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Studying Abroad in Japan

Japanese Studies students are encouraged to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) and/or UC San Diego Global Seminars while still making progress towards completing their major or minor.

Please visit the Study Abroad Office website for information on programs, schools in Japan, and scholarship options. Contact the Study Abroad advisor via VAC directly if you have any questions.

Check out this short testimonial Youtube video which UC San Diego students created. 

Transfer Equivalency Criteria:

  • The courses must be taken for a letter grade.
  • The courses must include 33% or more on Japan-focused topics.
  • The courses must be upper division.
  • The course credit may be combined to make sense for the UC unit/course count (4 units = 1 course)
    Examples: you can use two 3-unit study abroad courses (6 units) as one UC course (4 unit). Three 3-unit and/or two 4.5-unit study abraod courses (9 units) could count as two UC courses (8units).

IMPORTANT: Student will need to be able to provide supporting evidence of all abroad courses to be applied to their major or minor. Please save all your course syllabi, exams, papers, and other coursework electronically.

Before Going Abroad:

  • Submit your complete Study Abroad Academic Planning Form (APF) as instructed before the due date. 

  • Japanese Studies does NOT pre-approve or preview any study abraod courses on your APF. In other words, your petition for all the study abroad courses will be approved as long as they meet the criteria above. Japanese Studies majors and minors who wish to use their study abroad courses must petition the courses upon their return.

  • Japanese Studies majors and minors who are considering studying abroad in Japan are recommended to discuss their plans with the Japanese Studies Advisor before going abroad.

After Returning From Abroad:

Read the instructions below carefully and complete and submit your study abroad course petitions if necessary.

UCSD Undergraduate Student Petitions form is available here.

  • Wait until your study abroad transcripts get transferred to UC San Diego. You cannot submit your course petitions until your study abroad courses become available in your academic history and degree audit.

  • Submit your study abroad course petition to the Japanese Studies office as instructed on How to Petition Courses.
    Note: In order for your study abroad courses to count towards your Japanese Studies major/minor, they must be upper division (the course number should be above 100), taken for a letter grade, and focus on Japan-related topics (ideally more than 50%, no less than 33%). 

  • The Japanese Studies advisor will contact you via the VAC upon approval. At the same time, these courses will be entered into your degree audit.

  • It is advised to take the online Japanese placement test (SPOT) immediately upon your return if you wish to continue your Japanese language studies at UC San Diego.