１.ACCEPTANCE LETTER

The acceptance letter has already been sent. We ask you to check the file to see if there are no correction to be made(spelling of name or DoB etc.). And we request that you confirm with the embassy that the acceptance letter must be the original hard copy. Please report these two points from the URL below by June 14th.

>>https://forms.office.com/r/0mvv0i6bZi

２.Scholarship

STEPS students will be provided with a scholarship by JASSO. Recipients will be selected based on the following criteria. However, the premise is that this scholarship must be accepted by JASSO in the following year as well.

>>JASSO scholarship

Students NOT affiliated with universities and countries designated by our university also have the opportunity to receive this scholarship.
If you wish to receive the scholarship, you are asked to complete the forms below by June 14th.

>>https://forms.office.com/r/0mvv0i6bZi

Recipients will be selected and informed by July 31st

３.THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE

●Apply for your Student Visa

When you receive your CoE, you must go to your local Japanese Embassy to apply for your “Student Visa” . From March 2023, we can receive the CoE by email from the Immigration Bureau. As soon as we receive emails, we will forward it to you. Please go ahead and make reservation when you get your CoE.

>>Visa application form sample

●Travel Insurance

Japanese government is requiring all new incoming foreign nationals to obtain a minimum of 2-week overseas insurance, before joining Japanese National Health Insurance. Therefore, we ask all students to purchase an overseas insurance, covering from the day of their departure up to 14 days. Students will purchase insurances after their arrival that will cover their entire study period. Further information can be found below.

●What to Bring :  We advice you to bring your daily items as much as possible, including the following.

 ・Thermometer (mandatory)  　・Laptop computer   　・Body Towels & Hand Towels    ・Hairdryer* 　・Credit card     ・Cash (at least 50,000JPY)        

      * Type of plug available in Japan  :     ○ Type A       × Type B

●SIM card

You need a Japanese SIM card to use the internet in Japan.  We recommend  that you get a tourist SIM card that can be used for 1-2 weeks before departure or after arrive at the airport in Japan.

You can apply for a SIM card through our university. Please see “８.SIM Card” below for the detail.

４.ARRIVAL DATES & I-HOUSE CHECK-IN

Check-in dates to the International House (I-House) are as below. However, you should NOT purchase the air tickets until you get your visa. 

Office of I-House will be closed during the nighttime. We ask you to book a flight that arrives during the daytime. If you arrive at night, as it take few hours to get to I-house,  you will be asked to stay overnight at a hotel near the airport and check in on the next day.

When you arrive to the campus, go to the I-House office first to receive your room key and an envelop which  includes information about the orientations and upcoming events. The office is located in the 1st Building of I-House. Our Resident  Assistants will help you check in.

Check-in Dates : 2024 September 17th and 18th

Check-in Time : 9:00am—10:00pm

※You can come to Japan before these dates, but you will not be able to move into I-house.

５.HOW TO GET TO SU

You have two options to get to SU. Please read the instructions below carefully and complete the Forms by September 4th

>>【8.27 New!!】 Arrival Information for STEPS Students

Pick-up dates and times are the following. If you arrive at Omiya Station earlier than these times, please wait until tutors come to pick you up (There are many restaurants and shopping malls nearby).
●Day：9/17 and 9/18
●Time：10:30、13:00、15:30、18:40
●Place：Omiya station bus stop(where you get off the bus) 

※As of May, buses from Narita Airport are not available.

６.AFTER ARRIVAL : Orientations & Registration

Orientations such as Registration Orientation, Student Life Orientation, and I-house Orientation will be conducted after your arrival. Orientation for Intensive Japanese Language course will be conducted online (Zoom information will be announced after your arrival). Please refer to “8. Courses” for the Japanese intensive course.

We ask all you to  answer the following questionnaire by August 6th in order to know the number of students who want to participate in Welcome party ＆ Bus tour.

 >>【7.19 New!!】 Welcome Party & Bus Tour for STEPS

【7.19 New!!】 Orientation Schedule

７.INSURANCES & MEDICAL SERVICES

・National Health Insurance

In Japan, it is a law for all residents to enroll in Japan’s National Health Insurance  (NHI) system. It  is supported by the regular NHI tax (premium) contributions from healthy NHI members that allow them to be ready for serious illnesses and injuries. NHI helps members pay incurred medical costs and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Premium may be paid monthly (around 1,000JPY) and it will cover 70% of the fee for each of your doctor’s visit.

