Pre-Departure Information

To study abroad at UH Manoa, first you need to apply. There are two programs you can go through at UH Manoa, MIX (Manoa International Exchange) or SAC (Study Abroad Center). 

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MIX (Manoa International Exchange) Application: Official MIX Website​

SAC (Study Abroad Center) Application: Official SAC Website

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For Japan, I recommend using MIX because it offers a wider selection of partner universities to choose from. Additionally, MIX allows you to continue paying regular UH Mānoa tuition instead of the tuition fees charged by your host university abroad, which can make studying abroad more financially manageable.

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The MIX online application for the following Spring semester typically opens on January 1 and closes on May 1, so be sure to keep those deadlines in mind. Since the application is fairly lengthy, it’s important to set aside enough time to complete it carefully. One of the most important sections of the application is selecting your partner universities. You will need to rank your top five university choices (do lots of research!), and once decisions are released, you will be notified of the university you were placed into.

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​Once you receive your MIX application results around August, you will also be required to complete a pre-departure online course provided by MIX. This course gives more in-depth information about the study abroad process and helps prepare you for the next steps before departure.

 

Since Japan’s academic semester begins in April, our “Next Steps” information is typically sent out in October. This provides important details and instructions for applying to your host university abroad. In my case, this was Waseda University. Some of the main components of the application included a letter of recommendation, Certificate of Enrollment, and Study Abroad Agreement. Because several of these documents require communication with professors and advisors, it is important to complete them as early as possible.

 

Once you submit your host university’s application, the next step is mainly waiting for your results, which may take a while. After being accepted, the main thing left is obtaining your student visa at the Japanese Consulate. This process is fairly straightforward as long as you carefully follow the instructions and prepare the required documents. Once you get your visa you'll be all ready to go!

Worried that studying abroad may be too expensive?

Don’t worry... There are many scholarships available that can help make your experience more affordable!

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There are a number of scholarships listed on the MIX website that you can apply for if you are eligible.

https://manoa.hawaii.edu/mix/outbound/financial-aid-scholarships/

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If you are a Shidler student, you can apply for their Travel Scholarships, which offer up to $6,500 in funding.

https://shidler.hawaii.edu/travel-scholarships

Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (ASUH) also offers a study abroad scholarship that students can apply for. 

https://www.asuhmanoa.com/study-abroad-scholarship​

After receiving your host university acceptance, you will also begin the housing application process. Depending on your university, you may have the option to apply for dormitories, shared housing, or apartments. Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines and housing information sent by your host university, as spaces may be limited. Once your housing placement is confirmed, you will receive additional details regarding move-in dates, room information, and what items are included in your accommodation.

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Waseda University’s dorm housing process is very competitive for exchange students. The university only offers 3 dormitories in total for exchange students, despite receiving hundreds of applications. To apply for dorms, you have to complete a housing form with information such as your name and student ID. On this form, you can rank or choose your preferred dormitories.

 

However, since dorm placement is not guaranteed, I personally recommend selecting “No Preference” on the application so you can be considered for all available dorm options. Housing placements are decided through a lottery system rather than first-come, first-served. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to receive a dorm placement. ​

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If you do not want to live in a university dorm, Waseda University also provides a variety of affiliated housing options and apartments for exchange students. However, many of these accommodations tend to be farther from campus and more expensive, so I personally think at least applying for a dorm is the more convenient and affordable option.

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Waseda University Dorms: https://www.waseda.jp/inst/rlc/en/student_dormitory/exchange/

(If applying, please check the website regularly as they update without prior notice)

Class registration at Waseda University is very late. There are different school department orientations for exchange students, and my orientation for the School of Commerce was on the day of registration. During orientation, they teach you about "My Waseda," which is basically like "star.hawaii.edu" back home. On "My Waseda" you can view all the classes offered by the university, including the English and non-English courses. The school does give out a list of all the English courses you can take, so that was super helpful too. It does get a bit complicated when registering for classes in other schools. For example, I needed to register for a course offered by the School of International Liberal Studies, but since I'm part of the School of Commerce, I had to fill out a form sent out by that school in order to register. Also, class registration here isn’t first-come, first-served like back home. Instead, classes are decided through a lottery system, which I thought was really interesting and different from what I’m used to! There are three registration periods, and you can only drop your classes at the end of the third period. Other than registering for classes, Waseda has its own version of Lamaku/Laumina called "Waseda Moodle." It's a bit more similar to Canvas, and on here, you can view all of your class assignments, agendas, and announcements. 

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My experience with class registration and using My Waseda and Waseda Moodle was very positive. I was able to get all my classes despite stressing about the lottery system. Since I have a scholarship that requires me to take 12 credits, I have 5 classes in total. Also, keep in mind that the course equivalencies listed on the Shidler website do not guarantee that those classes will actually be offered during the semester you study abroad. Classes in Japan are similar to UH classes, but are lengthier with their lectures and discussions. In a few of my classes, the final exam is worth around 80% of the overall grade, which sounds a little intimidating compared to what I’m used to back home. Even so, my experience at Waseda has been great so far, and the people I’ve met here have been so friendly!