Pre-arrival information

Welcome to Saitama University!
This is a pre-arrival information for new STEPS students. Read all the following carefully and prepare for your new life in Japan!
In particular, details about the JASSO scholarship can be found ”２. Scholarship”.

※This page is the private website for STEPS students.

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.

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.

How to get to SU from each Airport Haneda Narita
(1) Go to Omiya Sta. by shuttle bus >>Click here

Not available
(2) Go directly from the Airport >>Click here

６.AFTER ARRIVAL : Orientations & Registration

*attendance mandatory

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

 Day  Time  Content  Remarks

 Sep 19th or 20th

  9:00 Opening Ceremony
9:20~16:30

・Orientation for transfer notification
・Campus Tour
・I-house rent payment procedure

※You will be assigned to attend orientation on either the 19th or 20th.

 Bring the following items.
・black ballpoint pen
・passport
・Residence card
・smartphone
・laptop computer
・Transfer card(It will be given by the staff after arriving at I-house.)
・43,150 yen

【8.27 New!!】

17:20~17:50

 Pre-lecture on Nikko
18:00~19:30  Welcome Party (Only 20th)
 Sep 23rd 7:30~18:30  Niko（Click here） Bus Tour
 Sep 24th 9:00~10:00 Orientation for Co-op insurance① Bring a black ballpoint pen
10:00~11:00 Orientation for Japanese Intensive Courses(A, C Class) Bring a laptop computer
11:00~12:00 Orientation for Japanese Intensive Courses(S, B Class)
13:00~14:00 Orientation for Japanese Intensive Courses(D Class)
14:00~15:00 Orientation for Japanese Intensive Courses(E Class)
15:00~18:00 Orientation for Course Registration
 Sep 25th 9:00~10:30 Orientation for Life in Japan
10:40～12:10 Procedure for SIM Card Contract
13:30～15:00 Orientation for I-House move-in
 Sep 26th 9:00～11:00 Procedure for Bank Account Opening Only JASSO scholarship recipients
11:30～13:00 Orientation for Life in Japan
15:00～16:00 Orientation for Co-op insurance② Bring 12,00011,050 yen

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

>> Click here