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Semester/Year Programs > Japan | |||
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JAPAN SEMESTER/YEAR PROGRAM
Program Services
Health Insurance & Emergency Services Student Life & Academic Excursions
PRE-DEPARTURE & ORIENTATION Temple University International Programs provides a series of online pre-departure postings to help students prepare for studying and living in Tokyo. A pre-departure orientation program is also conducted at Temple University Main Campus in Philadelphia. Students are required to attend the on-site orientation program in Tokyo before starting classes. This program is designed to acquaint students with Temple University, Japan Campus, and life in Tokyo and Japan. vISAS, pASSPORTS AND TRAVELAll students must submit a passport in order to obtain a visa, which is required for semester study in Japan. Detailed instructions on obtaining a visa are provided to accepted students in an online pre-departure posting, and Temple assists with the visa application process. Please note that the visa application process begins shortly after the program appliction deadline. The visa process is a lengthy one, so it is important for participants to follow the instructions carefully and observe deadlines for submitting materials. Students must also be prepared to limit their international travel during this time. Students who do not have valid passports, valid for a minimum of 90 days beyond the end of the program, should apply for or renew their passports as soon as possible. Passport processing times vary, but can take up to a few months. For information on obtaining a passport, and current processing times, visit http://travel.state.gov/passport Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Tokyo and are required to be present for the entire length of the program. Further details are provided to accepted students. STUDENT EMPLOYMENTStudents may have the opportunity to work on-campus through student worker positions or, in limited circumstances, at paid internships. Students who work at TUJ usually find part-time employment in the Learning Center and in administrative offices. However, jobs may be limited, and the university cannot guarantee employment for all students.
Moreover, student employment is strictly regulated and requires formal university approval to be in compliance with visa laws and restrictions that govern employment for foreign nationals in Japan. Students can only work in accordance with Japanese visa restrictions and require advance approval and documentation. Study abroad students may only work if they are under long-term visa sponsorship and may not work if they are on a short-term tourist visa (applicable in the summer term).
HOUSINGStudents have the option of finding their own housing or of taking advantage of housing offered by TUJ. TUJ offers housing in a few select buildings, all of which have air conditioning and provide access to a kitchen, laundry facilities and the internet. Basic furnishings, linens, dishes and kitchen utensils are provided. Each housing facility is within a short walk of restaurants, cafes, grocery stores and shops, and depending on the location of the housing, the commute to campus ranges from 20 to 50 minutes by public transportation. A limited number of homestays with Japanese families are available for students interested in complete linguistic and cultural immersion. HEALTH INSURANCE & EMERGENCY SERVICESTUJ students are required to have health insurance with international coverage valid for the duration of the program. For this reason, all Temple study abroad participants are required, at minimum, to purchase the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which carries a basic emergency and accident insurance policy. This card is currently available for $22. Non-Japanese students on student visas are required to join the Japanese national health insurance program. Students purchase the insurance (approximately $32) upon arrival in Tokyo with the assistance of program staff. While Temple University requires that all students maintain ISIC coverage at minimum, the University highly recommends purchasing additional insurance. In the event of a medical emergency overseas, all students participating on a Temple University study abroad program have access to 24-hour assistance through International SOS. International SOS helps with medical, personal, travel and security information when away from home. More detailed information about insurance is provided in the pre-departure materials.
STUDENT LIFE & ACADEMIC EXCURSIONSSince a majority of TUJ students are Japanese, becoming involved in campus life provides an excellent way to make Japanese friends outside the classroom. Student organizations range from sports clubs (boxing, basketball, tennis) to those emphasizing TUJ’s international orientation (Salsa Club, China Club, Multicultural Society). Students may also become involved in planning events, such as club based dances and parties, and participate in university festivals. Students often socialize in the Student Activities Center, where the student government and a student lounge are located. To enhance understanding of Japanese culture, TUJ organizes optional field trips and excursions each semester. These include outings to Japanese matsuri (festivals), museums, sporting events (sumo, baseball, soccer) and the wide variety of offerings distinctive to Tokyo, one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world. Students may also participate in special cultural workshops on traditional Japanese arts, such as ikebana, calligraphy, tea ceremony, koto, archery, sake making and pottery. With opportunities to visit a Japanese high school, the Tsukiji fish market, onsen (hot springs), art festivals, and experience the nightlife, students are exposed to a broad spectrum of Japanese society. Arranged day trips and overnight or weekend outings to places such as Kyoto, Kamakura, Yokohama, Nikko, Hakone and Sapporo allow students to experience the regional varieties of Japan. Students are responsible for travel, meals and lodging costs, but every effort is made to ensure that these excursions are affordable. Many students take advantage of Tokyo’s proximity to the rest of Asia to travel throughout the region. Roughing it in remote areas, getting the pulse of Asian cities, and visiting some of the wonders of the world make this another rewarding aspect of the study abroad experience.
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