Japan:: World Partners

International University of Japan

Overview

International Relations graduate students in the Maxwell School have the opportunity to study at the Graduate School of International Relations at the International University of Japan (IUJ) outside JapanNiigata during the Fall Semester. This unique opportunity is being offered by the International Relations Program in cooperation with the SU Abroad. Students who select Asia as their geographical concentration or Global Markets as their topical concentration should investigate the Maxwell-I.U.J. Exchange Program.

The Graduate School of International Relations at IUJ focuses on topics such as international relations theory, historical development, security problems, and foreign policies through two-credit courses. English is the language of instruction in all courses.

Japan & Niigate
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea, and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. Its capital is Tokyo, one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. At over 377,873 square kilometers,Japan Japan is the 62nd largest country by area. It encompasses over 3,000 islands, the largest of which are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Most of Japan's islands are mountainous, and many are volcanic, including the highest peak, Mount Fuji. It has the world's 10th largest population, with nearly 128 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, with over 30 million residents, is the largest metropolitan area in the world. Since it adopted its constitution on May 3, 1947, Japan has maintained a unitary constitutional monarchy with an emperor and an elected parliament, the Diet, which is one of the oldest legislative bodies in Asia. Japan has the world's second largest economy, and is the sixth largest exporter and importer. Japanese culture has evolved greatly over the years, from the country's original Jomon culture to its contemporary hybrid culture, which has been heavily influenced by American and European culture. The fusion of traditional wood printing and western art led to the creation of manga, and anime.

IUJ is located 40 minutes by train from the city of Niigata. It is located in the Echigo Mountains, in the Hokuriku region. This region with its extraordinarily heavy winter snowfalls, its warm, pleasant springs, its subtropical summers and brilliant autumns, its rich history, interwoven both with that of the rest of the Japanese archipelago and with the Asian continent, is not only the home of a fascinating traditional society, but has provided the setting for some of the most visionary industrial and engineering projects in postwar Japan. It has also given birth to some of the nation’s most dynamic and far sighted political leaders.

Courses

The minimum course load is four classes, at two credits each. In the past, most students have chosen to enroll in an additional Japanese language class. However, language classes cannot count toward the degree program so students typically audit these classes. Students typically take International Relations, History or Economics courses. You would work with Maxwell to have your courses pre-approved but would not register until you arrive. A listing of the courses offered can be found on the IUJ website. Grades from IUJ will be posted to your academic record and factored into your overall GPA at SU.

Travel

Travel is not included in the cost of the program. You are responsible for getting to IUJ by the program start date. Current cost for a round-trip flight from the East Coast to Narita is around $1300. Once you arrive at Narita International airport you would take a bullet train to Urasa. From Urasa, there is a free shuttle bus to campus.

Living arrangements

Visa

You will need a visa to study in Japan. You will receive additional information with your acceptance letter. Currently, there is not a cost for the visa for U.S. citizens.

Cost & Aid

You will pay SU graduate tuition and you may apply all SU financial aid except work-study. Housing is billed directly from IUJ. You are responsible for round-trip airfare, meals, local transportation, books, personal effects and incidentals. For these expenses, you should plan to budget out-of-pocket approximately $895 a month plus the cost of your flight. Students who receive the JASSO Scholarship have their room, board and flights covered by IUJ.

How to apply

Applying to this program is a two-part process. Turn in all parts to the SU Abroad office by March 15 for the fall semester.

Part 1: Syracuse University

  1. SU Abroad application online at http://suabroad.syr.edu
  2. $60 application fee payable to Syracuse University
  3. Academic Recommendation
  4. Study Abroad Approval form - signed by the Dean's office of your home college
Part 2: International University of Japan
  1. Download and complete IUJ’s application at: http://gsir.iuj.ac.jp/admission/apply.html
  2. Official transcript (must have a 3.5 GPA)
  3. Research Plan
  4. Essay
  5. Two recommendation letters
  6. Passport size photo

For more information contact:
Ginny Pellam-Montalbano - gapellam@syr.edu - 443-9417
Deb Goddard – dsgoddar@syr.edu – 443-2528

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