Language Requirement: 1 year
Academic Standing by Program Start: Junior or above
Location: Asia, Japan
GPA: 2.75

Program Overview

Engage in a total immersion experience at a Japanese women’s university in the dynamic city of Tokyo. With fewer than 50 international students out of a university of 6,000 students, you will be fully immersed in Japanese culture.

Japan Women’s University (JWU), ranked among the top private universities in Japan, has been a pioneering force in higher education for women in Japan for the past century. There are two campuses: the Mejiro campus and the Nishi-Ikuta campus. The Mejiro campus is located in a relatively quiet area in the center of Tokyo between Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. The Nishi-Ikuta campus is located on a quiet wooded hill only half an hour by train from Tokyo. The University of Oregon sends two to four female students per year on this program.

There are a number of extracurricular opportunities available at JWU, including: participating in clubs with Japanese students, such as Kendo club, dance club, etc.; volunteering at a local elementary or middle school; working part-time as a conversation partner; or participating in a part-time internship. The JWU international office works very closely with exchange students and can help you find extracurricular activities according to your interests. You will also be paired with a JWU student tutor who can help you with adjusting to the university and to living in Tokyo.

Scholarship opportunity: UO students with a 3.0 GPA and above may be eligible to apply for the JWU Exchange Student Scholarship, which is usually 80,000 yen per month. Scholarship recipients are expected to contribute to JWU through volunteer work at JWU's affiliated elementary and middle schools, or on campus. The scholarship application form, which requires a letter of recommendation, is part of the secondary application for Japan Women’s University. Scholarship recipients will be notified at the same time they are notified of acceptance by JWU.

For further information about Japan Women’s University, please visit: https://www.jwu.ac.jp/unv/about/index.html. Please note that JWU's website is currently available primarily in Japanese.

Want to see what the JWU experience is like? Check out this heartwarming presentation by exchange student Dillan Shouppe.

Dates and Deadlines

 
Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Fall/Winter Semester 2025-26 12/15/2024 Early September Early March
Academic Year 2025-26 12/15/2024 Early September Early August
Spring Semester 2026 6/15/2025 Late January Early August
Spring Quarter 2026 6/15/2025 Early April Early August

The application process for this program is competitive: GEO staff will review your application materials, and a decision about your enrollment will not be made until after the application deadline. In some cases, an interview is required. If your program requires an interview, you will be contacted with further details about this process after the application deadline. Early applications are encouraged.

Successful applicants will receive an exchange nomination from GEO. Selection will be based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and written statements. 

Applying for an exchange program involves 2 steps. If you receive a nomination from GEO, you will also need to complete the host university's application, which is administered and reviewed by your host university directly. Instructions will be provided after acceptance by GEO. The host university makes the final decision regarding acceptance into the program.

Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Academic Details

The primary focus of this program is on Japanese language learning, and JWU is an excellent choice for students wanting to make rapid progress in Japanese proficiency. You will take an intensive Japanese course each semester, which meets for several hours each day. The Japanese class sizes are very small, with often just a couple students per instructor; this means that the classes are very customized and tailored to your needs. JWU also offers a five-week Winter Intensive Japanese class from early February to early March.

In addition to the intensive Japanese class, you will also take up to three content classes each semester, taught in Japanese or English. Previous content classes in English have included subjects such as international relations, Japanese culture, and comparative literature. Previous content classes in Japanese have included subjects such as education, Japanese studies, economics, and geography. You must have strong Japanese language skills in order to take content classes taught in Japanese.

The JWU exchange program is available during these terms:

  • Academic Year: Fall semester (September – January) + Winter Intensive Japanese class (February – March) + Spring semester (April – August)
  • Spring Semester: Winter Intensive Japanese class (February – March) + Spring semester (April – August)
  • Spring Quarter: The spring semester at JWU runs from April – August. This is referred to as ‘spring quarter’ in our application system because it aligns with the UO spring quarter.
  • Fall/Winter Semester: Fall semester (September – January) + Winter Intensive Japanese class (February – March)   Note: Fall/Winter students could also request to only participate in Fall semester, and finish their program in late January

In the JWU exchange program, you will earn:

  • Around 21 UO Japanese language credits per semester
  • Plus around 3 UO credits per content class
  • Plus around 5 UO Japanese language credits from the Winter Intensive Japanese class (for Academic Year, Fall/Winter Semester, and Spring Semester students)

Note: UO credits listed here are estimates and are subject to change. One credit at JWU is equal to 1.5 UO quarter credits.

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Additional Requirements

Minimum of three years of college-level Japanese for graduate students 

Housing Description

You may choose between living with a homestay family, in a ‘share house’ apartment off-campus, or in the JWU dorm on-campus with Japanese students. The dormitory provides single rooms and some meals as well as access to a kitchen. Campus is located in a relatively quiet area, but there are nearby reasonably-priced restaurants. Please note that dormitory living in Japan typically involves a curfew and cleaning duties.

Up to 3 UO students per year may be eligible to receive a dorm subsidy from JWU, which will waive the majority of housing-related costs if students stay in the dormitory. This makes the dorm the most affordable housing option, and the cost of the dorm with the subsidy is reflected in the student budget. See the student budget and student guide for additional information about the costs of the different housing options.
 
Students typically live with homestay families during the Winter Intensive Japanese class.
 
If you are a graduate student, you will live in private apartments or with homestay families.