Overview
Year in Asia is the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific’s (CAP) flagship program for overseas study, providing students with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the language and culture of their chosen country for up to 12 months.
Year in Asia requires students to focus at least 50% of their coursework on the language of their host country but also allows students the flexibility to build their own experience. Year in Asia aims to prepare students for a career engaged with Asia. Students should expect to return from their experience with a high level of language proficiency and a deeper understanding of the cultures and societies they have been living in.
About Kyoto University of Foreign Studies
Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) is a comprehensive educational institution that includes university, a junior college, a career college, and a high school. Originally founded as the Kyoto Foreign Language school in 1947, it expanded and adopted its current name in 1959.
Guided by its motto of "Pax Mundi Per Linguas”, meaning “World peace through languages” KUFS fosters the development of individuals. KUFS also recognises the importance of "an indomitable spirit" which is emphasized and valued as a primary basis for education and research, and what the founders of KUFS believed to be the essential quality for students of foreign languages.
More information about KUFS can be found on their website.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
In order to apply for Year in Asia students must meet the following criteria by the end of the semester they are applying in:
- Be enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Asian Studies, Bachelor of Development Studies, Bachelor of International Relations, Bachelor of International Security Studies, Bachelor of Languages or Bachelor of Science;
- Have a GPA of 5.0 or above;
- Have completed a minimum of 48 units of study;
- Have completed of 24 units from a relevant Asian language, with an intermediate level of language ability (see below for intermediate language definitions); and
- A minimum of 12 units of study from completion of ASIA-coded courses.
Intermediate language ability is defined as the successful completion of the following ANU courses for Year in Asia:
Applicants should preference 3 partner institutions in their application.
Student are recommended to have at least 6 units study remaining in their degree after completing their Year in Asia.
Please note that admission to the Year in Asia program is on a competitive basis. Where places are limited, students will be selected on academic merit.
Courses and Areas of Studies
Year in Asia students enrol in the Course in Japanese Studies, a one-year course for overseas students from KUFS’ partner universities wishing to study in Japan.
The Course in Japanese Studies includes:
- comprehensive Japanese language classes taught according to the students’ level of proficiency (there are nine levels ranging from novice to advanced);
- elective subjects, including additional Japanese language classes (such as Composition, Kanji & Grammar), or subjects from other faculties including Tradition & Culture, History, Literature, Politics, Economy, Calligraphy, Mathematics, English and Japan & The World; and
- a study trip, field trips including to the Gion Festival, and other extracurricular activities.
For more information about the Course in Japanese Studies, refer to
the Japanese Studies centre for International Students page of the KUFS website.
Language of Instruction
Classes are generally taught in Japanese. Students will placed into one of the nine levels of Japanese language classes through a placement test.
Credit Equivalencies
The equivalent of 24 units of credit at ANU is 14 credits at KUFS. A study plan must be approved by ANU before students commence the program.
Year in Asia students undertake a total of 48 ANU units over two semesters.
Accommodation
Kyoto University of Foreign Studies provides every student with a fully furnished single room in a dormitory or an apartment. Please note that there is no Homestay arrangement via KUFS.
More information about accommodation and living in Kyoto can be found under the “Living cost and Accommodation” heading on the “Academic Programs for International Students – Partner University Students” page of the KUFS website.
Funding Opportunities
CAP has secured New Colombo Plan mobility grants for this program. Students who meet the New Colombo Plan eligibility guidelines will be provided with a $7,000 New Colombo Plan mobility grant, provided by the Australian Government. To be eligible you must:
- Be an Australian citizen
- Be aged 18-28
- Have not received an NCP short term mobility grant previously
- Not hold residency rights to Japan
More information on the Australian Government's New Colombo Plan and the full eligibility requirements can be found here.
Scholarships
It's possible to hold more than one scholarship, bursary or grant at a time, so checking out all of the funding opportunities available to you is a good idea.
You may also be able to source some funding through our partner universities - they provide scholarships and grants to encourage you to choose them as your destination.
OS-HELP is a Government loan scheme to assist eligible Australian students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place, who wish to undertake an overseas experience as part of their degree.
Travel and Other Costs
The costs of studying overseas vary greatly depending on your lifestyle and where you go. Major costs are your return airfare, accommodation and living expenses, which vary from country to country. Living and travel costs range from as little as $2000 in total for short-term international study programs, up to $2000 per month (more in some high-cost countries) for full semester or year programs. Some partner universities also require you to pay for health insurance, orientation or extra-curricular activities, so be aware that extra costs like these might pop up.
Indicative travel and living costs can be found on websites such as:
For all ANU endorsed programs you continue to pay your fees to ANU, but you are exempt from paying tuition fees to the institution overseas. Often long-term overseas study will not cost much more than studying in Australia and it will give you an experience of a lifetime.
Participants will receive ANU travel insurance coverage for the duration of this program.
General Information for Mobility Programs
Students should ensure they have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the end date of the program (or as required by the country or host institution)
The CAP Student Centre is not able to provide visa advice, please refer to the relevant embassy or immigration department for advice about visas.
Enquiries
CAP Student Centre
HC Coombs Building, 9 Fellows Road
T: 6125 3207
E: cap.student@anu.edu.au