・CO-OP Student Insurance (Life Mutual Insurance and Personal Liability Insurance)

Life Mutual Insurance protects you from sudden hospitalization, surgery, and out patient care. Personal Liability Insurance, on the other hand, protects you if you injure someone or damage someone else’s property. Premium is 11,800 JPY (including refundable deposit of 4,000 JPY). Please prepare the amount to pay in cash at the Insurance registration. Please note that it is mandatory to purchase this insurance even if you purchased this type of insurance before your arrival.

 >>CO-OP Students Insurance

８.SIM CARD

We suggest below SIM card for international students. We will help you with the contract procedure for the card.  You can also find and sign a contract for a SIM card other than these by yourself.

If you would like to purchase a SIM card and use in Japan, please apply from the URL below by September 6th 12:00.

>> 【8.27 New!!】 SIM Card Application Form

If you would like to sign up for another SIM card, the following SIM cards are popular with international students:

〇Rakuten mobile

〇LINEMO

If you want to use a card in Japan, please check the following points.
・Your smartphone must be SIM unlocked.
・The name on the credit card used to pay the monthly fee must be your name.

９.ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Our academic calendar is based on a quarter-based system. However, exchange students may only enroll either from the Term1 or Term 3. 

>>2024_Academic Calendar

10.COURSES

Exchange students may take courses held in English and regular courses in Japanese (exception may apply to some classes).
Needless to say, Japanese language courses are also available.
Course Registration will be processed after you arrive in Saitama. Instruction will be informed at the orientation. Please refer to our website below for further information.

The course list for 2024 has been uploaded to the website below.

http://en.saitama-u.ac.jp/exchangeprograms/courses/

Intensive Japanese Language Courses:
Students who wish to take the Intensive Japanese Language Course must pre-apply and take a placement test prior to the orientation period. Refer to “Overview of the Intensive Japanese Language Course” and complete the online form by August 6th.

>>【7.19 New!!】

・Overview of the Intensive Japanese Language Course (Japanese)

・Overview of the Intensive Japanese Language Course (English)

>>【7.19 New!!】 Application for the Intensive Japanese Language Course for STEPS

Students will be placed in classes best suited to their proficiency levels. In the Japanese course students can learn Reading, Writing, Grammar, Listening and Kanji.

11.ACADEMIC SYSTEM

Credit Hours ＆ Grades

12.INTERNATIONAL HOUSE (I-House)

STEPS students can move into I-house without any conditions.

●Detailed information

>> Click here

>>【7.2 New!!(Page 2-5 has been added)】 International House Guidebook

【7.2 New!!】●Roomate match

I-House application and roommate match will be done from the I-house & Student Life Questionnaire. We ask you to complete the form by July 17th

>> I-House & Student Life Questionnaire for STEPS

●Period of Residence

Date of moving-in: From 2024 September 17th

Date of moving-out: 2025 February 28th or 2025 Early August

●Beddings （Deadline： August 6th）

>>【7.19 New!!】 Request a questionnaire from I-house

>>【7.19 New!!】Click here to pay（※Operation manual）　

【Note! ] Your application will not be completed until payment is completed.

13.EXPENSES

Expected expenses including room and board, recreational and  incidental expenses is approximately 80,000 JPY per month. Make sure you have sufficient funds to cover yourself for the duration of your stay in Japan.

Students should expect to spend approximately 1,000,000 JPY for a four-term study, and 500,000 JPY for a two-term study.

14.Campus Map

15.SU Exchange Students Gathering

We have a community helps students who are planning to study abroad. Students from Saitama university and its partner universities are welcome. This community functions as a platform for sharing experiences, or asking questions about study abroad such as what is the procedures of getting a visa, advice for living in a different country. 

If you would like to join this community, please apply using the form below. Applications will be accepted at any time.
https://forms.office.com/r/x8DQi2wn4p

You’ll receive a “Slack” invitation to your email address later(Please also check your junk mail).
However, some email addresses used in China may not be able to be registered (ex: ~@qq.com)

16.Contact us

The Office of International Affairs / Saitama University

  Address:  255 Shimo-okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City 338-8570 JAPAN

  Tel:        +81(48)858-3011| Fax: +81(48)858-9675

  E-mail:      inbound@gr.saitama-u.ac.jp

Saitama University International House

  Address:   645 Shimo-okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City 338-0825 JAPAN