Language Requirement: 4 years
Academic Standing by Program Start: Junior or Above
Location: Asia, Japan
GPA: 2.75

Program Overview

Engage in a total immersion experience at a large Japanese university. This program is ideal for students with strong Japanese language skills who are independent and adaptable. You will live in the dynamic city of Tokyo and take upper-division coursework in your major or minor. The University of Oregon sends two to four students per year on this program.

With more than 30,000 students, Meiji has a large number of classes, student activities, and facilities, including a manga and anime library. Meiji University has three campuses within Tokyo (Nakano, Surugadai, and Izumi) and a fourth campus in a suburb of Tokyo (Ikuta campus). Depending on your area of study, you will be assigned to one of these campuses, or you may have classes at more than one campus. Despite being a modern metropolis, Tokyo remains rich in culture; one is just as likely to see temples and shrines throughout the city as major skyscrapers.

Learn more information about each of the campuses. 

For further information, please visit Meiji University.  

Scholarship opportunity:

JASSO scholarships may be available through the Japanese government. If these are available, the scholarship application will be part of your secondary application for Meiji.

Note for Japanese passport holders: In order to be eligible for this program, you must hold dual citizenship with another country. Students who are only citizens of Japan are not eligible for this program.

Dates and Deadlines

 
TermYearDeadlineArrival DateDeparture Date
Fall/Winter Semester2025-2612/15/2024Early SeptemberEarly February
Academic Year2025-2612/15/2024Early SeptemberLate July
Spring Quarter20266/15/2025Late MarchLate July
Japanese Academic Year2026-276/15/2025Late MarchEarly February

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

Note: UO credits listed below are estimates and are subject to change. Please refer to the Meiji links for the updated credit information on their classes. One credit at Meiji is equal to 1.5 UO quarter credits.

Of the 13,000 class sessions offered at Meiji University, 12,000 are conducted in Japanese. For this reason, you must have a high level of Japanese language proficiency and must be prepared to study within the Japanese educational system. While at Meiji University, students typically take Japanese language classes in addition to content classes in Japanese or English. Most exchange students take 8-10 classes per semester, which are typically each worth 3 UO credits.

During the application process, you will choose a ‘school’ or department to enroll in. Undergraduate students may choose from the School of Global Japanese Studies, the School of Law, the School of Commerce, the School of Political Science and Economics, the School of Arts and Letters, the School of Science and Technology, the School of Agriculture, the School of Business Administration, the School of Information and Community, and the School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences.

The following schools offer some coursework in English: the School of Global Japanese Studies (English Track), the School of Political Science and Economics, the School of Arts and Letters, and the School of Business Administration. All other schools only offer classes in Japanese. You will be taking classes alongside local Japanese students as well as other international students. Students also have the option to enroll in seminars called “zemi.” These are small, discussion-based courses taught in Japanese by your assigned academic advisor, and are a helpful way to get oriented to life on campus.

The school you select will also determine which campus you are based at, and which housing you would likely be assigned to. Learn more information on the various schools and campuses.  

On this exchange program, you will earn:

  • Around 22-27 UO credits per semester. This may be a combination of Japanese language credit and content classes.

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

  • A minimum of four years of college-level Japanese, or equivalent level of proficiency
  • 3.25 GPA or above required for graduate students

Housing Description

Exchange students live in several different dormitories, depending on the department or school you are enrolled in at Meiji. These include the Izumi International House, Komae International House, and Tokyo Girls Student House (women only). The dormitories are off-campus, and are located about a 10-40 minute commute from campus, as is very common in Tokyo. Some of the dormitories have a cafeteria and meal plan available, while others have a full kitchen in the dormitory so that you can cook your own meals. Depending in the dormitory, you may be living with international students or Japanese students.

Please note that if you choose to live in the dormitories, Meiji will decide which dormitory you will be placed in. You will not be able to change options or decline housing after assignment.

You also have the option to arrange your own off-campus housing, and Meiji recommends doing so if you are not comfortable accepting whichever dormitory Meiji assigns to you.

For more information, scroll down to the Housing Service section on this page.