Student Exchange Program: Japan

Program Overview

Students attend The East Asia Institute at Tokyo Christian University in a one-semester program that lets you meet the people in their home setting, experience for yourself their life, culture, history, and gain a deep academic knowledge of this region. You may study the Japanese language at any level, from beginner on up to the most sophisticated. In addition to many Japanese students, Tokyo Christian University is home to long-term students from many other countries in Asia as well as Africa, Europe, and the Americas. On your floor in the dorm, you will live with many Japanese students, but you will also meet students from countries such as South Korea, Philippines, Macau, Myanmar, India, Nepal, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Peru, and the United States. 

Tokyo Christian University offers one of the richest cross-cultural experiences available anywhere. A semester here offers courses carefully tailored to give you a balanced knowledge of Japan and East Asia, a set of guided experiences that let you touch and taste the history, art,  and experience the modern economic power of the Japanese people, all in addition to a homestay with a Japanese family, and the friendship of Japanese students and other international students. While Tokyo Christian University will provide you with plenty of ways to study and see the religions of Asia, we will also offer you the opportunity to study and personally experience what it means to be a Christian in an East Asian context. After your time with Tokyo Christian University, you will return home with a richer and deeper awareness of yourself as a world Christian.

Students who apply to attend the East Asia Institute at Tokyo Christian University must complete a Biola application for review by Study Abroad. This includes an interview as a part of the application. If the student is approved by Biola Study Abroad, they are nominated to complete an application to Tokyo Christian University who determines final acceptance.

2024–25 Program Cost (Before Financial Aid)

Airfare, passport, some textbooks and travel visa are not included in the estimated program cost. Students accepted to participate in the program with TCU during the 2024–25 year will be billed Biola tuition, Biola administrative fee, and international health insurance through Biola. Students live in a shared dorm room at Tokyo Christian University. This cost is before financial aid. For a study abroad financial aid review, please contact The Office of Financial Aid.

*The Fall 2022 program fee is quoted as 416,500 JPY. Students will pay program fees directly to Tokyo Christian University in Yen. TCU will provide assistance in how to process payment. The program fee to TCU includes: housing, meals, Japanese language textbooks, bedding rental, bicycle rental, and field trips.

Course Equivalencies

View the Student Exchange Program: Japan Course Equivalencies.