Study at Shinshu University
Programs offered by GEC
GEC Exchange Student Program
Basic Information for Entrance
Tuition / Living Cost
Contact list of faculties / 
Life at Shinshu
Enrolling Students
Current Students
Alumni
Programs offered by GEC
Shinshu University Exchange Student Program
Students who belong to universities that have student exchange agreements are able to apply for this program. The duration is one semester or one year.
Center for Global Education and Collaboration (GEC) Exchange Student Program
This program is for students who focus on learning Japanese language and culture (inter-university agreements only).
How to apply for the GEC Exchange Student Program
Also, if you would like to apply for the exchange program and focus on the specialized fields, please contact the respective faculty / graduate school.
Contact list of faculties / graduate schools
Japanese Studies Student (Nikkensei) Program
This program is for international students to deepen their understanding of Japanese language and culture at Shinshu University with a scholarship from the Japanese government (MEXT).
Shinshu University Japanese Studies Student (Nikkensei) Program
2024Nikkensei Course Guide （Japanese version only）
Although admission procedures and completion requirements are different, students in the Nikkensei program share many things in common with students in the Exchange Student Program. Please also refer to this page for more information about classes and the daily life at Shinshu University.
Videos
The Voice of International Students of GEC at Shinshu University 2022, vol.1 (English Subtitles) >>> Click here to watch
The Voice of International Students of GEC at Shinshu University 2022, vol.2 (English Subtitles) >>> Click here to watch
Voice of the Participants
About Shinshu University
The Shinshu campus in Matsumoto has a very pleasant atmosphere. I'm not much for very big cities like Tokyo, so I very much enjoyed the smaller scale of the campus, and the city around it. I liked how everything on Matsumoto campus is close by, like Coop and the library. The library is big enough and has good heating/air conditioning. The collection is a bit old (especially the non-Japanese language part), but serviceable.
2009 Fall -2010 Spring, S.H.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
What you leaned
I learned a lot about Asia, the Japanese culture, language and people.
2010 Spring, R. R.（Australia / Curtin University）
Of course my Japanese has improved a great deal. I even took a course in economics in my second semester, which I never thought I would be able to do. But other than that, I have also made many great friends.
The most important thing that I learned from my stay at Shinshu University, is that no matter where they live or what language they speak, people are the same on the inside everywhere. I used to believe different cultures produce different people. Now I know that that those differences are not so great as the similarities all people share.
2009 Fall -2010 Spring V.B.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
About Classes
I am very glad that I went on my exchange at Shinshu University. Everything was well arranged, and the staff at the International Center and the teachers were always ready to assist with any problem the foreign students might have. I was also surprised at the number of activities organized each month for the foreign students. Thanks to these activities, I not only gained many new experiences, I also met a lot of interesting people!
2009 Fall -2010 Spring V.B.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
Even though Shinshu University is not one of the top-ranking universities in Japan, I feel very lucky to be taught by teachers who are highly qualified and motivated by their expertise and international issues. I can deepen my Japanese language skills as well as academic knowledge, and I am highly satisfied with my studies at Shinshu University.
2021 Fall -2022 Spring, K. B.（Russia/Novosibirsk State University）
The first semester I was in intermediate level, which gave me a solid review of the things I had already studied - but better. Compared to home there were a lot of class hours, and sometimes a little repetitive, but you can learn very much in there. The second semester I was in upper-intermediate level, and the class structure was different; we got to choose more ourselves. This semester I especially found it interesting that we were allowed to choose classes in the regular faculties, with Japanese students. It was great to experience the methods of Japanese professors towards Japanese students, and the way of examination.
2009 Fall -2010 Spring, S.H.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
About Daily Life
Life wasn't as much as different to my country as I thought. I felt comfortable from the beginning.
2010 Spring, R. R.（Australia / Curtin University）
At first, I had to get used to life in Japan, because it's so different from home. But with help from friends and time I began to like it, especially in Matsumoto. Nature is close by wherever you look (also on campus), and the air you breathe is clean. All four seasons are beautiful here, and I'm definitely coming back sometime.
I made lots of friends, both foreigners and Japanese people, and got to join a Taiko group (Kaendaiko) which I've always wanted. Of course there were irritations, but in the end, I didn't want to go home.
2009-2010 S.H.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
Messages
Don't miss the chance to study abroad. It is a great opportunity, so enjoy your life while studying hard.
2021 Fall -2022 Spring, R. W.（Sri Lanka/University of Kelaniya）
Make good use of your time in Japan and have lots of forgettable memories and precious friends!
2021 Fall -2022 Spring, J. C.（Taiwan/Fu Jen Catholic University）
Try to meet as many as Japanese students as you can. participate in the University life and don't just hang around with the other exchange students.
2010 Spring, R. R.（Australia / Curtin University）
Go. Do everything in your power to go, especially if your field of study is Japanese, because you will get a valuable experience that you can't get anywhere else. Speak as much Japanese as you can (even with friends from the same country!), otherwise you'll never become fluent. Think as little as possible about home; make new friends here, build a new home for this year. If you want to join a club, do it. It's the easiest way of making Japanese friends. They're shy at first, but that doesn't mean they don't like you. Travel as much as you can, because every region in Japan is completely different. And lastly: Have fun! Give it your all, because you'll never get a chance like this again.
2009 Fall -2010 Spring, S.H.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)