Frequently Asked Questions

TUJ is a branch campus of Temple University in the United States. All classes (except foreign language) are taught in English, and students can earn 4-year undergraduate degrees without leaving Japan. For students wishing to pursue the Japanese language, TUJ offers a minor in Japanese and has classes ranging from beginner to advance. TUJ is a great choice for students who are looking to obtain an American degree, learn Japanese, and gain an international experience.

TUJ has three semesters in an academic year: fall (late August start), spring (early January start), and summer (mid-May start). As in the U.S. university system, many students study fall and spring semesters and take the summer semester off. TUJ visa-sponsored students who are not taking summer classes are required to leave Japan for the duration of summer semester.

• Academic Calendar

A completed application for admission consists of the application form, official transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended, official test scores (SAT or ACT for native English speakers; TOEFL or IELTS for non-native English speakers), a personal statement, a copy of your high school diploma, and the admissions application fee.

• Admission Application Requirements

All applicants need to show proof of high school completion. This can be a copy of a high school diploma, or a date of graduation listed on the high school transcript.

Students who have a GED can apply as long as they have at least 15 transferable college-level semester credits with a 2.5 GPA or higher, ideally including college-level mathematics and English composition. Students with a GED should submit a copy of the GED diploma and an official GED transcript.

The personal statement is a chance for applicants to introduce themselves; discuss their interest in Japan; describe long-term personal, academic or career goals; or share any other information pertaining to academic goals that the applicant would like the Admissions Office to consider. You want to be clear and concise, stay within 300-500 words.

Students receive an admissions decision 2-3 weeks after submitting a complete application for admission.

• Admission Application Requirements

There are a few ways to waive the SAT/ACT requirement. If you are 22 or older, you are automatically waived. If you have completed 15 college-level semester credits with at least a 2.5 GPA, including an English composition course that covers research paper writing, you may be eligible to apply for a waiver of the requirement. Students from English-speaking countries that do not administer the SAT or ACT, such as Canada, may also be eligible for a waiver. Please check with your admissions counselor for eligibility on the SAT/ACT waiver.

Yes, TUJ will take your U.S. military courses and review them as part of your credit transfer evaluation. Please request an original SMART or AARTS transcript to be sent directly to TUJ.

The admissions decision is valid for two years from the semester for which you are accepted.

TUJ accepts credits from colleges and universities worldwide. In order for credits to transfer, the courses must be college-level (no ESL, no non-credit correspondence courses, and no pre-college prep courses), from a college or university that is accredited in that country, and you must have received a grade of C- or better (TUJ will determine your grade if your school uses a different grading scale). TUJ does not accept transfer credit for technical or vocational classes. Computer science classes typically do not transfer, and upper-level business courses will only transfer if they are from a school that is accredited by the AACSB (www.aacsb.edu).

TUJ will evaluate your credits AFTER you have completed the admissions application and have been accepted. We cannot evaluate your credits before you apply. In general, the credit transfer evaluation will be completed 2-4 weeks after your acceptance letter has been issued.

No, your GPA does not carry over to TUJ. If you have taken college courses elsewhere, we will evaluate your official transcripts for college credit but your GPA will not accompany the credits transferred.

Students requiring student visa sponsorship will need to send in a completed student visa application by the final deadline (note that the final deadlines for the admissions and student visa applications are the same). In the months before the start of the semester you've applied for, you will receive regular updates from the Admissions and Student Services offices. These will include the official credit transfer evaluation, the Certificate of Eligibility for the student visa, housing request form, pre-departure information, new student information packet, and a schedule for the week of orientation, advising and registration that precedes the start of classes.

Yes, TUJ accepts transfer students. Credit transfer evaluations are done after an applicant has been accepted to TUJ, typically 2-4 weeks after the acceptance letter has been issued.

Yes. An applicant with 15 or more transferable semester credits is considered a transfer student. Applicants with less than 30 transferable semester credits are evaluated on both their high school and college records. Students with more than 30 transferable semester credits are evaluated primarily on their college GPA.

