Hitotsubashi University has four (4) terms, with the school year commencing in early April. As Durham students, you will begin your time at Hitotsubashi at the start of their Autumn term and attend through to the following Summer term. Before classes begin in September, exchange students at Hitotsubashi must attend the international student orientation.
Examinations may occur during or at the end of the lecture period.
More Information: Academic Calendar | Hitotsubashi University
If selected to go on an exchange by Durham University, the Global Opportunities Team will formally nominate you to this partner. After your nomination is confirmed, you will need to apply directly to this partner to register with them.
Deadline: Late March
1. Hitotsubashi University Global Program (HGP)
HGP offers interdisciplinary courses taught in English, designed for both international and Japanese students. Students can choose from a variety of courses in the social sciences; the program provides in-depth learning opportunities in the fields of Business, Economics, Law, Sociology, IT and others. The program also includes courses specifically designed for exchange students ranging from Japanese language, Japanese Affairs, and seminars (courses with a limited number of students) all conducted in English.
More Information: HGP | Hitotsubashi University
2. Japanese Language Education Program (JLE)
JLE offers intensive language learning courses aimed at students of all learning levels. This program is aimed at international exchange students whose are pursuing a Japanese Studies degree at their home university. Students who wish to register for the Japanese Education Program must, after arriving in Japan, take the language level placement test held in the Orientation.
More Information: JLE | Hitotsubashi University
Exchange students on the Hitotsubashi Global Education Programme (HGP) and Japanese Language Education (JLE) programmes select modules using Hitotsubashi's online syllabus system (CELS), which provides detailed information on course content, schedules, credit values, and eligibility requirements.
Following arrival and attendance at the mandatory Orientation in early September, students receive their Hitotsubashi network credentials and access the CELS course registration system. Some undergraduate modules are subject to a web lottery system because of enrolment caps, while most undergraduate modules can be registered for directly through CELS during the designated course registration period.
Students typically consult the published HGP course list, JLE course information, and the online syllabus before finalising their study plan. Once registration is complete, teaching materials, coursework submissions, and communications with instructors are managed through the Hitotsubashi's manaba learning platform.
Exchange students must ensure that their chosen modules satisfy both Hitotsubashi University's study-load requirements and Durham University study-load requirements.
More Information: Course Registration | Hitotsubashi University
More Information: Course List | Hitotsubashi University
More Information: Exchange Student Orientation | Hitotsubashi University
For full-year exchange students at Hitotsubashi University, study load requirements for each semester are based on weekly class slots rather than a mandatory number of credits. Exchange students must register for courses totalling at least six (6) 105-minute class slots per week in each semester. This will keep you in line with the Standards for Establishment of Universities which all all Japanese universities must enforce for student workload hours.
Typically, a 2-credit course meets once per week for 105 minutes over a 14-week semester, while a 2-credit quarter course normally meets twice per week for 105 minutes over a 7-week quarter.
Exchange students may register for up to 28 credits per semester and 44 credits per academic year. Although intensive courses do not count towards the six-slot minimum requirement.
More Information: Exchange Student FAQs | Hitotsubashi University
English: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT® 79
Japanese: N2 JLPT or equivalent (Optional)
To be fully eligible to apply to any of Hitotsubashi's exchange programmes, you must:
If selected to go on an exchange by Durham, you will need the following documents to apply directly to this partner:
More Information: Undergraduate Exchange Student Application | Hitotsubashi University
The International Student Advising Office provides exchange students free academic and administrative guidance, course registration support, health and wellbeing services, accommodation assistance, career support, and disability-related support all in English.
Exchange students are given priority for a single room in the Ikkyo-Ryo residential hall, with use of a common area to be shared with residents on the same floor. However, not all exchange students may be guaranteed a room due to limited availability. We are unable to consider your personal preference about the residential hall in which you wish to live when assigning rooms.
More Information: Applying for Residence Halls | Hitotsubashi University
More Information: Residence Hall Ikkyo-Ryo | Hitotsubashi University
Exchange students are required to join the following insurances regardless of the length of their stay:
The application procedure for each of these will be guided at the Orientation.
HU have a Student Support Centre including:
The following scholarships may be available for exchange students. In order to apply for these scholarships, applicants must be nominated by their home institution to Hitotsubashi. The information for scholarships is on HU's website and the details will be in the Application Packet they will send once you are accepted to study with them.
More Information: Scholarships for Exchange Students | Hitotsubashi University
A processing fee JPY ¥13,200 (incl. tax) per student is required for the issuance of the Certificate of Eligibility (COE), once accepted by this university. Only students who hold either a Japanese nationality or 'Special Permanent Resident' status in Japan are not required to apply for a COE.
Did you know that Hitotsubashi University is only a few stops away from the Ghibli Museum? Best known for its animated feature films like My Neighbour Totoro, Studio Ghibli's films are among the highest-grossing anime feature films made in Japan, including Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.
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