Terms of Study
Flexible terms of study ease your Japanese language immersion training in Tokyo.
If Japanese language immersion is something you must fit into your busy academic plans, KCP’s flexible study terms are a big help. Term lengths range from eight weeks to an academic year or more. Some students plan for extended study before they start the KCP program; some choose to extend their study once they are in Tokyo.
Although the Fall and Spring extended six-month (two-semester) programs are very popular with students, in truth you can combine KCP terms of study in many ways, starting and ending with the terms that meet your own specific timetable for Japanese language study in Tokyo.
Incidentals:
- Extended term is two KCP semesters; academic year is three KCP semesters. Japanese Language course credit is awarded based on the multiple of terms.
- The Japanese Culture and Society course is offered only during a student’s first term of study.
- If you enroll in an extended program and on a student visa, payment for the first two terms is due 60 days prior to your first-term start date.
Each of the KCP semester programs (fall, winter, spring, summer) covers about three months of learning time, coinciding roughly with dates for U.S. college semesters.
The longer you stay in full Japanese immersion, the more profound your command of Japanese. The six-month Spring Extended (winter to spring) and Fall Extended (summer to fall) programs are your opportunity for profound Japanese proficiency.
All the extended programs are ideal for students who:
• want more in-depth Japanese immersion in Tokyo
• are interested in working part-time while in Japan
• want to explore working in Japan for a while after their Japanese study.
Incidentals
- If you plan to attend a KCP extended or academic year program, you need to plan at least six months in advance for a student visa.
- If you enroll in an extended or academic year program, you can take the culture class only during your first term.
- If you decide, while at KCP, to stay for another semester or two and remain in KCP-arranged housing (dormitory or homestay), you cannot repeat the Culture Class after your first term of study.
KCP can offer homestay only during the first term of your study. After your first term, you will most likely be placed in a dormitory during the remainder of your time at KCP.
The academic year program runs October–June and equals three KCP semesters.
Incidentals
- If you plan to attend a KCP extended or academic year program, you need to plan at least six months in advance for a student visa.
- If you enroll in an extended or academic year program (two or three semesters), you can take the Japanese Culture and Society class during your first term only.
- If you decide, while at KCP, to stay for another semester or two and remain in KCP-arranged housing, you cannot repeat the Culture Class after your first term of study.
- KCP can offer homestay as a possibility only during the first term of your study. After your first term, you will most likely be placed in a dormitory during the remainder of your time at KCP.
The summer semester program is essentially the semester program: lasting three months, it is still timed for the academic-year summer of many colleges. (See SEMESTER tab.)
The summer short-term program in Japan matches its schedule more closely to universities in the United States (on either the semester and quarter schedules). Lasting roughly eight weeks, it is a high favorite of both students and recent college graduates. Recent enhancements include more language instruction, exciting new excursions, and cultural activities, and a lower cost.
Note: the summer short-term program differs from the summer semester program.
Summer short-term may be for you if you:
- want a shorter study abroad concentrating on Japanese language proficiency.
- want meaningful, stimulating summer study in Japan.
- have interests or career plans that lead you to Japan.
- want to acquire one year of university-level Japanese language credit.
For more information, see the Summer page.
