Toyama University of International Studies

Japan's population is over 126 million. Most Japanese reside in densely populated urban areas. Japan's capital city is Tokyo. The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area including the city, some of its suburbs and the surrounding area is approximately 12 million.

Basic English is widely spoken throughout the country, particularly in major cities and tourist centers. Announcements on public transportation are frequently made in both Japanese and English, and signs generally include decipherable roman characters or an English explanation.

In Japan, there are many fascinating places that you can enjoy for free. These include such diverse attractions as beer museums, food galleries, hi-tech consumer electronics showrooms, cosmetics factories and television studios. With so many different places to visit there's bound to be something of interest for everyone.

Traditional cultural pursuits such as sado (Japanese tea ceremony) and ikebana (flower arrangement) are much more than simple pursuits in skills. They embody spiritual ways seeking the traditional values of wabi (elegant stillness) and sabi (antiquated elegance with calm).

Toyama is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chubu region on central Honshu, about 200 km north of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo. Population: around 430000.

The city has been designated an environmental model by the national government for its efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases

Established in 1990, TUINS (Toyama University of International Studies) is a private higher education institution located in the medium city of Toyama. Officially accredited/recognized by the Ministry of Educaiton, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan, TUINS offers courses in Tourism, Environmental Design, Business Administration, Information Scine, International Career Development and Education (need higher Japanese - N2 or N1).

View a list of undergraduate courses that interest exchange students here:

Undergraduate Courses for Exchange Students

Courses taught in English are listed under English-Medium courses. Courses highlighted in blue are taught during the fall semester.

You are eligible for this exchange if you are:

• A full-time U of L student
• In at least the 2nd year of your program
• In good academic standing, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Fluent in Japanese (successfully completed at least three years of university-level Japanese courses) to enrol in Japanese-taught courses

It is MANDATORY to obtain a Student Visa from the Consulate General of Japan in Calgary. There is an application fee of CAD $57 (2023).

Before applying for a visa, successful applicants to TUINS must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) from the Osaka Immigration Office. TUINS will apply for the CoE on behalf of successful applicants.

Visit the Embassy of Japan in Canada website for information about the visa application process.

Consulate General of Japan in Calgary
Phone: 1 (403) 294-0782
E-mail: consular@cl.mofa.go.jp
Website: www.calgary.ca.emb-japan.go.jp

Office hours: Monday to Friday 09:00–12:30 and 13:30–17:00.

All applicants must call the office to arrange an appointment to apply for a visa and submit all documents in person at the Consulate General of Japan at Calgary.

For detailed information about vaccination recommendations when going abroad, please visit the Government of Canada's website.

Student Dormitories

• Cost: ¥ 44,000 - 55,000/month (CAD 400 - 550) including water and electricity
• All exchange students and first year undergraduate students from outside Japan are asked to live in one of the several apartment buildings near Higashi kuromaki campus (which function as TUINS dormitories).
• Each apartment for exchange students is for one person and has a bed, an air conditioner, a small bathroom, a washing machine, a refrigerator, an electric stove for cooking and cooking utensils.

Additionally, it is MANDATORY to enroll in the National Health Insurance program. When visiting medical institutions, you will be exempt from 70% of medical and pharmaceutical fees by showing your National Health Insurance card. Students may register for the National Health Insurance at the local municipal office after completing resident registration at the office. The premium is approximately ¥2,000/month (2023).

For a detailed description of the Japanese Health Care System, please click here.

Students going on an exchange pay regular U of L tuition and fees. For up-to-date tuition information, visit the U of L's Financial Services website.

The TUINS would like a student from the U of L to study at their institution from September 2024 to August 2025. They are offering a scholarship that would give the student ¥50,000 per month over the one-year period. A student who wishes to study for the full year is preferable, but they would also consider awarding the scholarship for a six-month period.

If you are interested in studying at TUINS, email outgoing@uleth.ca