Kwansei Gakuin is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan, dating back to 1889, when it was founded in Kobe by the American missionary Reverend Walter Russell Lambuth, M.D. It is now a comprehensive and integrated educational institution spread across six campuses: Nishinomiya Uegahara, Nishinomiya Seiwa, Kobe Sanda, Osaka Umeda, Tokyo Marunouchi, and Takarazuka. 

Most schools are located on the Nishinomiya Uegahara Campus. The School of Policy Studies and the School of Science and Technology are located on the Kobe Sanda Campus, while the Nishinomiya Seiwa Campus is home to the School of Education. 

Kwansei Gakuin values inclusiveness for students from all backgrounds. Throughout its history, Kwansei Gakuin has strongly emphasized its international character. A variety of programs aim to develop globally-minded people who understand other cultures and countries of the world, and inspire them to help others, in the spirit of the school’s motto, “Mastery for Service.” 

Nishinomiya city is located in the south-east of Hyogo prefecture, between the cities of Kobe and Osaka. It has been developed as an “educational living district", taking advantage of the convenient location and rich natural environment. The city is best known as the home of Koshien Stadium, home to the Hanshin Tigers professional baseball team, and where Japan’s annual high school baseball championship is held. Nishinomiya is also famous for its sake microbrewery district and many cake factories.

Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of the Asian continent. It is a member of the ASEAN Plus mechanism, UN, OECD, G7, G8 and G20.

Approximately 97% of Japan's 126 million people live on the four largest islands and the capital city of Tokyo is the largest city in the world at 37 million people – a third of Japan's total population. More than 99% of the population speaks Japanese as their first language, but younger Japanese are usually familiar with English, particularly in tourist-heavy areas such as Tokyo.

Japan has a very high standard of living, with the population enjoying one of the highest life expectancies in the world. It has the third-largest economy in the world and is the world's fourth-largest exporter and importer. It’s little surprise that Japan is very popular with tourists. The country is very safe, clean, beautiful, modern and easy to navigate. You're likely already aware of some of the more popular attractions such as Mt. Fuji, bamboo forests, cherry blossom season, as well as the cuisine that includes favourites such as ramen, sushi and tempura.

Japan seems to have a reputation for being expensive, however it's more budget friendly for tourists than many think. Despite having the largest city in the world, two thirds of Japan is actually covered by forests and mountains. You could visit various animal islands and parks to get up close with deer, foxes, and cats. During the winter season, try skiing in the mountains, with the enticing option of a hot spring to relax in after a day on the slopes. If you're into anime, J-pop, gaming, or fashion, Japan is a must-visit location to see the cutting edge of these trends. Alternatively, you could visit a traditional shrine, participate in an ancient festival, stop by a country town or wander through old castles and estates, and get a taste for the other side of Japan.

Did you know?

Japanese trains are among the world’s most punctual: their average delay is just 18 seconds! There is even a train that “floats” above the tracks by magnetism. In 2015, this train hit a record-breaking top speed of 603 kph (374mph) on an experimental track. Geisha means “person of the arts” and the first geisha, who appeared around the year 1730, were actually male!

All students must meet standard exchange selection criteria and any host institution restrictions.

• UniSA academic transcript 
• Passport 
• Motivation letter 
• Recommendation letter by academic staff 
• Accommodation letter  
• Medical form and Certificate of Health
• 4x Passport sized photos
• Evidence of finance
• Immigration application form 

Students must register for 12 Kwansei Gakuin credits for 13.5 UniSA units and 14 Kwansei Gakuin credits for 18 UniSA units

Japanese Language Requirement: Prospective exchange students must at least be able to fluently read, write and pronounce the Japanese Hiragana and Katakana phonetic scripts by the time they arrive in Japan.  JLT students must take the Japanese placement test held during Orientation Week. The Japanese placement test results determine the level of mandatory Japanese Language Courses each student is to be enrolled in. 

English Language Requirement: As a number of elective courses are taught in English, exchange students whose native language is not English are expected to have an English proficiency equivalent to a TOEFL iBT score of 71 or higher.  

Download the KGU Exchange program brochure here.

Find courses at KGU

Kwansei Gakuin University does not offer airport pick up. You will need to make your own way to the campus from Osaka Itami Airport or Kansai International Airport.

More information on how to get to the campus can be found here. 

KGU offers two accommodation options for exchange students; homestays where you will be to experience living with a Japanese family, or living in student dormitories, with other KGU and exchange students. Both accommodation options offer a private room.  Note that if you want to stay in the student dormitories, places are limited and competitive so you may not always be allocated your first preference. 

More information on accommodation can be found here.  

As an exchange partner with the University of South Australia, you do not have to pay tuition fees to Kwansei Gakuin University, instead you will pay tuition as you would normally at UniSA. Travel and living expenses are at your own cost. The table below gives an indication of costs you will incur: 

More information can be found here.

You may be eligible to receive additional grants or scholarships to fund your experience. For more information please see the funding and scholarships website.

UniSA offers travel insurance as part of your exchange for up to 270 days (can be extended up to 365 days). For more information please see travel insurance website.  
 
Please click here to read the travel insurance policy. 
 
A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found here. 
 
If you have any further questions about travel insurance, please contact the UniSA Insurance Office on 08 8302 1678. 
 
As an exchange student at Kwansei Gakuin University, you must purchase compulsory additional health insurance. See here for more information.