TUJ requires you to submit a high school transcript regardless of the number of college credits you have. If you have more than 30 transferable college credits, your admissions decisions will be based primarily on your college work. If you have less than 30 credits, your high school transcripts will also be evaluated.

In general, courses that are non-vocational, college-level, taken at a properly accredited institution, and in which you have earned a grade of C- or better are transferable. Courses from specialized certificate programs and very specialized majors are less likely to be transferrable. In general, it is best to follow the general education courses (core curriculum) and entry-level courses for your major at your current college. ESL, pre-college prep courses, and non-credit correspondence courses are not transferrable.

You should follow the requirements at your community college for a transfer associates degree. There is no guarantee that everything will transfer but sticking with the basics usually nets the student the most transfer credits. College-level mathematics and English composition are highly recommended.

English is the common language for both classes and general administrative activities. No Japanese proficiency is required to be a student at TUJ.

Tokyo is a very safe city, particularly for a major metropolis, with a very low crime rate. TUJ is centrally located in a well-populated neighborhood. The area is home to a number of embassies, businesses and high-end residences, and is very popular among the international community with a number of foreign companies and families from abroad.

TUJ is housed in two large office buildings. We share the buildings with other businesses. There are building maintenance and security staff here during business hours.

The Office of Student Services assists students from overseas to become accustomed to life in Tokyo (getting a commuter pass, opening a bank account, etc.) and organizes activities and workshops. They help all students in every capacity to get used to life in Japan. TUJ also has professional counselors available to students when they are having difficulties with adjusting to life in Japan or other psychological issues.

Visa-sponsored students stay in either a TUJ dorm or participate in a home stay for their first semester. TUJ has several dorm facilities in Tokyo, located within 30-50 minutes of the campus. Housing placement depends on the number of students each semester. Every student is guaranteed housing for the first semester in either the dorms or a home stay. Descriptions of the facilities are available on the page below.

• Housing Information

After the first semester, students need to move out of the dorm or home stay into private accommodations. The Office of Student Services runs housing fairs each semester to help students learn about various housing options.

TUJ is an American university, and U.S. citizens and permanent residents are able to use U.S. federal financial aid. Students apply through FAFSA using the Temple University main campus school code (003371). Private student loans can also be used at TUJ. Please use the main campus code for these, too. You can find more detailed information on financial aid on the page below.

• Financial Aid for U.S. Students

Yes, you can use the GI Bill and other Veterans Benefits at TUJ.

TUJ offers the following majors: International Business Studies, Japanese Language, Communication Studies, Art, International Affairs, Political Science, Psychological Studies, Economics, Asian Studies, and General Studies.

• Majors at TUJ

Yes, students can choose to double major, have a major and minor, or other combinations of degrees. You may not only have a minor; you must have a major to accompany it.

There are a few options. Students can apply as freshmen and spend their first two years at TUJ completing general education requirements, then transfer to the Temple University main campus or any other 4-year university. Students already enrolled at a 4-year U.S. university can apply as a Study Abroad student through the main campus's International Programs office and come to TUJ for one or two semesters.

• International Programs at Main Campus

All payments, including application fee, Advance Payment, tuition and fees, may be paid by credit card or wire transfer. Applicants in Tokyo can pay in cash in person to the TUJ bursar. We cannot accept payments by check or money order.

• Payment Method

Bank wire transfers and credit card payments can be made in any currency. Payment will automatically be converted to Japanese yen. The applicant is responsible for all bank and handling charges.

Applicants must complete their application for admission by the eligibility deadlines listed below, and check the applicable box on the admissions application form. Applicants are encouraged to submit supporting documents like letters of recommendation, copies of awards or certificates of achievement, and a resume listing work, volunteer and leadership experience. There is no separate application form for merit scholarships. Applicants wishing to be considered for a need-based grant must complete the form available here .

Diamond Scholarship: October 1 of the year prior to entry. Only awarded to students starting in fall semester.

