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International programs & student supports

Doshisha University

Location: Kyoto, Japan
Website: Doshisha University ( see info for exchange students)
GPA Requirement: minimum 2.0/4.0 GPA (2.0/9.0 GPA at UVic)
Language of Instruction:

  • Japanese taught courses at the Center for Japanese Language and Culture (CJLC)
  • English taught courses at the Center for Global Education (CGE)
Terms: Spring semester (early April - late July) // Fall semester (late September - early February)

Highlights

Trees on Doshisha campus
  • Doshisha University, established in 1875, is one of the oldest universities in Asia. It is located in Kyoto, an internationally celebrated cultural area in Japan, home to many historic buildings and traditional events.
  • Approximately 28,000 students study at Doshisha, including 1,800 international students from
    all over the world.
  • Provides an excellent program of Japanese language and culture courses for international students, called 'Nichibun', featuring courses taught at 9 different levels of Japanese.
  • Courses taught in English are available in the Global Education Module, which provides learning opportunities in different fields ranging from the humanities and social sciences to the natural and human sciences

Accessibility

Study Options

  • GEM offers students courses on Japanese culture, society, and nature
  • Nichibun provides courses on the Japanese language and culture, instructed in Japanese

**Students must take at least 7 classes per week (1 class = 90 minutes). 

Credits

Credits at Doshisha:

  • Full-time option (7.5 UVic units): 15 credits per term at Doshisha 

Course Evaluations at UVic: 

  • Before departure, UVic students will be able to submit exchange courses to UVic for evaluation. The results will indicate how many UVic units each exchange course is worth, as well as the course equivalency.
  • Students must use the evaluation results to ensure their exchange courses credits add up to the equivalent UVic units. The total number of units for each exchange term should be 4.5 UVic units for part-time exchange or 7.5 UVic units for full-time exchange.
  • This course evaluation process will be made available and explained in detail during the pre-departure session in early October for Spring exchange terms and in late March for Fall exchange terms. Evaluations take 2-6 weeks to complete and will be emailed to students. 
  • Course evaluations results are tentative until the end of the exchange term, when a second, final evaluation is conducted by OREM using the students’ exchange transcript, and the results are applied to their UVic record. 

Exchange credit history

  • Click here to check out the exchange credit history of courses that have been previously evaluated by UVic for this host university.
  • Students are not limited to this list when selecting courses for their upcoming exchange and should consult the host university’s course catalogue for a full list of offerings.
  • Important note: this document is a guide only and previously evaluated courses are not guaranteed to be evaluated in the same way in the future.
  • After being accepted into the ICS Exchange Program, students will have the chance to submit exchange courses to UVic for evaluation. The results will provide updated unit and credit equivalency information. 

Housing

  • On-campus housing: Unavailable
  • Off-campus housing: Available
    • Doshisha will provide off-campus dormitories to exchange students. If students wish to look for their own accommodation off campus, please be sure to inform Doshisha's Office of International Students after you have been nominated by UVic. 

Medical Insurance, Immigration & Orientation

Visa: Required

  • Students will need a visa in order to study on exchange at Doshisha. The Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) is a necessary document for students to apply for their student visa. Doshisha University will apply for the CoE on behalf of students to the Immigration Bureau in Kyoto. As soon as the CoE is issued, it will be forwarded to students via email. Students will need to apply for a student visa at the nearest Japanese Embassy/Consulate in Canada as soon as receiving the CoE. 

Orientation: Available

  • Takes place in mid-September for Fall exchange students and mid-March for Spring students,
Application Instructions