Admission Information
International Division
Established in 1973, the International Division offers a one or two semester program running from August to May the following year, through which students earn transferable credits required for graduation. The course content concentrates on Japan, including Japanese language, culture, history, tradition, business and politics, with all courses except the Japanese language taught in English.
Most of the admitted foreign students are exchange students from universities that have entered into mutual exchange agreements with SGU, bringing in approximately 150 students per year, and SGU currently accepts foreign students from 109 institutions around the world. We are one of the few Japanese universities to offer courses on Japanese culture in English, with credits that can be applied to graduation.
The classroom is richly international, with students from many lands present, so that while studying Japanese students also learn about the world.
Most of the admitted foreign students are exchange students from universities that have entered into mutual exchange agreements with SGU, bringing in approximately 150 students per year, and SGU currently accepts foreign students from 109 institutions around the world. We are one of the few Japanese universities to offer courses on Japanese culture in English, with credits that can be applied to graduation.
The classroom is richly international, with students from many lands present, so that while studying Japanese students also learn about the world.
Acquiring credits
Students in the International Division earn a minimum of 14 to 28 credits (Japanese Credit System) over one or two semesters upon completing the program. Transcripts of completed coursework are sent to home institutions by the end of the next month after the program is completed. Students must confirm credit transfer with the appropriate department of their home institution. Fore more details, please find the information below.
(Electives) 100 min × 1 class × 14 weeks = 2 credits
(Japanese Lanugage) 100 min × 5 class × 14 weeks = 5 credits(Japanese Writing / Reading) 100 min × １class × 14 weeks = 2 credits
Grading
The International Division letter grade system is as follows:
| Letter | Grade Point | Pass / Fail |
|---|---|---|
| S | 100 - 90 | Pass |
| A | 89 - 80 | |
| B | 79 - 70 | |
| C | 69 - 60 | |
| D | 59 or lower | Fail |
SGU does not have "Incomplete" or "Withdraw".
Curriculum
Students may select courses they are interested in from the wide variety SGU offers. 5 levels (for Fall) / 6 levels (for Spring) of Japanese language instruction are available, with students placed into level [I], [II], [III], [IV], or [V] (+ [VI] for Spring semester only) courses based on their placement test results. Students can join the beginning class level [I] with no prior knowledge of Japanese. In addition to classroom study, off-campus activities such as trips to museums, cultural and government facilities are also common, helping foreign students gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture
Special Topic and Independent Study (Auditor System)
Students interested in regular university courses outside of those offered within the International Division, can select courses and earn credits through the International Division. Under the Special Topic program the student must be able to adequately understand the language of instruction. In addition to Japanese, a number of courses offered in the regular university are taught in English.
The Independent Study program allows students to engage in academic research into course subjects outside those offered within the International Division, under guidance from a professor. While there is no restriction on language, the professor must be able to effectively evaluate and direct the research. A student may take up to four credits of Independent Study.
The Independent Study program allows students to engage in academic research into course subjects outside those offered within the International Division, under guidance from a professor. While there is no restriction on language, the professor must be able to effectively evaluate and direct the research. A student may take up to four credits of Independent Study.
Academic Calendar
- 2026-2027 Academic Dates
-
*Make-up classes will be given to standardize the number of classes in the semester.
FALL SEMESTER
September
7(Mon) - 8 (Tue): Accommodation Move-in
9 (Wed) - 11 AM (Fri): Orientation Sessions
11 PM (Fri): Opening Convocation
14 (Mon): Fall-semester Classes Begin
30 (Wed): Drop Deadline for International Division Elective CoursesOctober
1 (Thu): Drop Deadline for Regular Departments Courses (Special Topic)
17 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
31 (Sat): Make-up Classes*November
6 (Fri): All Classes Cancelled [5 (Thu) - 8 (Sun): University Festival]
14 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
28 (Sat): Make-up Classes*December
12 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
19 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
24 (Thu): Fall-semester Classes End
26 (Sat): The Last Day to Move-out of Accommodation
Please note that some students are able to take some courses offered by the Regular Departments if they meet the course requirements. Their academic calendar is slightly different as follows:
Sept 25 (Fri): Classes start
Jan 21 (Thu): Classes end*
Jan 22 (Fri)-28(Thu): Examinations (Jan 29-30: Exam Make-up Days)*
*Students at the International Division will attend the classes until Dec 24 in line with the academic calendar at the International Division. Arrangements will be made for remaining January classes (2-3 classes) and exams by instructors.SPRING SEMESTER
January
16 (Sat) - 17 (Sun): Accommodation Move-in
18 (Mon) - 19 (Tue): Orientation Sessions (for Spring semester students)
20 (Wed): Spring-semester Classes BeginFebruary
2 (Tue): Drop Deadline for Elective Courses
3 (Wed) - 11 (Thu): Spring Recess
13 (Sat): Make-up Classes*March
13 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
19 (Fri): All Classes Cancelled (Commencement at Regular Departments)April
17 (Sat): Make-up classes*May
12 (Wed), 13 (Thu): Make-up Classes*
14 (Fri): All Classes Cancelled (Seinan Gakuin Foundation Anniversary)
20 (Thu): Spring-semester Classes End
21 (Fri): Commencement
23 (Sun): The Last Day to Move-out of Accommodation
- 2025-2026 Academic Dates
-
*Make-up classes will be given to standardize the number of classes in the semester.
