Program Details
- Location:
- Nagasaki, Japan
- Program Type:
- Study Abroad
- Degree Level:
- Undergraduate
- Term:
- Academic Year, Fall Semester, Spring Semester
Program Overview
- Program Description:
*Due to the global health status worldwide, USAC is making programmatic changes to Summer & Fall 2020 and yearlong 2020/21 programs, and some options might not be available. These changes are posted on individual program pages on the USAC website.*
Japan is a fascinating country rich in culture, history, and with a diverse environment, the combination of which produces on of the most distinctive societies in the world. Nagasaki has unique layers of history, vibrant culture and arts, and is a lovely coastal location in which to live and study Japanese in the far west of Japan. The Nagasaki program offers a curriculum that gives students a range of courses focused on Japanese society and culture, and is an ideal program for beginning-level language study or for non-intensive language study at all levels. Students are required to take a Japanese language course each semester at one of six levels, beginning to advanced. Other courses are taught in English or simplified Japanese. You may choose to stay for a semester or a full year.
The Nagasaki program is administered in the US by USAC and in Nagasaki, Japan, by the Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies JASIN (Japan Studies in Nagasaki) program staff. They will provide the mandatory on-site orientation as well as academic and practical assistance and will oversee your general well-being while you are on the program.
Program fees include tuition, orientation, field trips, entry to some museums and cultural events, and health insurance.
- Setting Description:
- Nagasaki is situated on the extreme western point of the four main island of Japan, on the northwestern side of the island Kyushi. The city is built around a natural deep harbor and the rest of the city winds around- and up and down- the more than 100 mountains in the city limits. Nagasaki has a unique history. It was the first place in Japan to have contact with the West beginning in the late sixteenth century and then was Japan's only port open to foreign trade for the 250 years of national seclusion during the Tokugawa era, until Japan re-opened in the mid-nineteenth century.
Additional Program Information
- Scholarships:
- Yes
- Scholarships Description:
- Learn more about USAC scholarships and discounts at https://usac.edu/money-matters
Program Reviews
Overall Rating
Based on 3 Reviews
- Nagasaki Rocks My Socks11/14/19
The time I had in Japan was like no other. I had never been to another country before, so it was doubly exciting and anxiety-inducing to get on that plane which would whisk me away for the next 5 months. While in Japan, I was able to take language classes
and interact with Japanese people like I never would have been able to in the States. Furthermore, I was able to take classes about the culture, and even practice a few forms of traditional martial arts as well as traditional arts. I even joined the tea ceremony club and performed at the local history and culture museum with other club members! I was able to see many different famous Japanese locations, make lifelong friends, and just overall have the time of my life in my study abroad trip. And honestly, I'm dying to go back.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend - Nagasaki-A Rich History06/21/17
Nagasaki was once the only port open for foreigners which has influenced what it is today. It has an incredible history which you will learn about during orientation class and in some classes. There are many sites to see around the city such as Dejima
(an island that the Dutch were restricted to), Glover Garden (homes of foreigners), and Chinatown (Chinese immigrants lived), and much more. Due to these influences they have some amazing food that you can't get anywhere else! What I thought was nice about this city compared to the other locations is that it is not a big tourist destination and I rarely saw any other foreigners besides the other students in the program. A lot of locals would talk to me about what I was doing there and how I liked it and where curious since they don't see many foreigners there so it led to more conversation. I would highly recommend doing a homestay. That was my most memorable part. Coming home every night to a wonderful meal and some activities or trips with my family really made it special. I also liked that English is not as well-spoken in this area compared to other regions of Japan, but I was able to communicate with body language and broken English/Japanese so I was able to practice my Japanese. The buses and schedules did not have any English translation on them so you have to memorize the kanji that is one it. I felt like I was more immersed here because of that and it was more authentic due to low tourism in the area. Since the area is very mountainous, the public transportation system is not as developed as other parts of Japan so if you are looking for a location where you can travel around Japan easily I would recommend another program. I thought the city had good transportation but if you want to go to other parts of Kyushu it is more difficult, but there is a bus to Fukuoka which is easily accessible. My host family also took me around places and also helped me with finding buses since the website and information was not offered in English so that is also a benefit of a host family, or even a friend might be able to help! The academic I felt weren't challenging and there was not a lot of homework where I felt I would have liked it to be a little more rigorous. However my school and major is very difficult and I have a lot of homework where some students from other schools didn't feel that way so it just depends on what your home university is like. I really enjoyed the culture classes and I thought the Japanese program was excellent, although I can't compare because I have never taken Japanese or a language in college.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend - Nagasaki-A Rich History06/21/17
Nagasaki was once the only port open for foreigners which has influenced what it is today. It has an incredible history which you will learn about during orientation class and in some classes. There are many sites to see around the city such as Dejima
(an island that the Dutch were restricted to), Glover Garden (homes of foreigners), and Chinatown (Chinese immigrants lived), and much more. Due to these influences they have some amazing food that you can't get anywhere else! What I thought was nice about this city compared to the other locations is that it is not a big tourist destination and I rarely saw any other foreigners besides the other students in the program. A lot of locals would talk to me about what I was doing there and how I liked it and where curious since they don't see many foreigners there so it led to more conversation. I would highly recommend doing a homestay. That was my most memorable part. Coming home every night to a wonderful meal and some activities or trips with my family really made it special. I also liked that English is not as well-spoken in this area compared to other regions of Japan, but I was able to communicate with body language and broken English/Japanese so I was able to practice my Japanese. The buses and schedules did not have any English translation on them so you have to memorize the kanji that is one it. I felt like I was more immersed here because of that and it was more authentic due to low tourism in the area. Since the area is very mountainous, the public transportation system is not as developed as other parts of Japan so if you are looking for a location where you can travel around Japan easily I would recommend another program. I thought the city had good transportation but if you want to go to other parts of Kyushu it is more difficult, but there is a bus to Fukuoka which is easily accessible. My host family also took me around places and also helped me with finding buses since the website and information was not offered in English so that is also a benefit of a host family, or even a friend might be able to help! The academic I felt weren't challenging and there was not a lot of homework where I felt I would have liked it to be a little more rigorous. However my school and major is very difficult and I have a lot of homework where some students from other schools didn't feel that way so it just depends on what your home university is like. I really enjoyed the culture classes and I thought the Japanese program was excellent, although I can't compare because I have never taken Japanese or a language in college.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend