University of Tsukuba

University of Tsukuba

University of Tsukuba is part of Tsukuba Science City, a science park developed in the 1960s that’s home to 30 of Japan’s leading national research institutes. A forerunner in university reform in Japan, Tsukuba was the first to encourage interdisciplinary research and graduate level evening classes.

Academic Highlights

Tsukuba’s academic strengths are in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine and physical education. It has produce three Nobel laureates, while more than 70 Tsukuba students and alumni have participated in the Olympic Games.

Location

The University of Tsukuba is located 60 kilometres north-east of Tokyo on a 258-hectare campus, the largest single campus in Japan. The campus blends science and technological industry with tranquil rice paddies and forests.

Did you know?

The University of Tsukuba has a committed sustainability policy that seeks to reduce human impact on the environment through education and research.

Language of Instruction

English (limited in some areas), Japanese

Program Duration

1 semester

Academic Level

Undergraduate, Postgraduate

Minimum Result Required

65% WAM

Previous Round Cut-off (WAM% or GPA)

78% WAM

Additional Requirements

Must be studying Japanese language as part of your degree

Anticipated Places in Semester 1, 2027

No places

Exchange Availability

Closed

Eligible Monash Campus

Monash Australia

Agreement Scope

All Faculties

Handbook/Catalogue

Tsukuba's course catalogue and enrollment guide for international students.

Most courses are conducted in Japanese, but there are some courses in English, specifically the 'Junior Year at Tsukuba Program'.

Further information on specific courses can be found at the Department pages and/or the syllabi course search (under Requisite, you can specify whether you are looking for undergraduate or graduate courses).

Academic Restrictions

  • Students applying for an exchange in Japan will need to have a WAM of 65% or above.
  • You are only eligible to apply for this university if you are studying Japanese Studies at Monash at the point of exchange application. The only exception is if you have been selected as a New Colombo Plan Scholar.
  • Due to the popularity of exchange at Tsukuba, Monash students can only apply for a one-semester exchange period.

Language requirements

  • If you opt to study Japanese language units at the University of Tsukuba, you will be placed at an appropriate level based on your performance in an assessment test at the beginning of your exchange semester.

Most units (referred to as ‘courses’) at the University of Tsukuba are worth one or two credits. Each credit point requires 45 hours of academic work.

Full-time Credit Load Equivalents

Semester

Min. 18 Monash points

Max. 24 Monash points

8 credits

11 credits

Year

Min. 36 Monash points

Max. 48 Monash points

16 credits

22 credits

Academic Calendar

Tsukuba Spring semester (Monash Semester 1): early April - late August
Tsukuba Fall semester (Monash Semester 2): early October - late March

Tsukuba's Academic Calendar

Accounting

Biological sciences

Chemistry

Design

Earth, atmosphere and environmental sciences

Economics

Engineering

Fine art

Information technology

Japanese languages & culture studies

Physics and astronomy

Politics and international relations

Science

Social work

  

Note

  • The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.
  • Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.

Accommodation

Tsukuba provides information about on-campus and off-campus housing for international students.

Visas

Exchange students must obtain a College Student visa to enter Japan. To apply for the College Student visa, you need to submit the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for residence in Japan to your nearest Japanese Consulate. Your host University will issue the COE to you after your exchange application has been accepted.

For more information on visas, please refer to the Consulate-General of Japan here.

Tsukuba also offers advice on immigration, and provides an Application for the Certificate of Eligibility for exchange students to complete. See the comprehensive international student guidebook for more information.

Health and insurance

Foreign nationals staying in Japan for over three months are required to enroll in the National Health Insurance system. You will receive a National Health Insurance Card when you enrol, which means that you will only be responsible for 30% of most medical fees, with 70% being covered by insurance should you fall ill or become injured.

Tsukuba provides additional information on the National Health Insurance scheme.

When travelling on a Monash Abroad approved program, you are automatically covered under the Monash University Student Travel Insurance policy.  This will provide cover to and from your exchange.

Orientation and extra-curricular 

Tsukuba organises orientation sessions which newly arrived exchange students are required to attend, with information to help them settle in to university life.

Tsukuba has a vibrant campus life, including a buddy or tutor system which new students can register for, university events, and extracurricular activities such as student clubs and activity groups.

Exchange students are eligible to register for Japanese Language courses. Those who are interested are required to take a placement test to ensure they are assigned to an appropriate class based on their proficiency level.

Cost of living

Tsukuba advises that the average living expenses are approximately ￥80,000 per month (not including dormitory fees).

Funding

Each year, Japanese universities apply for Japanese government funding for the following scholarships:

  • The Japan Student Services Organizations (JASSO) scholarship here.
  • The Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarship here.

If Tsukuba University is successful in receiving the funding, they will request Monash to nominate students. You do not need to apply for these scholarships directly unless requested to do so.

Students may also be eligible for the New Colombo Plan scholarship, and if they are studying Japanese language courses, the Walter Mangold Study Abroad Scholarship.

For more information about funding available to support study on exchange overseas, see the Financial Information page on the Monash Abroad website.

Due to a lack of availability of exchange places, this program is not currently accepting applications.

Have you been to Tsukuba University and want to share your experience? 
Let us know about your exchange via this survey form and your testimonial could be shown here!

David Murikumthara
Bachelor of Arts/Laws
Semester 1 & 2, 2015
Studied: Arts units

Study Experience

I studied Japanese language and culture units, and also International Studies electives. We were given varied assessment tasks (like making videos in Japanese), and often had excursions for Japanese culture units. Tsukuba split up language classes which I found helpful. If my listening skills were good, but my Kanji wasn't, I could enrol into Listening 7 and Kanji 5.

Culture

Tsukuba is a college town. At Tsukuba, almost everyone lives on-campus or around campus. As a result, student societies are very active. There's a real sense of community.

Benefits of going on exchange

Exchange really improved my time management skills. I'd be busy every week with travel, student societies, self-study and classes, so I quickly learnt that to make the most of my time overseas, I had to effectively manage my time.

Career Benefits

My language skills and intercultural competence greatly developed, and as a result I found an internship where I could leverage these skills. A lot of companies want Asia-literacy and strong communication skills in international work, and exchange is the perfect way to address and grow these skills.

Money and Budgeting

Different dorms in Tsukuba are cheaper than others. Make sure you find a dorm that's in your budget. Also, catching a bus to other cities rather than trains can also save you money (especially night buses).

Top tips

  • Solidify your Japanese before you go - listening and kanji practice are the most time-effective way to do this
  • Join student societies! A lot of international students neglect this, but my best memories are from student societies
  • Live in Oikoshi dorms - closer to restaurants and bars in Tsukuba
  • Try hard to make a lot of Japanese friends - your Japanese level goes up, and you find out about cool events that you might not know about otherwise