FALL SEMESTER
September
8 (Mon) - 9 (Tue): Accommodation Move-in
10 (Wed) - 12 AM (Fri): Orientation Sessions
12 PM (Fri): Opening Convocation
16 (Tue): Fall-semester Classes Begin
29 (Mon): Drop Deadline for International Division Elective CoursesOctober
1 (Wed): Drop Deadline for Regular Departments Courses (Special Topic)
18 (Sat): Make-up Classes*November
1 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
7 (Fri): All Classes Cancelled [6 (Thu) - 9 (Sun): University Festival]
15 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
29 (Sat): Make-up Classes*December
13 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
20 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
24 (Wed): Fall-semester Classes End
26 (Fri): The Last Day to Move-out of Accommodation
Please note that some students are able to take some courses offered by the Regular Departments if they meet the course requirements. Their academic calendar is slightly different as follows:
Sept 25 (Thu): Classes start
Jan 21 (Wed): Classes end*
Jan 22 (Thu)-28(Wed): Examinations (Jan 29-30: Exam Make-up Days)*
*Students at the International Division will attend the classes until Dec 24 in line with the academic calendar at the International Division. Arrangements will be made for remaining January classes (2-3 classes) and exams by instructors.SPRING SEMESTER
January
11 (Sun) - 12 (Mon): Accommodation Move-in
13 (Tue) - 15 (Thu): Orientation Sessions (for Spring semester students)
16 (Fri): All Classes Cancelled (National Center Test for University Admission)
19 (Mon): Spring-semester Classes Begin
30 (Fri): Drop Deadline for Elective CoursesFebruary
31 (Sat) Jan. - 11 (Wed): Spring Recess
14 (Sat): Make-up Classes*March
14 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
19 (Thu): All Classes Cancelled (Commencement at Regular Departments)April
18 (Sat): Make-up classes*May
14 (Thu), 19 (Tue): Make-up Classes*
15 (Fri): All Classes Cancelled (Seinan Gakuin Foundation Anniversary)
20 (Wed): Spring-semester Classes End
21 (Thu): Commencement
24 (Sun): The Last Day to Move-out of Accommodation
- 2024-2025 Academic Dates
-
*Make-up classes will be given to standardize the number of classes in the semester.
FALL SEMESTER
August
19 (Mon) - 20 (Tue): Accommodation Move-in
21 (Wed) - 23 AM (Fri): Orientation Sessions
23 PM (Fri): Opening Convocation
26 (Mon): Fall-semester Classes BeginSeptember
6 (Fri): Drop Deadline for International Division Elective Courses
21 (Sat): Make-up Classes*October
3 (Thu): Drop Deadline for Regular Departments Courses (Special Topic)
19 (Sat): Make-up Classes*November
5 (Tue) - 8 (Fri): All Classes Cancelled [7 (Thu) - 10 (Sun): University Festival]
30 (Sat): Make-up Classes*December
11 (Wed): Fall-semester Classes End
12 (Thu) - 13 (Fri): Make-up Classes*
16 (Mon) - 19 (Thu): Fall-semester Examinations
20 (Fri): Commencement (for Fall semester students)
22 (Sun): The Last Day to Move-out of Accommodation
Please note that some students are able to take some courses offered by the Regular Departments if they meet the course requirements. Their academic calendar is slightly different as follows:
Sept 27 (Fri): Classes start
Jan 22 (Wed): Classes end*
Jan 23 (Thu)-29(Wed): Examinations (Jan 30-31: Exam Make-up Days)*
*Students at the International Division will attend the classes until Dec 19 in line with the academic calendar at the International Division. Arrangements will be made for remaining January classes (2-3 classes) and exams by instructors.SPRING SEMESTER
January
12 (Sun) - 13 (Mon): Accommodation Move-in
14 (Tue) - 16 (Thu): Orientation Sessions (for Spring semester students)
17 (Fri): All Classes Cancelled (National Center Test for University Admission)
20 (Mon): Spring-semester Classes Begin
31 (Fri): Drop Deadline for Elective CoursesFebruary
1 (Sat) - 11 (Tue): Spring Recess
15 (Sat): Make-up Classes*March
15 (Sat): Make-up Classes*
21 (Thu): All Classes Cancelled (Commencement at Regular Departments)April
19 (Sat): Make-up classes*May
10 (Sat), 14 (Wed), 16 (Fri): Make-up Classes*
15 (Thu): All Classes Cancelled (Seinan Gakuin Foundation Anniversary)
19 (Mon): Spring-semester Classes End
20 (Tue) - 26 (Mon): Spring-semester Examinations
27 (Fri): Commencement
29 (Thu): The Last Day to Move-out of Accommodation