Information for Japanese Language Courses, 2025
Hokkaido University Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education International Education and Research Division has announced its Japanese Language Courses for 2025. Please see the information below and check the flyers and *course guide for the General Japanese Course.
General Japanese Course and CMC
Semester / Quarter Dates
First semester: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Second semester: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – Tuesday, February 3, 2026
(Except Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays)
Introductory Grammar and Introductory Communication only
Spring quarter: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – Thursday, June 5, 2025
Summer quarter: Monday, June 9, 2025 – Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Fall quarter: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – Friday, November 28, 2025
Winter quarter: Monday, December 1, 2025 – Tuesday, February 3, 2026
(Except Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays)
Timetable
Please refer to the Course Guide 2025.
Classroom Location
Most classes will be taught in the Student Communication Station building (Kita 15, Nishi 8. South of Frontier Research in Applied Sciences Building) with some classes in the Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education building (Kita 17, Nishi 8). Classrooms will be announced via e-mail by the day before the classes begin.
Class Times
- Period 1 08:45-10:15
- Period 2 10:30-12:00
- Period 3 13:00-14:30
- Period 4 14:45-16:15
- Period 5 16:30-18:00
Eligibility
The General Japanese Courses and Co-learning in Multicultural Classrooms (CMC) are open to international students enrolled at Hokkaido University with a student visa (research students or ‘kenkyusei’, graduate students, special auditors, and special research students), and international teaching or research staff, and office workers who work at the university. Please be reminded that auditors, credited auditors, and Bachelor’s degree program students are not eligible to register.
In CMC, you can study Japanese language, culture, society, and research methodologies through collaborative learning together with Japanese students. Please note that this course does not deal with language skills such as Japanese grammar, pronunciation, reading, writing, and so on. For those who want to study these skills, please take our General Japanese Course.
Placement Test and Applications period
| Test-taking period | Application periods | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st semester | Fri. March 7- Thu. March 27 | Fri. March 14- Thu. March 27 |
| *Spring quarter | Fri. March 1 – Thu. March 27 | Fri. March 14- Thu. March 27 |
| *Summer quarter | Thu. May 15- Fri. May 30 | Thu. May 22- Fri. May 30 |
| 2nd semester | Fri. August 29- Fri. September 19 | Fri. September 5- Fri. September 19 |
| *Fall quarter | Fri. August 29- Fri. September 19 | Fri. September 5- Fri. September 19 |
| *Winter quarter | Wed. November 5- Thu. November 20 | Wed. November 12- Thu. November 20 |
| *Introductory Grammar and Introductory Communication only | ||
Placement Test
- New Applicants:
- New applicants who have never taken the General Japanese Course must take a placement test. However, except those who have not previously studied Japanese, please DO NOT take the placement test as you will be automatically placed in Introductory 1.
- Continuing Applicants:
- Continuing applicants must select either one of the following options.
- A) Taking a placement test
→ Choose your classes based on the test scores. - B) Not taking a placement test
→ Apply for a class one level higher than the one you took before
- A) Taking a placement test
- In either case, admission is ultimately regulated on the basis of the number of students. There is no guaranty that you will get into the course that you desire.
- Please check this website and see how to take the test.
- Continuing applicants must select either one of the following options.
Notes:
- Please note carefully that all students must apply online, whether taking a placement test or not. If you do not apply online, you will not be allowed to attend classes.
- If you took Survival Japanese before and are applying for Introductory Japanese Grammar or Intermediate subjects this semester/quarter, you are required to sit for the placement test. You also need to take the placement test if you are changing from Introductory Grammar to Survival Japanese.
Applications
All applicants for the General Japanese Course should submit an application from here. Please complete and submit the application during the appropriate period. As the number of student intake in each class is limited, an early application is recommended.
For more information on the course and application procedures, please refer to the “Course Guide 2025”.
Have further questions? See if it’s in our FAQ.