Ochanomizu University (Ocha) is a women's national university in the Ōtsuka neighbourhood of Bunkyō-ku, Tokyo, and is one of the top national universities in Japan. The Ocha Summer Programme for Global Leaders provides intensive courses for students of partner universities from both domestic and overseas, as well as students of Ochanomizu University and Graduate School. All classes are multi-cultural, aiming for students’ career development and promotion of international exchanges. As in previous years, Ocha will offer a hybrid summer programme (two weeks online and two weeks in-person). The Ocha Summer Programme for Global Leaders 2024 information below refers to Summer 2024. This webpage will be updated with information for Summer 2025 in January 2025.

Who can apply?

The Ocha Summer Programme for Global Leaders is open to undergraduate and postgraduate taught students only. Postgraduate research students are excluded from this offer.

Courses offered

Ocha Summer Programme for Global Leaders 2025 offer two courses. Students can choose between a subject-based course or Japanese language course. The subject-based course consists of lectures and project work. The project work component will consist of both an online and in-person component. The Lecture based course has 3 sub-courses and students are only permitted to take one sub-course. There are 15 classes in a sub-course. For the Japanese language course, Ocha offer three courses for students depending on their proficiency levels in CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) as follows: Introductory Class for Absolute Beginners: Students with no prior experience learning Japanese Introductory Class for Beginners: Students with N5/CEFR A1 or equivalent proficiency Pre-Intermediate Class: Students with N4/CEFR A2 or equivalent proficiency You can find more information in the promotional video linked below.

Programme dates

The Ocha Summer Programme for Global Leaders subject-based course and Japanese language course, consist of a 2 week online project work and then 2 weeks on in-person lectures. The online part of the exchange will take place between Monday 7th July 2025 - Sunday 20th July 2025 and will consist of the following: Subject-based course - lectures and project work Japanese language course - online sessions with a Japanese buddy student For the in-person part of the exchange, students are expected to have arrived in Japan by Monday 21st July 2025, in order to be present for the Opening Ceremony, Course Orientation and Welcome Party. The in-person component of the programme will then take place from: Wednesday 23rd July 2025 - Tuesday 5th August 2025

Application deadlines

If you wish to apply for a place at Ochanomizu University, you will need to submit your Global Summer Exchange Application by Sunday 19th January 2025, by 11:59pm. If your application is successful, you will be required to apply directly to Ochanomizu University by Friday 9th May 2025. Please note, successful students will be required to write a motivation paper. You can find a sample copy in the Global Summer Exchange 2025 - Website Documents Folder, linked below. Please note you will need to log in using your KCL credentials.

What are the costs?

The fees to attend Ochanomizu University are: Registration fee = JPY 10,000 Extracurricular activity fees may be self-paid Estimated expenses (including transportation from the university) = approximately JPY 88,500​ for 16 days Estimated accommodation costs = approximately JPY 106,600​ for 16 days Students who are successful in their application will receive a tuition fee waiver, but will be responsible for all other costs, including, flights, accommodation, visas, health/medical insurance (if compulsory), living expenses and those listed on this page. Ochanomizu University are also offering nominated students JASSO Scholarship of 80,000 JPY, however, In order to be eligible, only students participating in the subject-based course can apply. Nominated students will receive more information on the application process.

Accommodation

Accommodation is not offered. Summer programme participants need to arrange their own housing as Ochanomizu University's dorm is not available to short-term programme participants. Accommodation recommendations will be provided during the registration stage. Ocha estimate that it will cost approximately JPY 106600​ for 16 days accommodation

Eligibility, exclusions & restrictions

In order to be eligible to apply for the JASSO Scholarship, students must have a JASSO GPA of at least 2.3. Students receiving more than 80,000 JPY (around £400) per month in total from other scholarships for study in Japan are ineligible for this scholarship. Applicants must have a good academic and personal record.