Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS)
Table of contents
- Studying at the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS)
- What can I study at KUFS?
- What does studying at KUFS offer me?
- Who can apply?
- How do I apply?
- What happens after I submit my application documents?
- How do the interviews work?
- When will I find out if I have been selected?
- What happens next?
- Further information
- What costs will I incur in advance?
- What costs will I incur during my stay in Kyoto?
- What is required of me after my stay abroad in Kyoto?
Studying at the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS)
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers three study places at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies every summer semester. Students from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences can study at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) for one semester as part of the exchange program.
The international university with around 4,500 students from all over the world is located in one of Japan's most historically and culturally significant cities. Kyoto combines tradition and modernity: from 794 to 1868, the city in the south of Japan was the seat of the imperial court and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the neighboring cities of Uji and Otsu. Today, Kyoto is an exciting and unique city characterized by a wide range of cultural offerings, a diverse restaurant and bar scene and unique sights. With several universities, Kyoto has become a young, creative and multicultural student city.
What can I study at KUFS?
You can choose from the extensive range of courses offered by KUFS and take at least six courses. You can choose between two profile lines:
- English Course: Here you choose your courses from the wide range of English-language courses in social, political, economic and cultural studies at the Faculty of Global Engagement, Department of Global Studies. You also have the opportunity to attend Japanese courses and courses in other foreign languages.
- Japanese Course: Here you choose your courses from the courses offered by the Japanese Studies Center for International Students. The courses offer insights into Japanese culture, history and language and include Japanese courses, seminars on Japanese history and culture as well as events on cultural techniques (calligraphy, tea ceremonies, etc.).
In addition, further courses can be taken at the Department of Global Tourism and from the Future Leaders Program. Further information can be found on the KUFS website and its course offerings for international students.
What does studying at KUFS offer me?
- The opportunity to gain unique experiences abroad
- Getting to know a different culture and contact with international students from all over the world
- A wide range of courses and intensive support from KUFS lecturers
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Tuition fee waiver at the KUFS
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Credit for coursework and examinations completed at TU Dresden as part of a previously agreed learning agreement
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Reservation of accommodation in a student hall of residence
Who can apply?
All students in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in B.A., M.A. and teaching degree programs can apply for one of the three semester study places at KUFS.
Prerequisite for the application is English language proficiency at a level of B2 or higher (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR). To study the Japanese Course at the Japanese Studies Center for International Students, you must provide proof of at least 150 hours of Japanese lessons.
How do I apply?
The application deadline for the summer semester 2026 will be published here by April 2025.
Please send your application documents in a pdf file exclusively by e-mail to . We need the following documents from you:
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A curriculum vitae in tabular form in English
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A letter of motivation in English (maximum 8000 characters, including spaces)
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An excerpt of your previous study and examination achievements or university certificates from all university degrees obtained to date
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Official proof of your language skills in English and, if applicable, Japanese (see above)
What happens after I submit my application documents?
You will receive confirmation of receipt of your documents within 72 hours. If you have not received confirmation of receipt after 72 hours, please contact . Once all applications have been received, the documents will be checked for completeness and reviewed by the team of the International Office at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Candidates will be selected according to formal and qualitative criteria (completeness of documents, motivation/reasoning and academic qualifications). You will receive feedback from us no later than 14 days after the application deadline. We kindly ask you to refrain from asking questions about the processing status of your individual application during this period.
A selection of suitable candidates will be invited to interviews no later than 14 days after the application deadline.
How do the interviews work?
A selection of suitable candidates will be invited to interviews no later than 14 days after the application deadline. The interviews will be conducted by the International Office team at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and will be held in English. You will receive all information about the interview in advance in the invitation.
When will I find out if I have been selected?
You will receive feedback from us within a week of the interviews. We will contact you by e-mail and inform you of the outcome of the application process.
What happens next?
Candidates will be informed of the outcome of the application process by the International Affairs team at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The place must be accepted or rejected within 72 hours at the latest. If we do not hear back from you within this time frame, the place will automatically be allocated elsewhere. As soon as candidates have accepted the nomination, they will be nominated for one of the semester study places at KUFS. Once you have been nominated, you must apply to the KUFS within the application deadline. The team of the International Office at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences is always available to answer any questions you may have about the application process. If you have any questions or uncertainties, you can contact us at any time.
Further information
In preparation, it is recommended to acquire basic knowledge of Japanese (100 hours equivalent to Unicert E1+2 | E3+4), for example through the courses offered by TUDIAS or the Center for East-Asia Studies at TU Dresden.
What costs will I incur in advance?
To apply to the KUFS, you will need a number of documents that are only available for a fee. In addition, you must have sufficient financial resources for your stay abroad. You should expect the following costs for the preparation of your stay abroad:
- Certificate/proof that you have a sufficient budget while living in Japan: one million yen for six months
- Medical health certificate: between 14€ and 60€
- TOEFL test or IELTS test: approx. $240 (TOEFL) 200€ (IELTS)
What costs will I incur during my stay in Kyoto?
Your cost of living in Japan can sometimes be different than in Germany. Travel and excursions in Japan are in addition to the everyday costs of food, public transportation, rent, mobile phone and internet, etc. Keep the following costs in mind:
- Living expenses (food, drink, going out, hobbies, etc.)
- Mobile phone and internet costs
- Costs for public transportation or renting/buying a bicycle
- Costs for rent
On this page you will find more detailed information on the cost of living in Japan.
You can apply for a scholarship before you start your stay abroad. There are numerous funding options, e.g. via PROMOS (for stays of up to 6 months), BAföG or the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). If you have any questions or need support with your application, you can contact us at any time.
Please note that the awarding of scholarships is often associated with long lead times. You should therefore find out about the application procedures and deadlines well in advance!
Before starting your stay abroad, please check the websites of the Federal Foreign Office and the Japanese Embassy in Berlin regularly for information on the current entry requirements for Japan.
What is required of me after my stay abroad in Kyoto?
After your return from Kyoto, you will write a report on your stay abroad and your studies at KUFS. The report should be 2-3 pages long, in German or English and written as a Word document (font size 11, Arial). Please send your experience report to so that you can collect your transcript. Please indicate in the e-mail whether you agree to the publication of the anonymized report.
© TUD | Jana Höhnisch
Office for International Affairs
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