this program. In order to obtain a student visa for study in Japan, you will need to gather several documents and take them to the Japanese Consulate in Atlanta. You should contact the Japanese Consulate in Atlanta to obtain information on how to apply for a student visa click here
YOUR NEXT STEPS
To begin the process of participating in this exchange, please do the following:
EXPERIENCES OF FORMER STUDENTS
click here
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Jennifer Evanuik, Study Abroad Advisor (Exchange Programs)
GT Office of International Education
631 Cherry Street
Savant Building, Suite 211
Atlanta, GA 30332-0284
Phone: (404)894-7475 Fax: (404)894-9682
E-mail: jennifer.evanuik@oie.gatech.edu
OIE web site: click here
Host/Program Web Site: click here
Tokyo
Japan
Asia
Semester
16
12
English/Japanese
For more info, contact OIE.
Can I go abroad while pursuing a GT degree?
GT students have many opportunities to participate in semester/exchange and study abroad programs. In a semester program, you actually take classes with the host universitys students and faculty. (In some cases, this means that you must have excellent knowledge of the local language to participate). Semester program participants usually pay normal GT tuition and fees for each term abroad. Credits can be pre-approved to transfer back to GT so that you do not get behind in your studies. The application deadline for fall and academic year programs is in early February; for spring programs the deadline is in September/October.
In a study abroad program, the courses are taught by GT faculty and you register for regular GT courses. Residents pay normal matriculation fees, but do not pay ancillary fees (athletic, health, etc.). Non-residents only pay resident matriculation plus $250 ($1500 for GTL Summer/$2000 for GTL Spring/Fall) . This is a savings of over $6,000 for out-of-state students who participate in GT study abroad programs as full-time students! Deadlines for summer study abroad programs vary from early January to mid-February.
In most cases, if you are eligible for financial aid or scholarships, you can apply your grants, scholarships, and/or loans toward the expenses associated with participating in all GT programs.
GTs International Plan: More than just study abroad
Your major is participating in this new initiative!
The International Plan is an intensive, degree-long program designed to prepare GT graduates professionally and personally for successful lives in the 21st century. Requirements of the program include international coursework, two terms abroad (any combination of study, research or internship abroad), proficiency in a second language, and a culminating course. Students who complete the program will have a designation on their diploma indicating completion of the degree with global competence: for example, BS in Mechanical Engineering: International Plan. For more information or an application, contact your major advisor or OIE and visit the website: click here