Semester Abroad in Japan

University of Tokyo, Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, Tokyo

Overview
Location
Course Offerings and Credits
Language Proficiency
Academic Calendar
Application Process and Timeline
Housing
Contact Information

Overview

The University of Tokyo (UT) was established in 1877 as the first national university in Japan. UT is known for the excellence of its faculty and students, and since its foundation many of its graduates have gone on to become leaders in government, business, and the academic world. UT places a strong emphasis on cooperation and links at all levels of research and education—interfaculty, interdisciplinary, and with other universities both within Japan and abroad.

HLS exchange students will study at UT’s Graduate Schools for Law and Politics in the School of Legal and Political Studies. The School is designed to provide graduate education for students who wish to become attorneys or directors of legal affairs within companies; students interested in academia; and for international students who wish to gain a deeper understanding of legal and political studies in Japan.

Location

The Graduate Schools for Law and Politics is located on the university’s main campus in Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, and occupies about 138 acres of the former Kaga Yashiki, the Tokyo estate of a major feudal lord. Parts of the 17th century landscaping of the original estate have been preserved to provide greenery and open space. The campus is graced by the Kaga Estate’s celebrated Akamon, or Red Gate, which dates from 1827 and has been designated as an “Important Cultural Property” by the Japanese Government. The campus is easily accessible by subway or bus.

Course Offerings and Credits

UT does not provide a listing of courses on-line, but will provide a copy of the course catalogue (in Japanese) upon request. To request a course catalog from UT, please contact the international student advisor, Ms. Yasuko Takano: jryugaku@j.u-tokyo.ac.jp. HLS students will register for courses through the Graduate Schools for Law and Politics. Students interested in taking courses at UT’s School of Law will need special permission from a UT advisor.

A semester at UT is comprised of 15 weeks of classes. Most classes meet once a week for one hour and 40 minutes, allowing HLS students to enroll in five to six classes for the semester.

HLS students may receive a total of 10 to 12 ungraded classroom credits in relation to work done through the semester abroad program. Please see the HLS semester abroad webpage for more information about semester abroad credits and course requirements.

Language Proficiency

Nearly all courses offered at UT are in Japanese. HLS students interested in spending a semester there are expected to have a level of Japanese fluency that will enable them to perform well in class and on exams. HLS students may improve their language proficiency and receive credit for foreign language courses at Harvard College in accordance with the HLS cross registration policy.

Academic Calendar

The academic year at UT runs from April through March of the following year. Winter term classes begin in October and end in January, with exams held in February. Summer term classes begin in April and end in July, with exams held in September.

Application Process and Timeline

Students interested in the UT exchange program should follow the semester abroad application process described on the HLS semester abroad webpage.

Students approved by the HLS Study Abroad Committee must also complete the UT application form for exchange students, available from Sara Zucker or Ben Cook in the HLS International Legal Studies Office (see contact information below).

The exchange agreement with UT stipulates that one HLS JD student may study at Tokyo each year. HLS may recommend more than one candidate but ultimately selection of the student will be made by UT.

Housing

UT has several dormitories for international students. Applications for the dormitories are accepted in January (for admission in April) and July (for admission in October). Because demand for dormitories is high, students are not guaranteed a dorm room. UT’s Dormitory Committee determines the allocation of dorms and makes selections based on a number of factors. More information is available on UT’s website.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact either Sara Zucker at (617) 495-9030 / szucker@law.harvard.edu or Ben Cook at (617) 496-0899 / bcook@law.harvard.edu.