All other scholarships and grants:

• Scholarships and Grants

The Diamond Scholarship covers 50% of full-time tuition for a student's first two semesters, and can be renewed to cover 100% of full-time tuition for up to 6 additional semesters. Other scholarships and grants are worth either 415,000 yen to cover the matriculation fee, or 50% of full-time tuition for two semesters. The Goldman Sachs Mochida Scholars Fund, available for Japanese students, covers 100% of full-time tuition for up to 8 semesters.

To be eligible for the Diamond Scholarship, applicants must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA (or equivalent) and score at or above the 70th percentile on standardized test scores. For all other scholarships, applicants must have a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA (or equivalent) and score at or above the 60th percentile on standardized test scores.

The Diamond Scholarship covers 50% of full-time tuition for a student's first two semesters, and can be renewed to cover 100% of full-time tuition for up to 6 additional semesters. The Goldman Sachs Mochida Scholars Fund for Japanese students covers 100% of full-time tuition for up to 8 semesters.

One Diamond Scholarship is awarded to a new student in fall semester. There is no predetermined number for other scholarships and grants. Awards are available every semester and we strive to give as many as we can to qualified applicants.

Letters of recommendation are free format. Teachers and supervisors can email letters of recommendation directly to TUJ's Admissions Counseling office, or give them to applicants in a sealed envelope.

Applicants of any nationality are eligible for scholarships and grants with the exception of the Goldman Sachs Mochida Scholars Fund, which is available for Japanese students only.

Tuition is paid per semester and is determined by how many credits a student takes during the semester. A full-time student takes 12-17 credits per semester. Please see below for more on tuition and fees.

• Tuition and Fees

The matriculation fee is a one-time payment that formally accepts you into Temple University as a degree-seeking student. The matriculation fee is collected in the first semester you are at TUJ. Every student, freshman or transfer, who is seeking to earn a degree from TUJ must pay this fee. Non-degree seeking students such as short-term study abroad students are exempt from this fee. Please see Matriculation Policy and Procedure for details.

• Matriculation Policy and Procedure

Costs for your first semester at TUJ will include tuition, the matriculation fee, student activity fee, and facilities fee. Visa-sponsored students will also pay the housing fee and visa application fee. Please see the page below for more detail.

• Estimated Cost per Semester

Yes, TUJ can sponsor student visas.

No. TUJ must apply for the visa on behalf of all students. Students cannot apply for a student visa independently of TUJ.

Visa application process is outlined on the page below.

• Student Visa Application Process

Yes, as long as you apply for admission early. The deadline for the admissions and student visa applications are the same. Students who apply for admission at least one month before the final deadline can receive an admissions decision before they need to send in the student visa application. If it is within one month of the final deadline, students should send in both the admissions and student visa applications to ensure that all documents arrive on time.

• Application Deadlines

Bank statements, an available line of credit, loan approval letters, retirement account or investment fund statements, scholarship award letters, and stock dividend reports are just some of the documents you can use. The documents can be in anyone's name, but must be dated within three months of the student visa application deadline. You can submit multiple documents.

A guarantor is the person who will be financially responsible for your education, usually a parent or guardian. Every student seeking a student visa must have a guarantor. You can be your own guarantor if you can submit financial documents in your name showing access to 3 million yen (about US$30,000).

To issue a student visa, the Japanese Immigration Bureau requires that all students show the ability to support themselves. TUJ estimates 3 million yen as the amount necessary to cover costs,including tuition, school fees, and living expenses, for the first two semesters.

Yes, you can work up to 28 hours a week on a student visa. You will need to apply for a work permit with the visa coordinator once you get to TUJ.

In addition to a small number of on-campus jobs, students are welcome to search outside of TUJ for job opportunities. Many students teach conversational English (or their native language), which usually pays pretty well (typically 2,000 yen to 3,000 yen per hour). Be careful — classes at TUJ are challenging and require significant time and effort. You'll need to find a good balance between classes, social activities, and a job.

The Office of Career Development provides TUJ students with assistance and advice on preparing for a career, writing a resume, and job interviews. It also arranges internships, seeking out opportunities that link students' studies and interests with work environments that advance their career aspirations.